YOU WANT TO STOP BUT YOU DON’T NEED TO STOP

I’ve recently chalked up three years since I moved with my young family from our home of over 15 years in Brisbane, to the relative calm of Toowoomba.

In that time I have met some really encouraging people and found myself hooked on not only one, but three sports rolled together – triathlons.

I finished my first Olympic distance ‘tri’ in a bit over two and a half hours – while this is in no means fast, it was immensely satisfying (given I would have been happy just to complete it without losing breakfast).

During those long solo training rides I kept thinking about the parallels of my own experience of starting out in triathlon and other aspects of my work, and what my clients go through in those difficult family law matters.

These are important lessons for all of us.

Things in life change.

Sometimes you initiate it and sometimes it seems to happen on its own, whether you intended it to or not.

Just because something has previously left you feeling great, does not mean it will always stay that way.

While time can help you decide, there is no point to being in a sea kayak if you are not near the sea.

When you have a new challenge ahead of you, spend a bit of extra money on the professionals that are recommended to you and follow their advice.

They may not be the cheapest, but if you want an efficient outcome their expertise can help you use your energy more efficiently and get you a far better result than by going it alone.

Their words come from experience and will help you the most when you are struggling.

When you are doing something big, new, and unfamiliar, even the best preparation and guidance won’t be enough to truly prepare you for the reality of doing it yourself.

Do your best to know what to expect, safe in the knowledge it won’t be enough.

When the intensity hits, roll with it and push through the initial shock so when things settle you can get into your rhythm and maintain it until the end.

You want to stop but you don’t need to stop.

At times during the process you will doubt yourself and what your professional guides have told you along the way.

When it hurts and you want to give up, focus on those calm words and know you have met challenges before.

Even that single next step that keeps you moving forward is getting you closer to where you want to go – and you will get there.