It Isn't Really Cheating...

As I read about this weeks physical challenge I tried to think of what I would chose to try and improve, push ups? Crunches? The problem was that I can already do quite a few of those and there is no way I would have been able to improve as much as the challenge required (45 push ups... not going to happen. A million crunches... nope) and so I decided on the only thing possible was to pick pull ups (I haven't really done them much... or at all) And I did! By the end of the week I reached the goal and did a total of 1½ pull ups! And I don't even feel bad about it, though I am thinking I might need to start incorporating pull ups into my workout routine...

The emotional challenged I also did, it was an interesting experience. I have had more self confidence lately but it is still difficult to scrutinize your body and try and figure out things you love, instead of seeing things you would like to change. First I started with the things I have always liked about myself but after I did that, I still had 12 more things to come up with. So I tried to see myself as if I had never seen myself before, I realized when I took out my own prejudice there were many things that I didn't even notice that would have normally upset me. I don't judge others looks as harshly as I judge my own and I think that is a mistake I need to work on, of course I have imperfections but why should I dwell on them? I don't dwell on others' imperfections, if I even notice something imperfect about someone else, I don't hold on to it or even really think about it! Why should I make my own imperfections such a big deal? I can notice them, maybe try to change them but hold on to them? Make myself feel bad about them? Why? What is the point of that? It only hurts myself and why should I hurt? Why should any of us do that to ourselves? It is not healthy or productive, so why not give yourself the same courtesy you give to a total stranger? Give yourself permission to not be perfect.