My whole life has slowly but surely transformed from Black and White to Full Colour!! There was a Decade when I was a spectator of life and one of life’s biggest critics, but then I hit rock bottom and used that as a foundation to build upon. Step by step I’ve been building upon that foundation and am now a participant of life and loving every minute of it. Remember a T Junction is not the end of the road, unless you choose not to make the turn.
Circumstance helped me change drirection, then I cast a vision, a picture of the future that inspired me, that produced the necessary passion to want to change, to get out of the rut, the comfort zone. I started seeing myself as I could become and not as I was…. I look back now and smile at those dark days, important days as they helped shape my future.
Dawson Trotman once said “The greatest time wasted is the time getting started,” so make sure you do get started sooner, rather than later as the last thing you want to do is go to your grave with the ‘dance’ still left inside of you. Our lives change when we change something that we do everyday and success is the sum of many, many choices and sacrifices.
For me, the key was taking that first step! Weighing in at about a Ton, it was a bold step, but I elected to take it one step at a time and very soon the steps turned to days and the days became weeks, then months and years and when I look back I see an extraordinary transformation. A transformation from living a life in Black and White, to one where I’m living it in Full Colour.
Their have been many obstacles along the way, injuries and illness, financial and time constraints. But, the biggest obstacle has been my mind, as over time we allow our negative experiences and other people’s perceptions to place a ceiling on what we believe we can achieve. That little inner voice that tries to get us to slow down, that tells us that things are impossible, well it was a Giant five years ago and was holding me back….. but these days that little voice is like a skeleton, as I’ve starved him of airtime and he rarely gets fed, as I make a conscious effort to focus and feed my mind with positives.
I’ve suffered greatly along the journey, but I refuse to quit. They say suffering is temporary, while quitting is permanent. My late Dad taught me about the importance of getting up just once more. He said get up once more than you are knocked down (or back) and you will be a success my son.
Their is still much to strive for, but in the meantime I am grateful to my family, especially Michelle, Camryn and Jamie who sacrifice much as I chase my dreams. I am eternally grateful to my late stepson Reece who triggered the spark that has become a raging fire within and I am so, so grateful to my late Father, who inspired me to be the best I can be.
Although I lost my way along the way, I have tried hard to bounce back and will continue to do so and with God’s Grace I believe I will achieve my goals, which is simply to be the best that I can be.
“…sufferings produces perseverance; perseverance character; and character hope” Romans 5:3-4
Somebody recently asked when am I going to retire from Ironman? Truth is I’m only just getting into it, still much to learn & experience & share. Happy Days!!
The Riddle of an Ironman's Life 