I am writing this after coming back from a grueling 21 minute run.  Almost didn’t go.  Some of you diehard long distance runners will laugh, “21 minutes, what’s grueling about that?”  Because of an unusually hectic week, I have not been able to get to bed at normal time.  Today at run time, I was exhausted; the thought of running 2 minutes seemed ridiculous.  It took some real convincing to get running shoes on and legs moving. 

The point is, it’s work maintaining a consistent exercise routine through, busy, stressful, tired, days, which for some of you is every day.  It can be done but why bother?  Why put out all that energy?  Do the benefits outweigh the investment in time and effort? 

This is a vital question to answer if you are going to be successful.  Those times that I have slacked off or gone long periods with no exercise, it’s always when I lost enthusiasm.  There is no way you are going to face the demands of a weekly exercise routine without maintaining enthusiasm. 

It struck me that motivation is far more important than laying down a killer routine.  The way to establish enthusiasm is to have a clear mental picture of what being in shape will look and feel like.  That’s what works for me.  When enthusiasm wanes and all I want to do is take a hot bath, I turn to my personal journal where I describe how great it feels to be in shape.  I especially have to do this during the winter months where a warn home is more inviting than a frigid trail.  The image that really works for me is young children playing. 

The picture of carefree children playing provides an important motivation for me.  It in composes so much more than just physical fitness, reminding that there is more to life than work and ambition.   The image of playing children speaks of a love for the outdoors, joy of movement, awake and connected, sometimes solitude, other times camaraderie, most of all, clearing the mind, shedding worry and being in the moment.  The finest times of prayer and connection is when running down forest path, laughing and singing between gasps of breath.  Me and God, running side by side. 

 Now there is an motivating image.