Are You Ok With Failing?

I was roped into a fitness group.  I fought it.  I didn’t want to do it.  Do I LOOK like a lady that wants to give up eating homemade Rice Krispie treats on the couch while binge watching Top Chef?!  I think not.  But between my excessive weight gain over the last five years and my daughter, Peyton, needing some exercise to help with the depression, we joined a local fitness group on Monday.

The class we’re going to is at 5:15.  A.M.  Yes, you read that right.  Do I LOOK like the kind of lady that wants to get up at 4:30 to drive somewhere and get sweaty from burpees?!  I think not on that, either.   And that class is actually full.  I’m not sure if everyone has lost their mind or just me.

It’s a 30 minute workout routine, and I got through about half on day one before I almost passed out.  Twice.  It was fun.  In all fairness, the workout really wasn’t that horrible.  The coach was absolutely amazing and so encouraging!  The other people around me kept telling me it was awesome that I didn’t puke!  I definitely realized just how sedentary I am and how much exercise I really need.

Peyton told me later she was so proud of me, and I told her I was proud even though I had failed.  That sweet girl exclaimed that I hadn’t failed because I had still kept going even though I didn’t do some of the exercises.  And that’s when I took a moment to explain to her what I meant by failing…

I’m perfectly ok with failing, because I didn’t complete it.  However, even though I didn’t complete it, I still did my best.  When I failed at the task, I took moment, got myself together, and got back up.  I didn’t quit.  Failing that workout doesn’t mean I failed the whole program or at becoming healthy.  It just makes me want to strive that much harder to push through and do better next time.

While this is by no means a workout verse, I saw it this week and it really encouraged me.  “For a righteous person falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in time of disaster.” –Proverbs 24:16

I know I can do it.  I know I can get stronger.  I know I won’t need as many breaks eventually or feel like I’m gonna puke.  Because through failure, I see how I can become better.

Iron Porch friends, let me encourage you to not quit at what you think you’ve failed at!  You are stronger than you think!  God is in your corner!  You got this. (But I still don’t think we need to give up our Rice Krispie treats.)

~Erin