Just Show Up

​Throughout the years, I have seen many quotes about the value of “just showing up”:

“Just showing up is half the battle.” – Woody Allen
“Just show up and things will happen.” – Mother Theresa
“To stay on the map, you’ve got to keep showing up.” – Peter Gallagher

The older I get, the more I see the value of this wisdom, especially when it comes to being consistent about getting regular physical exercise.  In fact, just the other day I learned one big lesson on the importance of just showing up. 

At 6:30 AM, I woke up and started making my coffee and reminded myself that, if I was going to make to my exercise class, I had to be out the door by 7:50 AM.  Immediately, my thoughts went to all the reasons why it may be a good idea for me to skip it:
“I have some important things I want to get done, so I’ll just take the dog for a walk after I finish my to-do list.”
“My joints feel a little stiff; maybe I should take the day off and just do a little stretching.”
“It’s a cloudy, dreary day and I don’t feel very energetic.  Maybe I should go tomorrow instead.”

At 8:00 AM, I was driving to my exercise class and thinking of several reasons why it may be best for me to turn around and go home.
“The poor dog really needs to be walked, so maybe I should go home and make that my first priority.”
“My husband needs some exercise too.  Maybe I should skip my class and just plan on taking a walk with him this afternoon.”
“I don’t feel like doing this, so maybe I should go home and go to my exercise class tomorrow when I will be more energetic.”

At 8:15 AM, I had finished my pre-workout stretching, the instructor started the class and, while I was going through the physical motions, my mind was wandering:
“I don’t want to be here.”
“My heart just is not into this today.”
“I’ll do what I can, but it may be the bare minimum.”

At 8:25 AM, something interesting happened.  There was a shift in my thinking which led to surge of energy in my body.  It’s as if my body woke up when my mind said to the rest of me:
“We are committed to be here for the next 50 minutes and we’ve made it through the first 10 minutes and we are okay.  So, let’s kick it up a notch and see what we can do.”
“Honestly, it’s feeling pretty good to move right now. Maybe being here is a good thing”
“After a workout, it always feels like it was worth it.”

At 9:20 AM, I was walking to my car to drive home and I felt great!  My body felt invigorated, my mind was clear, my spirit was thankful, and I felt emotionally satisfied. 

I wish I could explain the shift in my thinking, but I can’t.  I didn’t will it to happen, it just did.  The only thing I can take any credit for is the fact that I just showed up and even the strength to do that was not of my own making.

​My Monday morning experience reinforced to me that, if I want to be a person who makes consistent exercise a priority in my life, I need to make the commitment to just show up.

Wise King Solomon reminds us that:
“Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.” (Eccl. 11:4)

​If we put our focus on our circumstances and feelings, we will have a hard time moving forward with anything.  But if we decide to just show up, who knows that God won’t supply the strength for us to succeed despite our circumstances and feelings?

“The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to go on the heights.”  (Habakkuk 3:19)

Good Health for Good Works Challenge:

​Whether it is for exercise or some other important health habit, is there any place in your life where the best decision you can make right now is to just show up?