Unless it's used as a double negative, remove CAN'T from your vocabulary

When it comes to athletics, I've never really used the word "can't"... or so I thought.. it wasn't until I started training for this triathlon that I realized I actually use this word a lot.  "I can't run... I can't run that far.. I can't pedal that fast... I can't swim THAT FAR or LONG!  can't.. can't.. can't...

This was until yesterday.  

Let's back up a couple days.  On Monday, my coach gave us a pretty difficult swim workout.  I wasn't able to finish it, which was frustrating, but come to find out it was just in prep for Wednesday's workout.  On Tuesday, she emailed the team what our workout on Wednesday was going to be.

swim for 60 min straight-no stopping. no water. nothing but swimming.  She wanted to see our fitness level in the water, and just see how far we could go without stopping.  If we stopped, we had to start counting laps all over again. The very first thing I thought was: "I CAN'T DO THAT!!! DO YOU REALLY KNOW HOW LONG 60 MINUTES IS?!  YOU CRAZY COACH!!!"  

There it is again, that word CAN'T... it's such a hinderance.  Over the next day (leading up to this dreaded swim), I was talking with different people about how I could keep swimming for 60 min... I came up with a plan.. swim freestyle as long as I could, and then instead of stopping, I would start doing backstroke, or breast stroke, or doggypaddle.. anything to keep moving.

So, enter Wednesday morning- My alarm went off at it's normal 4:30am time, and after my normal 30 min "wake up period" (once out of bed)- I was still exhausted and starting to get discouraged.  I started thinking: "man, I can't do this 60 min swim, I can barely keep my eyes open!".

Philippians 4:13 says: "I CAN do all things through Christ who strengthens me."  I relied on this  truth a lot that morning.  

I was the first one in the pool (which is always super cold) and off I took.. I swam and swam and swam.  I knew there was no way I could keep track of all my laps in my mind by just counting, so I used a tip that coach gave me.. I used the alphabet.  So it was like: "A-25, A-50, A-75, A-100, B-25, B-50, B-75, B-100, etc."  I found that this was a very helpful way to keep track of my laps.  As I swam, I started to think... I might actually be able to do this!  slow and steady was my pace.

By the time I got to "R" in my counting, I started to feel it some... Started feeling tired, my arms started feeling heavy, but also at this point, I started thinking... I HAVE TO GET TO Z!!  I can't NOT get to Z!  

I got to the end of X (leaving only 200y left until finishing the alphabet) and my coach called time.  I was now determined not to quite so close to the finish of my newly set personal goal, so I asked her if I could finish and she said yes.  

People.. If I had given into can't, I would have missed out on accomplishing something I've never done before.  I would have missed out on swimming 2600y (1.47mi) in about 60 minutes.  I would have missed out on the amazing sense of accomplishment and "I can conquer the world" feeling I feel.  I would have missed out on impressing my coach and making her proud. So many things I would have missed out on, had I given into the can't I was feeling, instead of the "I can't NOT" feeling (remeber, double negative makes a positive).  I couldn't wipe the giant smile I had off my face all day, and even as I think about it now, I still smile.  :) 

So my question to you is this: What are you potentially missing out on by keeping can't in your vocabulary?  Whatever it is you are facing, may I suggest that you change your mindset to "I can't NOT" do ________________________!? Challenge yourself, push yourself, and you won't regret it!

God is so faithful, and He care about the small details of our life!

(I'm just going to apologize for the long post, now... but please, read to the end... It's a good one, I promise.) ;)

                          

The past week and a half has been a breakthrough time for me.  2 days in particular... I had to leave my comfort zone (running inside on a treadmill) Let me explain:

Monday, Feb. 3 was not my best swim... I was off.. I'm not sure why, but my body was not doing what I wanted it to do.. breathing was off, stroke was off, I was sinking!  After texting my coach for some guidence and encouragement on Tuesday, I took to the pool again on Wednesday morning (breakthrough day one).  There was temptation to allow the poor swim of Monday to linger, but instead of doing that, I pressed into the Lord.  I prayed, asked the Lord to help me, and HE DID!  (no surprise there)  It was like something in my mind had shifted~ i felt like my stroke was right on, my breathing was WAY BETTER, I wasn't sinking (which is always good in a pool)... I left that pool feeling like I could conquer the WORLD!  Thursday, I rode my bike, and then Saturday we had another session with Todd!  This was probably the hardest session we have had, but it was soo good!  It was a great opportunity to make a choice... give into my mind and body thought were it's limitations, or I could push through... I chose to push through, and it was well worth it.  

