Live for today; train for tomorrow

I had a little revelation last night.  Said revelation can be summed up in one neat little sentence.

Live for today; train for tomorrow. 

Being injured has turned me into a strange creature, spastically fixated on the future.  Part of me feels like this entire autumn running season has been wasted and that I am currently just in a waiting game to start working on my "real" goals.  That awful attitude is me being dismissive of the present.   I have not been honoring each new day for what it is, because before I even wake up in the morning I have already decided that it is not the day that will bring me what I really want.

And you know what?  That's crap.

Taking time to draw out a long-term plan is an awesome thing to do, especially when you need to feel that there is a light at the end of the injured tunnel.  But focusing on the long term goals too intensely has turned me into a pompous jerk who thinks that today is not good enough for her.  It has also been getting me down- making me feel unworthy because right now I am nowhere near where I would like to be.  The days have kind of been a drag.  Because I cannot directly work on my running and racing at this current time, I just want to get through the day so that I am a day closer to running again and being proud of myself for my progress.  And, yes, each day that passes brings me closer to the big picture goals, but days are not just boxes to be crossed off on the calendar.  They are opportunities to actively engage myself in daily milestones, enjoy each day for its individual challenges, and to congratulate myself on the little things.

I am going to write down my long-term goals, in pen on a piece of paper, and leave that piece of paper somewhere.  I will know where it is, I will know what my goals are, but I pledge from now on that all of my active mental energy will be devoted to the smaller things- the daily, weekly, and monthly goals that will help me someday come within grasping distance of the Big Picture.

I went to sleep last night with this new viewpoint in mind, unarticulated but present.  I slept more soundly than I have in the past few months, and I was excited to wake up this morning.  I know already that if I can harness this new carpe diem state of mind, I will evolve into not just a stronger athlete, but a more stable and happy person... a person ready to chase those big goals.