“Enjoyment is the fuel we need to reach the finish line…with a good attitude. We may drive ourselves to finish, but somewhere along the way…[we need to] lighten up and take time to celebrate the journey.”  Joyce Meyer

Are you celebrating your Mary-thon journey?  Are you celebrating the fact that you have exercised regularly for a number of weeks so far?  Are you celebrating the positive impact your fitness routine has on your body and your soul?  Are you excited at the prospect of reaching your ¼ or ½ or ¾ Mary-thon milestone?  Are you planning to cross the finish line and do you have a date set that you will achieve that milestone?

If your Mary-thon is becoming a punishment or a drudgery or if you are getting bored with your self-designed fitness plan – maybe you just aren’t congratulating yourself enough along the way.

Here are five reasons why you need to regularly give yourself a celebratory “pat on the back” along the way throughout your Mary-thon.  Yes, the medal at the finish line is important – but you are engaging in a 6 month (26 week) fitness program and you deserve to be rewarded for your daily and weekly efforts!  Why?

Here are five important reasons:

1. Rewards keep us motivated.  On one occasion I remember a teacher asking the class if anyone read the assignment.  Those who did (not me) raised their hands and they were rewarded with a beautiful red marking pencil that had an eraser and a very cool pocket clip on it.  I was SO DISAPPOINTED!!!  I LOVE office supplies – and I especially wanted one of those red pencils.  I was inspired by the teacher’s reward and I was so motivated to do my reading the next week so that I too could get the pencil she offered.  Rewards still motivate me.  Rewarding ourselves throughout our Mary-thon can motivate each of us to continue our paths to the finish line.  

2. Rewards make us feel good.  The reward doesn’t need to be HUGE or EXPENSIVE but it does need to have merit or be considered memorable.  You set a short-term Mary-thon goal and then reward yourself for completing that goal.  A reward could be a day at the spa, a new hairdo, a book by your favorite author, a movie or just a new pair of socks.  How about putting $1.00 in a jar for each day you complete your 30 minutes of exercise?  Then, at the mid-point of your Mary-thon (13 weeks) and at the finish line (26 weeks) you can spend the money collected on something special, just for you?  Guaranteed – when you receive your reward – you WILL feel good about yourself, your efforts and your success.

3. Because if you don’t, then who will?   Although I’m here to applaud you with incentives and “bravos” and motivational quotes and tips – it won’t keep you “in the Mary-thon” if you don’t applaud yourself along the way as well.  If you are waiting for your family members or co-workers or friends to reward your for your achievements, you may be waiting a VERY long time.  Sorry to say – but not everyone will be holding up encouraging posters along your Mary-thon route.  In fact, there will be those who may try to sabotage your progress or lead you off your Mary-thon path.  There will be others who just don’t care one way or another and if YOU quit because of THEIR lack of interest – the only one who ultimately pays the price is you.  It’s important that you don’t wait for others to validate how well you are doing and how dedicated you are. Make it a do-it-yourself project.

4. Rewards motivate you to work harder. When you achieve a goal and receive a reward for achieving that goal – you are inspired to set another more ambitious goal – with an even more enticing reward.  Doesn’t that sound like fun???  And who wins in the end?  You do – because you are healthier and stronger as a result of your efforts.

5. Rewards serve as a reminder that hard work pays off!  Then, at the end of 26 weeks – you will have finished your Mary-thon and ready to begin your next!  It’s as simple as that!

If you are in  need of some extra motivation along the way – PLEASE e-mail Mary for encouragement.  (mary@marython.net).  If you’ve had a GREAT week PLEASE e-mail Mary for applause (mary@marython.net).  If you have a question or need a suggestion for a workout or to get out of a slump PLEASE e-mail Mary for an answer (mary@marython.net).  In fact – you can e-mail me at ANY TIME and I will do my best to help you in ANY WAY that I can.

In the end – it’s up to you to stay on the Mary-thon track and cross the Mary-thon finish line but please take advantage of the “water stations” and “energy drinks” provided along the way!  That’s what I’m here for!

Keep Moving Foward!

Mary