It’s amazing that we as humans have the capacity to choose how we will react to the situations that arise in our lives. Quite often I feel like I have instantaneous reactions to the things that happen to me: someone says something that makes me doubt my ability in a certain area and I am immediately plagued with self-depracating thoughts and negativity. Or I find myself in a challenging situation and it’s easier to bemoan the obstacles than to rise to the occasion and push myself to accomplish something greater than I have before.

But I get to decide. I have been given the choice. I can look at things and say, “I get to…” instead of, “I have to…wa,wa,wa,wa…poor me…I found a new dimple of cellulite on my thigh and my universe has collapsed.”

I had a little victory today, though. I went on the elliptical trainer this afternoon and managed to work out for 15 minutes! Better than the painful five minutes I wrote about a few weeks back. I chose to push myself. I decided I was going to do it, and I did. Sure, I wanted to throw up and run for cover with a bag of oreos after the four minute mark, but I kept going. And that feels good.