I find it funny now that I thought volleyball was the only thing I could work really hard at and track my progress and really feel proud because it didn't always necessarily come easily. I find it funny that last year when I didn't make the team I was partly upset because I thought volleyball was the only thing I could be really disciplined about. I thought it was the only thing that could make me work that hard and the only thing that could make me push myself well out of my comfort zone and harder than I would otherwise believe I could push myself.

I also thought it was the idea of being the best that motivated me so much. It really wasn't though. As much as I wanted to be the best, and as much as I wanted to be a leader and help the team do well, I think deep down I really was most concerned about pushing my limits and being my best. I knew I was capable of more and really pushed to get there. I wasn't as selfish as I thought :). I really thought the majority of my motivation came from rewards and recognition and the satisfaction of being better than someone else, but my ambitions really were more genuine than that. I really did want to do better for myself. I liked looking at my playing from year to year and seeing real improvement. I liked knowing I had control over myself. I liked knowing that I was capable of positive change.

I'm getting a lot better at setting personal goals this year. I've started tracking personal progress in my running (ok so you already know I started doing that this summer). My first accomplishment was getting myself to run regularly. Then it was actually enjoying my runs. Then it was running a 5k. Then it was running the mile and a half in 12:04 (over 2 minutes faster than a year ago!). Then it was running every day. Then it was getting my mile and a half down to 11:30 (and continuing to run for a mile or so after). Today it was running 5 miles.

I used to think my Everest was running a mile. Then I got there and could see the taller mountains up ahead.

You can actually learn a lot from sports/athletics. Anything you do to your level of physical strength can be done to your level of mental strength. Any dedication and discipline you put into your body you can put into your mind.

If I can run 5 miles (and I'll bet I can run even more), what can't I do??