Nothing ventured, nothing gained
There are two phrases that live rent free in my head:
“Nothing ventured, nothing gained”
“How you got it is how you’ll keep it”
As a young entrepreneur these two concepts have helped me remain steady as I continue my trek towards successful business ownership. After spending 17 years as an employee, I’ve had the benefit of working beneath many individuals from whom I have learned a plethora of “do’s” and “don’ts” along the way. I had the privilege of working for two leaders in Lynchburg, Virginia who were excellent bosses as well as mentors, and the common thread that connected their characteristics was the willingness to take action on an idea, even if the gameplan wasn’t perfect.
Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained
One lesson I’ve learned repeatedly is the fact that you’ll never be entirely ready for a new phase of life, an ambitious goal, or the end of your favorite TV show (any Psych fans out there??). While we simply cannot prepare for changes, here are a few tools I use to help me move forward:
PRAY - My first step is to ask Jesus for help, because He knows the past, present, and future. This brings me comfort and reminds me that His plan matters most.
CONSULT - The second step is to consider the advice of trusted confidants, mainly family members to whom I’m closest to, as well as individuals whose situations may have been similar to mine in the past.
ACT - Coach Wilson, my collegiate tennis coach, was all the time telling me, “Act! Don’t react!” While it’s not always possible to make calculated responses (we are not robots, and some situations will shock us, or take us completely by surprise - in those moments, our reactions are simply what happens in the moment), it is possible to hit the reset button and determine the next plan of action.
BOTTOM LINE: Seek counsel, then make a move.
How You Got It Is How You’ll Keep It
It may not seem like it, but I had to work hard for my fitness, at every level. I’ve always been coordinated, but I have never been a natural athlete. As a kid I rode bikes, climbed trees, played yard games, and would play organized sports occasionally, but it wasn’t until high school that I realized sports was something I loved.
But I had exercise-induced asthma.
Every practice in high school started with line drills, running laps around the gym, then ball drills. I was the world’s worst basketball player, but I didn’t care; I loved being on a team and I gave it 1,000% effort. From the moment I picked up my feet till the second practice ended, I struggled to breathe. Then when I was 19 I became a walk-on for a collegiate tennis team after a girl dared me to go to tryouts.
And I’d never picked up a tennis racquet in my entire life.
My coach must have seen potential, or maybe he was simply sent by God to help me stay out of trouble and stick to the right path. Either way, Coach Wilson relegated my first year to practices and exhibition matches only, with the opportunity to earn my spot on the team by the end of the first year. By God’s grace, I did earn that spot.
And I still had asthma.
A teammate told me I’d never learn how to hold the racquet correctly because I’d started too late in life, so I ran 3 miles around campus with a tennis racquet in my hand a few times a week until it became like an extension of my hand. I noticed that my asthma was worse when I was worried or anxious, so I began to calm my breathing and my thoughts before practice even began. Over time, I learned how to push through, to increase my fitness level, improve my mental toughness, and to add grit and tenacity to my character toolkit.
And then I turned my focus outward.
I felt compelled to help others achieve their goals, no matter how big or how small. I’d meet up with a girl who was struggling to fit in and teach her how to use weights in the gym before my 8AM classes. I’d run back to where my last teammate was working hard to finish her mile, and I’d run with her.
While it took a LONG time to achieve a level of fitness I felt proud to have reached, I wouldn’t change my journey for the world, because it made me who I am.
It’ll be 10 years since my collegiate years the end of May, and I feel so blessed to have experienced all that went before - both the good and bad. I’m not as fit as I was as a competitive CrossFit athlete (2019-2022), but I am still above averagely strong because I work out regularly, my health is more consistent due to a nutrient-dense diet, and my quality of life is the highest it has ever been as I’ve stepped away from the hustle and grind culture, and into a life of fullness and joy.
So the question remains, how do we stay fit and healthy for life?
PHASE OF LIFE CHECK - Take a moment to reflect on where you’ve been, how you got where you are, and where you’d like to be (and who you’d like to become). If you’re unaware of your current phase of life, you cannot create a feasible plan to move forward. How many hours per week can you be active? What are your top 3 priorities? What do your nutritional habits look like? What is your greatest obstacle?
NO MORE NOSTALGIA - Switch your gaze from the rear view mirror and look through the windshield of your life. If you expect to move forward while longing to go back - you won’t budge an inch. If you used to be an extraordinary athlete in your 20’s but now you’re in your in your 50’s and you have a job, a family, and a whole host of commitments, you need to be realistic about what’s achievable and sustainable.
FIND JOY AGAIN - If the first time you got fit was before 2020 in group classes that motivated and encouraged you, but you haven’t been back since, maybe it’s time to restart that gym membership. However, if you’ve never worked out before, you hate the thought of going on a run, and you have no idea where to start - it’s time to get serious and hire a coach (or a personal trainer, if in-person is what you need). Find the method of exercise that you love, and do it!
Fitness influencers like to make everything seem complicated, but even elite athletes know that it’s all about the basics. Find a mode of movement that brings you joy, participate often. Eat to fuel your body, and nourish it well. Sleep long and hard, don’t budge on bedtime. Hydrate from the moment you wake, and finish your daily amount at least an hour before you wind down for the night. Keep your purpose clear and your intentions pure, and life will seem bright and beautiful again.
Keep working hard,
- Coach Sarah
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