At age 74, Ernestine Shepherd is the oldest female bodybuilder in the Guinness Book of World Records. When she started working out at age of 56, she had never exercised before. Now she runs 80 miles a week, and bench presses 150 pounds. Every day Ernestine wakes up at 3 a.m. to meditate, run, lifts weights, and teach fitness classes to other senior citizens. She is a great inspiration to many, setting the example that if you want something bad enough you can overcome the obstacles to achieve it.
How does she do it? Her motto is, “determination, discipline, dedication.” Three ugly words, right? But I have been thinking about Ernestine lately, and wondering what it would be like if I followed her motto. What do those words mean to me? Here is what I've come up with.
Determination
No matter what, keep moving forward
Have the attitude to succeed
Stay resolved to finish your goals
"The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a person's determination."
-Tommy Lasorda
Discipline
Practice, practice, practice
Make it a daily regimen, a daily habit
When it gets difficult, go a little further more
"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." -Aristotle
"Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishments." - Jim Rohn
Dedication
Remember why you are doing this, why it is meaningful to you
Make the decision and commit yourself to it
Have faith in yourself
“Most of us serve our ideals by fits and starts. The person who makes a success of living is the one who sees his goal steadily and aims for it unswervingly. That is dedication.” Cecil B. De Mille
I believe there is great power within each of us, the power to overcome, and the power to succeed. Following our dreams is not going to be easy, it may even be the most difficult thing we have ever done, but it will be also be the most rewarding. By following "The 3 Ds", determination, discipline and dedication, we can achieve our dreams.
Ernestine Shepherd
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XZMQTZIOS8
That is quite inspirational! Amazing story.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you liked it. The 3 Ds are the things I tend to struggle with the most.
Delete-Andrea
I really like this post because it's the discipline I find the hardest. Great quotes too!
ReplyDeleteMe too! OMG. I posted this one to try to get me motivated to continue writing.. some days are just so hard. Lately I've been giving myself mini goals, like just write for 20 minutes, 20 minutes then you can stop.. its helped.
ReplyDelete