the best VS my best

I am now officially a Personal Trainer! In that I passed the exam that I thought I was destined to fail. And if I had failed, it would be perfectly understandable since it is a very difficult exam. I am so relieved that the studying, and the work outs paid off! Now, I am a Personal Trainer AND a TRX Instructor, as well as currently being enrolled in a Health Coach course where I will be one of the first Health Coach's in Thailand (should I pass that exam)!

Speaking of the TRX, I have my first *real* class on Wednesday. I am really excited about being given an opportunity to prove my passion and my worth, and I just hope I manage to do my instructor and myself proud. I am always worried about disappointing my teachers and letting them down, although more often than not, they are the wonderful people who shape my life and the only ones who have faith in me in regards to what I can achieve.

Other than the TRX class, I am worried about my first short story reading. Well, it is less a reading and more a personal narration, if you will. The event is next weekend, and we can't use notes and cards, and that's OK, but the material is pretty personal (even though it is now thankfully largely irrelevant). I am nervous to read my work aloud and can only hope I will see familiar faces in the crowd that will allow me to breathe easier...

Easier reminds me - I ran 6.5 km's today! It was a run for breast cancer awareness and to raise money for research into the cause. I had to stop less than a kilometer into the running because my running pants slide off my butt! But other than that, I did not stop. I could have gone faster, but I ran the risk of flashing my undies to everyone, and decided against it. My running buddy and I did much better than we have on previous runs. But hearing my running buddy talk about herself and her times, and how much faster she used to be, made me realize how hard we can be on ourselves.

I always tell myself it wasn't fast enough, it wasn't powerful enough, it wasn't a good enough work out. Why? Why not acknowledge that my body did more work than it usually does at 6:30 AM on a weekend and be grateful that it did not give out? My time was better than it has ever been, and it might not have been the best, but it was my best thus far. And the fact that I am stronger and faster and better than all those yesterdays should be my focus.

There is no reason to compare ourselves to the people around us, friends or strangers, mentors or enemies. Compare yourself only to the person you were yesterday, and if today you are stronger, healthier, calmer, and happier than yesterday, well - you did it! And you can, and you will do it again.  

And that's what really matters. Isn't it?