Comfortable Being Uncomfortable

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Last week, I posted my 100th blog and I thought that should not go unnoticed. So, now you know. 

(cue the confetti!)

I bought a long-sleeved running shirt last spring just as the cooler weather season was ending so I didn't get to wear it very much. I pulled it out of my closet this week since the weather, at least in the morning, has been getting cooler. The shirt has a running skeleton on it with the slogan "Tortured Runners Club: Comfortable Being Uncomfortable." I immediately liked it as I am uncomfortable on ninety-nine percent, okay, maybe that's exaggerating but I'd say for sure eighty percent of my runs. As I thought more deeply about it, though, I realized I am not comfortable with being uncomfortable. 

If I'm honest, especially on my solo runs, when I begin to feel uncomfortable, I may "push through" for a few minutes before seeking ways to become more comfortable. Whether that's slowing down, cutting my runs short or even trading the run all together for a walk, I look for ways to make it feel easier. As Americans, and I will single us out specifically because I think we are extra spoiled, we do not like to be inconvenienced. If our wi-fi is too slow, if the restaurant we want to eat at is closed even though there are five more within a close distance, if someone cuts us off for the closer parking spot, if we aren't given the proper number of pennies with our change ("Oh, I'm sorry, I don't have any pennies," - Don't get me started!!) we are all too quickly annoyed. 

If we do not challenge ourselves, there would be no growth. Weightlifters know you have to challenge the muscle in order to see gains. If a certain weight gets too easy, you have to move on to heavier ones. Otherwise, you will stay the same. If I want to keep any endurance that I have built, I need to keep running even when it feels uncomfortable which we already established is the case most of the time. At this point, I am not trying to get faster or go further but if that becomes a goal in the future, I will need to push my body to become even more uncomfortable and I want to fully embrace that. This blog post is a reminder to my future self. 

I am thankful to have the physical capability to run. I am learning to not compare myself to others, not only in running but in all areas of my life. I will not answer to anyone in the end but to the God of the universe, my Savior, and it is Him alone that I want to hear say, "Welcome home my faithful servant." The key word is "faithful" servant, even when the work gets hard, I put my trust in Him alone. "Whatever you do, work at is with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV)

*** The shirt was purchased from www.chalktalksports.com of which I have no affiliation. ***


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