How to Change your life - Real Mum story on MoM

11 Comments

I saw a beautiful quote the other day on the welcome board outside a shop selling, of all things, running shoes. It proclaimed “One run changes your day; many runs change your life”. It was something that resonated with me because it captured the truth of my experience perfectly.

Many years ago while still at school I struggled to run 2 laps of the playground. It can’t have been more than 300m in total and I was puffed. I was also surprised, because as a teenager I was still discovering what I could and couldn’t do, and I didn’t expect something so simple as doing 2 laps to be one of the things I couldn’t! I set about changing it and made running one of the things that I “could do”.

Weeks and months ticked by and running became part of the daily routine. I left school and the years began slipping into decades. Most days I found the time to go – even if it was just 10 minutes. Lots of different places, towns and cities, beaches and cliffs, forests and urban parks (where I always felt happier with a group!) and even indoor treadmills!

Then that day walking passed the shoe shop I realized that running was something that hadn’t just changed lots of days; it was something that had changed my life. Running had kept off the worst of weight gain that many friends were experiencing; it had saved me from pre-diabetes that relatives were enduring; it had kept me mentally positive for many years through all sorts of things; it had taken me to beautiful places I would have NEVER seen otherwise and given me so much enjoyment. Running had had so many positive benefits that I could safely say it had changed my life. Things would have been very different without it.

While I know running isn’t for everyone I think the same principle applies to other positive activities, like walking or swimming or yoga, that you might incorporate into your day. Little by little it will change your life. So remember do it once and it changes the day. Do it regularly and it changes your life!

Posted by mom176887, 28th April 2016

11 Comments

- - june11 said
  - 31 May 2016
    11:15 pm
I enjoy walking on nice days. We have a wetland nearby frequented by some rather cheeky ducks but it’s not a great spot when the mozzies are about during warm – hot weather especially late afternoon. I sometimes go for a long walk, call in at a friend’s place for a cuppa and catch up on each other’s news, then walk home. I provides stress relief for me.

- - mom81879 said
  - 29 Apr 2016
    1:31 pm
I have recently taken up jogging in the hope I was one of those that would end up loving it and doing marathons. No way :/ It’s not growing on me. I’ll stick with it tho cos it’s good for me
- mom93821 replied
  
  30 Apr 2016 , 9:38 am
  Good on you for doing something for you! I love walking, but not running. Do have friends that are addicted to running and marathons. I admire them, but not for me.
- - mom112217 said
  - 29 Apr 2016
    9:04 am
Interesting article l would apply this also to walking! Thanks.

- - mamavon said
  - 29 Apr 2016
    1:42 am
Would shopping count? I love shopping and I can walk all day shopping. I meet a lot of people shopping too – have very lovely conversations with complete strangers even. And I get little highs whenever I find a good bargain. Seriously though I do enjoy walking but I only enjoy that when we are away on holidays. I just don’t enjoy walking the same places all the time.
- mom93821 replied
  
  29 Apr 2016 , 5:52 am
  I agree with you! It does count! Love all of those things too!
- - BellaB said
  - 29 Apr 2016
    12:02 am
Yes, little changes do add up.

- - damish70 said
  - 28 Apr 2016
    2:26 pm
Remember do it once and it changes the day. Do it regularly and it changes your life! I love this quote & it can fit into your life at many levels. I can see why it motivated you.

- - mom90758 said
  - 28 Apr 2016
    2:24 pm
What a wonderful message. I agree. It doesn’t matter what you pick up, but adding some physical activity to your life every day empowers you. It’s wonderful that you started running and never gave up!!

- - mom165081 said
  - 28 Apr 2016
    1:01 pm
Simple quotes like that one are so very true.

- - mom183150 said
  - 28 Apr 2016
    11:25 am
Beautiful story