I never thought in a gazillion years (that's a lot) I would endure a 60 day challenge at Bikram Yoga. However, when you have the owner ask you personally "You are signing up for the 60-day challenge, aren't you Abby?", how could I refuse. Being a stay-at-home mom doesn't provide too many goal oriented tasks unless you want to count finishing the laundry or cleaning the house. With my Type-A personality knocking at the door, I thought this challenge was just what I needed. So I put my blank, non-stickered, 8 ½ x 11 sheet on the wall.
Even though I have never run a marathon, I would compare this challenge as being just that. I started out really strong but around the 15 day mark I hit a bump in the road thinking "what am I doing?" I kept moving along, however, putting my stickers up each day and then around the fourth week I pulled a hamstring!! Again another bump in the road. Over the next 3 weeks I trudged forward with this injury, 2 stopped-up-nose type colds (try doing pranayama breathing with this), and several missed days. Also during this time, I tried my first double. I never thought I could accomplish this task and in fact I was scared to death to try it. I not only did 1 double, but at least 8. Now the final week was upon me and I hit the infamous "marathon wall", which is when you have about 5-6 miles left to run. My body was totally broken down and hurting in every crevice. My flexibility had worsen, and I was REALLY tired. But luckily my personality type kicked in again and I said "I am going to finish this challenge – I can almost taste that t-shirt!" I have never been so happy to put up my last sticker on the now filled 8 ½ x 11 sheet.
I have gained many insights in doing this challenge. First how great of friends and family I have. They knew I was doing this challenge and helped by carpooling and giving me nudges to continue along the way. In anything hard you do in life, you definitely need friends to lean on. Thank you. Secondly, I now believe I can accomplish anything I put my mind to. I may even try a long-time goal of going back to school and becoming an attorney. Finally, learning that you can accomplish a goal if you break it down into small pieces and take each step slow but steady. My new mascot is the tortoise, "Slow and Steady wins the race- of life that is!!"
Thanks again to all my positive and uplifting friends, family and studiomates.
Abby Peterson
