Hard work matters. I am not here to tell you otherwise. Showing up consistently, doing the things that are hard and unglamorous and uninstagrammable, putting in the effort even when you do not feel like it: that all counts. Nobody gets anywhere without some version of it.
But that’s always The one we do not talk about as much because it feels a little uncomfortable to admit. Luck. A handful of lucky things have quietly made my fitness journey not just more manageable, but genuinely more enjoyable. Sometimes luck is the thing that tips the scales. And right now I feel like I have caught some good breaks, and I am not taking a single one of them for granted.
My Gym Added Line Dancing Classes
Honestly, getting back to the gym consistently has not always been easy for me. But then my gym started offering line dancing classes and your girl was in. It sounds small. It is not small. Movement that feels like fun instead of obligation is one of the best things that can happen to your fitness routine. I’m not going because I have to. I’m going because there is something genuinely enjoyable waiting for me when I get there. That changes everything about the mental math of showing up. I got lucky that this showed up in my life at exactly the right time, and I am excited to sign up for those classes!
Finding My Gym Sweet Spot
This one sounds almost too simple but it has made a real difference. I stumbled onto the right time to go to the gym, and it changed my whole experience. The machines I want are available. It’s not crowded. I can move through my workout without waiting around or feeling rushed or adjusting my plan on the fly because the equipment I want to use is taken. That might not sound life-changing, but when you are already having to talk yourself into going, removing every possible friction point matters enormously. I got lucky that my schedule allows for it. I know not everyone has that flexibility and I don’t take it for granted.
Safe, Beautiful Places to Run Right Outside My Door
I have access to well-lit sidewalks in great neighborhoods nearby, some fabulous downtown areas, and even the beach. All of these things make me feel so lucky as a runner. Safe running routes aren’t something every runner has, and I am aware of that. Being able to lace up and head out the door without having to drive somewhere first, without worrying about whether the route is well-lit, without having to give it a second thought, that is luck. And on the days when I hit the beach at sunrise and the dolphins are playing in the surf, I feel like the luckiest person alive.
The Friends Who Show Up
I have people in my corner who push me, cheer for me, check on me, and show up. That’s not something everyone has, and I feel so lucky for it. The right people make hard things feel possible. They make the early mornings more fun and the hard days more manageable. They celebrate your wins even when those wins look small to the outside world, and they keep you going when your own motivation runs dry. I didn’t manufacture these friendships through hard work alone. I got lucky that these humans landed in my life, and I’m so deeply grateful for every single one of them.
Loving the Journey, Not Just the Outcome
This might be the luckiest thing of all, and it took me a long time to get here, and I’m at a point in my life where I genuinely enjoy the experience of doing things, even when I’m not particularly good at them. I’m not chasing a podium, and I’m not trying to prove anything to anyone. I love the feeling of moving my body, the rhythm of a run, and the exhaustion of a great workout. I love the experience of it, even on the hard days, even when the numbers are not impressive, even when it does not look like much from the outside. This perspective feels like such a gift. Some of it is maturity, some of it is hard-won wisdom, and some of it is just luck: being in a season of life where I can finally let go of what I thought fitness was supposed to look like, and just enjoy what it actually is.
I still believe in showing up. I still believe in consistency and effort and doing the work even when nobody is watching. That part has not changed.
But right now I feel genuinely lucky. While hard work is the foundation, these lucky breaks are truly a gift.
What about you? Have you caught any lucky breaks in your fitness journey lately?
Join us next week —> What’s your favorite way to welcome spring?
Link Up With Tuesday Topics
Welcome back to Tuesday Topics, as Jenny, from Runners Fly joins Jenn at Runs With Pugs to co-host this link-up! Please join us every week for a new topic! Write on our weekly prompt or choose your own topic! Make sure to add your post to the link up, link back to your hosts, and comment on the other shared posts!
Oh this is such a good take, Jenn! You are right, there’s a lot of discipline and grit and early morning wake up calls, but there’s also luck.
I love your line dancing example. My sister goes to Zumba classes, and it really is the key for her to keep moving.
For myself, I’m counting “not getting injured” as my lucky break. No Achilles tendon acting up, no stress fracture, even the hamstring is quieter. Fingers crossed!