Challenge 4: Strike up a conversation with stranger

January 16th, 2010

I DID IT!! I DID IT!! I DID IT!! And boy does it feel good. I started reading yesterday at 10:30 and had absolutely no idea whatsoever how I was going to finish that book. By 8:30 pm I had finished 565 pages of tiny type, not including the 23 page intro. Eeek.

Within 20 minutes of starting to read, I was already construction my "I didn't do it but I tried" letter to you all. It just felt so impossible. The end seemed so far away. But I just kept reading and at one point, I just decided that it could be done. I also decided, about 2 hours in, that this was as much as a challenge as walking around that lake. At times the book was so boring I didn't think I could make it, but I stuck through it and made it to the really interesting parts.

So I lost myself in the book, took minimal food/bathroom/shower breaks, and just plowed through. It seems like a no big deal thing, but I have to be honest...when I finished that book, I seriously felt like I could do ANYTHING. Because in that moment. I had achieved the impossible. I did something I honestly thought couldn't be done. So I feel proud.

Another interesting thing happened with it. Vaughn eventually woke up and read the blog and told me he thought I could do it and that he was proud of me. I think that extra push and support made a huge difference. I all of a sudden felt like I wasn't only doing it for me, but I was also doing it for us. I had a team member, someone on my side, a coach telling me I could do it.

So today we leave the Northwoods. It's 5:35 am here, 3:35 Cali time. I'm sad to go, but alas, know it must be done. We have a puppy at home waiting for us and life to resume to. It's been a wonderful week here.

My challenge today will be to strike up a conversation with a complete stranger. I figure, at least I will have challenged myself, and at best, might gain a new client (week goal). Off to tea I go.

Challenge 4: Talk to a stranger

4 down. 361 to go.