Then came Saturday night... I'm not 100% sure why I texted Coach the question I did, becuse I already knew what she was going to answer (the text was about my comfort zone and how I needed to leave that, but part of her answer, I didn't expect.  She offered to meet me in Brentwood (about half way between our homes) and run with me on Sunday!  I immediately said 'YES!!!!' Then, I almost just as quickly started wondering why in the world I said yes?!  She was going to make me run... and run a lot.. So Sunday rolled around (breakthrough day 2), I went to church, lunch, errands, then headed up to meet with Coach.  As I was driving up, I had multiple conversations: 1 with a friend, 1 with my aunt and the most important one was with God.... I NEEDED THIS RUN TO GO WELL... As you all know, I've said for quite a while that 'running was my weakest event' or 'i'm no good at running'.  It was time to break that down!  I needed to change my mindset and the words that I spoke over myself!  The Lord had been showing me that over the week, and then my coach told me on our run: "You need to start saying that you CAN do this and stop saying the negative things."  So we ran... and ran... and ran... (ok, we actually walked some too, which was really helpful.  We ran for 4 minutes, walked 1 (and repeat))...  at the end of my run, I found out that we actually did 4 miles in 46 minutes and I ran at my fastest pace ever!!  WAHOO!!!  As I ran, I was talking with Coach, but I was also talking with the Lord.  The Bible says that "His strength is made perfect in our weakness."  This was shown during this run... Yes, I was doing the physical run, but emotionally, it was the power of the Holy Spirit that was getting me through... That was gently encouraging me to put one foot in front of the other and not give up.  After we got done running, my hips and the top of my foot started hurting.. We had another text conversation about this, and it was determined that I needed to get new shoes...

Oh great... I know I need new shoes, but I serious had NO IDEA HOW I WAS GOING TO PAY FOR THEM!!!!  I have ZERO EXTRA MONEY, and honestly, new shoes was not in the budget.... So, what do I do?  I pray, and pray hard!  This is where some people might think I'm crazy.. praying for shoes?  It seems so little, or vain, or ??  But I'm a firm believer that God cares not only about the BIG things in our lives, but He deeply cares about the small details of our lives too... So I prayed and trusted that the Lord would provide shoes for me somehow.

On Monday night, I posted this to our private "Tri-team" facebook page:   Stacee Strickland I'm no planning on completely following in your footsteps, but I too am taking tomorrow off of running... Yesterday's GREAT run has left me super sore, and I'm having some pretty intense tenderness on the top of my feet... Coach and I have determined that it is because my shoes are old and laces tied to tight... so, I'm going to give riding a try, but ice, ice, ICE!!! Looking forward to the pool Wednesday am!

Then i went to bed... I woke up to this private message from one of my teammates:    I read your post about you shoes. You have to have good shoes - especially while training. And this cannot wait. Come to Brentwood Fleet Feet at your earliest opportunity and I will buy you a pair. Seriously. If you keep running in those shoes, you will injure yourself and we can't have that. Let me know when you can meet me there.

Um.. seriously?  Did I read that right?  YES I DID!!!!  Oh my word! God totally just gave me shoes by the generosity of my teammate!  And let me just point out that our team has only really been together for about 6 weeks... So, I met up with my teammate today and we got myself new shoes!  I NEVER ONCE MENTIONED how I couldn't afford to get new shoes (prior to that message from my teammate)... GOD CARES ABOUT THE DETAILS IN OUR LIVES!  HOW COOL IS GOD?!??!?!?!?  He cares about the big issue of my finances, and then He also cares about the small detail of me needing new running shoes, and sends my teammate to buy them for me.  I had no idea how the Lord was going to come through on this one, but He absolutely did, and I am SOO greatful!  I now can't wait to get out and run with my new shoes.  They are lightweight, yet supportive, and they are an awesome bright yellow!  Here's a picture!  

    

It was soo worth me leaving my comfort zone this week, in at least 2 of the 3 sports.  It was scary, but it was way easier with the partnership of my coach and my team.  I absolutely LOVE training with TEAM, and my TEAM in particular.  I'll be honest in that it doesn't look exactly as I thought it was going to, but it is exactly what it needs to be!