I’m doing hard things and I suck at it

Last week, I felt inspired to write about doing hard things. I have taken my own advice and had one of the busiest, hardest, and most stressful weeks ever. Here is how I’ve responded to my challenge:

• over-extension
• unrealistic determination
• tears
• anger
• blaming
• self-pity
• self-loathing
• martyrdom
• lack of sleep
• lack of exercise
• poor diet
• self-doubt
• irritability
• discouragement
• desire to quit

That about sums it up. Boy, that makes you want to pick up a pen/shovel/computer/phone, doesn’t it? Wow, what a motivator I am.

Obviously, I am not your role model. I work really hard—that is true—but I am seldom satisfied with the result. (i.e. I suck at this.)

Or perhaps—let me play therapist for a moment with myself, because I obviously didn’t have time to go see one—perhaps I have expectation problems, perspective problems, and perfectionist problems?

Can you relate to that? Maybe we’re all noticing at the super-stars in life and overlooking what got them there.

I’ve looked up a few accomplished people—not sure why these are all men (there’s another blog in there somewhere)—who accomplished many things through long and arduous methods.

In light of the Super Bowl and being a boy-mom, I’ll throw some well-deserved compliments toward Tom Brady, who has individually gone to the Super Bowl more than any NFL team. He sleeps from 8:30 pm to 5:30 am every day and practices/works out or hangs with his family the rest of the time. I won’t go into his workout routine, but it includes regulating everything he eats: no sugar, no white flour, no caffeine, no dairy, and little alcohol. Here are some impressive stats that my guy readers and girls like me will enjoy:

• oldest starting quarterback, at 41
• most playoff games: been to 40, won 29
• most touchdowns in post-season: 73
• 9 Super Bowl appearances, with 5 wins
• 517 career touchdowns

I guess we can say he’s a hard worker. Nobody’s that lucky.

Thomas Edison, the famous American inventor, tried over 3,000 experiments before his incandescent light bulb could maintain continuous, reliable light. In the meantime, he did manage to invent or improve a host of other necessary inventions using sound, light, and motion. And he managed to only nap for short intervals and sleep 4 hours a night. So not liking him so much, although kudos for the 3,000 tries.

William Wilberforce lobbied in Parliament and advocated in his society for the abolition of slavery. It took him 46 years, almost his entire political career. Then he died 3 days after his magnum opus: the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833. Watch the 2007 movie Amazing Grace. It’s powerful and inspiring!

Life as we know it, with all its ups and downs, will soon be over. We will all give an accounting to God of how we have lived.

William Wilberforce

Amen. Back into the fray.