I had read somewhere that,
“Whether you think
you can or you can’t, either way, you are right!”
What had just been a quote to feel good about, turned true
for me today. I had been trying for
quite some time, to walk for more than 20 minutes on the cross trainer. As much
as I tried, I failed every time. My legs wouldn't carry me beyond 15 to 20
minutes at a time and I had given up trying too! My old trainer having met with
an accident last week, a new trainer had taken charge. He made me do the cross
trainer today.
“45 minutes” he said,
setting the timer on his watch.
“Oh, no…no… no…. sir,” I protested. “I have never been able
to walk for more than 20 minutes at a stretch. I’ll try to stretch it to 25
minutes today.”
“45” he said sternly.
“But I can’t!!” I was not about to give up.
“Says who?”
“I know myself, don’t I?”
“For someone whom I have seen doing 100 counts of 8 variations each in ab crunches,
10 variations in weights and 5 in jumping jacks, all of last week, this should
be a piece of cake.”
Really? Would it be a piece of cake?
“You WILL do it today” he said, as if he was very sure of
the outcome.
I will?
I set the timer on my watch too and began the walk, my heart
telling me that I will walk 45 minutes today.
The first 10 minutes were easy, then my legs began to get
heavier, I wanted to stop. But it wasn't even 20 minutes. It would be a shame
if I didn't even clock my regular time. So I continued walking. The trainer put
on some song and it felt soothing. My steps started to fall in rhythm with the
song. As I continued to walk, the heaviness in my legs began to wean off and I walked
rhythmically, telling myself I can do it. He came in some time later,
“10 minutes more,” he said.
“35 minutes up already?” I asked, happy that at least the
previous record had been broken.
“Yep… you can stop if you are feeling tired.”
“No, no, I’m fine,” I told him, I wasn't feeling tired
anymore. I was now walking with a renewed enthusiasm and vigor.
“Didn't I tell you, you can? It’s all in your mind.” He said
his finger pointing to his head.
I smiled. He was right after all. Lesson learnt!
