Making it to the Finish Line
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I am probably one of the most non-athletic people you’ll probably ever know. It’s a bit disconcerting because my father was a star athlete and state champion boxer and he and my mom were the most amazing dancers you can imagine. Unfortunately, both my brother and I lost out on that gene.
Not letting this lack stand in my way, the same year I decided I wanted to be an author I took up running. My goal was to run a ten minute mile. It literally took me months to run that distance despite the fact that I was on the track five mornings a week. Somehow, in my mind, the goal of selling a book and running that mile were akin in my mind. I refused to give up and finally broke through the barrier. Later I ran a number of 10 K runs, never finishing for any awards for time . . . but finishing. For me that’s what life is about, making it to the finish line.
March 3rd, 2016 at 6:21 pm
Thank you for being such an inspiration and reminding me that it’s less about how long it takes and more about just getting it done!
March 3rd, 2016 at 6:56 pm
Hi Debbie,
We come to Vero every year….and every year I go to the Knitty Gritty hoping to see you there but…no such luck!
Any chance you will be there between now and 3/12. It would be a joy to just meet you for a minute. I respect how very busy you are…just thought I would check! Thanks for putting out a new book right as I begin vacation!
Best, Su
!
March 3rd, 2016 at 7:17 pm
I’ve had a long commute for over 25 yrs. I’ve tried all sorts of companionship on my way to work. Finally I discovered that I enjoyed audio books. You are my top author. I’m still waiting to have someone like me in one of them. I’m an older widow whose husband of 28+ yrs. told her he wanted her 2 remarry. God helped us 2 find each other(we never lied 2 ea other). Near his end he wouldn’t let up, so I told him if God wanted me to date I wouldn’t close my ?. He never mentioned it again. That was over 8 yrs ago. I would like 2 have a male friend but not a husband. I’ve always been introverted. But being a nurse I’ve learned to come out of my shell over the yrs, Don helped too. But now I find myself back there again. It would be nice to read about an older widow.
March 3rd, 2016 at 7:36 pm
It is always great and satisfying when we do something for the fun of it and not worrying about”breaking any records”.
March 3rd, 2016 at 8:25 pm
Dear Debbie,
It took me 3 months before I could walk a mile in 20 minutes. I did it for a year and drastically changed my diet, and I lost 80 pounds in a year. I used to weigh 356 pounds, and now I weigh 180. You could say I am almost half the woman I used to be. I lost my soul-mate of 43 years almost 5 years ago. We lost our oldest son John in 1990. He was burned to death. It took us 11 years to let go of his ashes. We buried his ashes with a Red Oak sapling that is now huge, reaching toward the heavens. I know it is time to let go ofMike’s ashes. My greatest desire is to bury Mike’s ashes with a Mighty Oak sapling next to our son’s tree in Caney Fork Reservoir in NC. I am 66 and disabled, so I am praying the Lord’s will is the same as mine and that he will provide me with the funds to go to NC this spring or summer to have time to drive, sleep one night, buy his Mighty Oak sapling and plant it with his ashes. This weighs heavily on my heart. Please pray with me that the Lord will make it possible because this is where and what my husband wanted to be. If it were not for my sister in California, who got me reading your books and messages, I would still be lying in bed in a deep depression. I thank you for your inspiration. God Bless You and Yours.
March 3rd, 2016 at 8:30 pm
I hope you received my comments. I’m rather electronically challenged.LOL (but not kidding) Love In Christ, Colleen Watt
March 4th, 2016 at 8:35 pm
Absolutely!
March 4th, 2016 at 8:35 pm
great writer, love her work..
March 4th, 2016 at 9:29 pm
I have a ‘finish line’ I am aiming for as well. It’s a particularly significant life moment for me. The only thing able to compete with it is the birth of my son. It might happen this year.
It’s more about me mastering patience though, than it is me actually doing anything. It will happen, it just seems like it is always in the distance. I hate waiting.
Well I also want to some day end up saying wedding vows. Not sure how hard a race that’s going to be. Life rarely lets us find Mr Right just because we tried real hard. In most of the books I have read, Mr Right trips over us or something. We weren’t even looking for him. I’m starting to wonder if I’m looking too hard. Maybe if I made finding a husband some form of nuisance, he’ll show up?
March 6th, 2016 at 1:33 pm
I crossed two finish lines in January 2016. The first, my second romance novel was published/released…a wonderful day! Second, my marriage of 25 years officially ended…bittersweet in comparison. My next finish line? Learning who I am again, and hopefully will fall IN love someday. Thank you Debbie! Your books give me much hope. 🙂
March 10th, 2016 at 1:35 pm
I just love your books! I was first introduced to your books by my Nanny (grandma) the summer I graduated from high school. We would exchange books, and read series together- it was a very special bond! While my Nanny has gone home to the Lord, I still read your books, and it warms my heart to think she’s reading over my shoulder to the finish line with me!
March 10th, 2016 at 1:38 pm
I’ve set a goal for myself this year, 2 years ago my goal was to read 75 books in one year (not an easy task when you work full time, sit on two Board of Directors and have 9 acres of land to keep up with! Last year my goal was to read 100 books and I just made it on December 31st at about 11:45 PM :).
This year is to learn Spanish……¡Que tengas un buen día!
March 13th, 2016 at 2:16 am
This is inspiring for me because I love to read but there is never a enough time in a day to read. So I tried to read a chapter a night before bed unless I can read a few during the day.