In the past month, I have done three things that scared me--played electric guitar in a band on stage, swam consecutive laps in a 50-meter pool and gotten back on my bike with clipless pedals from which I've fallen and scraped up my knees nearly a dozen times. From some people's perspectives, these aren't huge hurdles in life. Others may have no desire to do any of these activities. And some, I'd like to think, actually see what these are for me--personal accomplishments that give me an internal smile and an external glow--and recognize those same achievements within themselves. I am not a wife or a mother, so my time is kind of my own outside of work, and I want to make the most of this free time as life changes quickly, so I'm excited I actually put forth the effort. But this isn't to give you a list of all the things I've done lately...it's to turn the question over to you.

What have you done lately? For yourself, for your health, for your personal inner glow? I know those of you with complicated schedules, those responsible for others, those who aren't able to do some of these activities may not even be thinking along these lines. But in your life, are you setting goals, trying new things, daring to see a new side of yourself? It's from your perspective, I've learned, no one else's, that you can determine your own definition of bravery and skill and pride. In our lives we get on the track of a routine (I love the comfort of my routine!) and we go our way each day, feeling good in our own to-do lists and daily responsibilities. But if we can break that routine, get excited about something new and go just a little out of our comfort zone, our bodies and minds can be energized in a new way. I know, this isn't an aha moment, but it is a moment I experienced recently, and I just wanted to pass along to you.

If you haven't thought of it lately or have been putting it off, I encourage you to take a different path, walk up to a new piece of equipment and "test the waters" in a new way--it's refreshing and it awakens your mind. And remember, you can do this just for you--it's your goal, you set it and you get to feel the accomplishment all by yourself. Enjoy!