Mommy's big accomplishment

When I was pregnant, I set a goal that in 2015 I would train for and finish a triathlon.
On September 20, I did it. It was scary, exciting, tough and fun, and I am beyond proud of myself for setting, working towards, and accomplishing a goal. I learned so much about myself and what I'm capable of mentally and physically, and that alone made it so worth it. I've developed some great habits, and I will continue to work to ensure I don't lose them.

More than any of that, though, I realized along the way that what I was doing might just be benefiting more than me.  We all want to set great examples for our kids, and while obviously it's important to do this for all kids, I feel like little girls have a very tough road to hoe. With so much emphasis on looking the way society has decided you're supposed to, it's heartbreaking to think that girls are getting sucked into this at a younger and younger age. I desperately want to believe that some of that can be countered with a strong sense of self and a way of life that instills great habits without them even knowing they have them. 

While I was fairly active as a kid, exercise wasn't really a big part of my life. When I got to college, my world was rocked a bit, and looking back now I realize I spent a good portion of my college career depressed. I gained a lot of weight and wasn't happy. What finally got me out of it (besides an incredibly supportive boyfriend turned husband)? Exercise. When I moved to NYC after I graduated, I had a moment of clarity and from that moment on, I never looked back. Exercise makes you feel good, it clears your head when you're having a bad day, gives you uninterrupted time when you need to think, and when your outside appearance starts to positively change because of it, you gain confidence. You realize that you have the power to change your life, and that is the most powerful gift you can give yourself.  

By continuing down the path of healthy eating and making exercise a way of life, I hope that I am able to set the example for my daughter that strength (in every sense of the word) is beauty, not some image you see in a magazine or on TV. That strong legs will give you more confidence than wearing lipstick ever can. That you mean more than the number on your clothes. That exercise is a positive thing to turn to when you're having a bad day, not a binge fest. That you never leave the gym/trail/park wishing you hadn't gone - you always feel better than when you got there. 

I will fully admit that I still struggle with this sometimes. But the best we can do is to recognize our own insecurities/issues/faults and try to make them a non-issue for the next generation. 

So to answer the cliche question that floats around at these races...

To show my daughter that setting and accomplishing a goal is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself, and that strength is beauty. That is why I tri.