It’s TIME (Orient ladies watch giveaway).

by

People, I wont lie to you.

I started this post a million times.

It rhymed.

It was a pre-pre-Thanksgiving day ode (that one I actually kinda liked—-but decided to save).

It was a yammer about how Yom Kippur sparked some reflection & re-prioritizing  for me (hello, the painfully shocking fact that the Tornado will enter kindergarten in fall 2011…which feels like tomorrow!).

It was a Dear Yoga Class I Always Spy On The Gym Schedule Yet Never Make Time For letter (that one was pretty spectacular as well. If by (fingerquote) spectacular (unFQ) you mean I blew off finishing it and decided to pop in a Rodney DVD which I do).

It was a post about how we are TEN months into the New Year & it’s time to revisit the mission statements/goals we made last January (decided to save that one as well. This may or may not be yer hint about next Two Fit Chicks & A Microphone podcast…).

What it all boiled down to, however, is that Im itching for change.

Nothing big.  Just a new endeavor which will push me to limits I didnt realize I had—and then some.

What it all boiled down to is that Im feeling the need to stretch myself and see how far I can go.

In what realm? Im not yet certain.

What it all boiled down to is this well-worn expression: what would you do if you knew you could not fail?

While trite and oft overused especially on Twitter it’s a phase that is entirely applicable to what Im feeling & one which Im tossing back at you on this Monday.

What would you do if you knew you could not fail?

And whatever that is—give it a shot.

It’s time.

(Yeah, once I’d gotten the it’s TIME mantrachant firmly lodged in my head I felt compelled to wrangle a freebie out of it for you. It’s the way I roll.)

I give you this:

ladies-giveaway-watch

Oriental Watch Site (which has a plethora of ladies automatic watches and men’s watches) has *generously*  offered to send one reader the (stainless steel, water resistant) women’s watch pictured above.

You can be entered to win for the lowlow price of a comment below.

You know, as long as you’re willing to share your answer to my tough query & join me in my one-woman IT’S TIME FOR A CHANGE movement.

So lay it on me.

On us.

What would you do if you knew you could not fail?

(Winner announced 10.26 USA only)

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Comments

  2. I can’t believe we are ten months into the new year!

    For me if I knew I couldn’t fail I’d let go of all my “I need to” and “I should” and just let myself be.

    I don’t know that I can be that kind.

  3. I can’t win but I signed up for my first 5K this weekend and I know I can not fail!

    If I show up on race day I’ve won.

    Thanks for all that you do and for inspiring me.

  5. I’d go to medical school if I knew I couldn’t fail. I should have stayed on that path in college and got diverted. Can’t wait to hear what changes are brewing for you!

  6. I’d definitely write a book. And start the following businesses: a restaurant, a tea room, personal training and photography. And an olympic-distance triathlon and (the bigger dream) an Ironman.

    I’ve begun 4 of the 6. Not bad. But I’m feeling ambitious again. I like this feeling.

  7. I would teach kids how to be confident in the kitchen and cook real food that they will eat.

    Don’t enter me for the watch – every single darn one I’ve ever owned stops within a week.

    : )

  10. I would go back to school and get my PhD and help people as I intended before I was somehow derailed.

    After reading this post I can’t even remember why I got off that path.

  13. Hard question for me this morning, Miz. I need new goals. I need to get my head and my heart on straight.

    For fitness goals, I’d enter a figure competition.

    For career goals, I’d stick with my heart and pursue a meaningful career I’m passionate about.

    For relationships, I’d open up a bit more and let love in (but this is a fear of mine after a FAILed marriage)

    Thanks for the food for thought. Again.

  15. I miss the rhymes LOL

    I’m not as nice as Steve as I’d give the watch to my wife so please enter me.

    I would open a book store if I knew it would SUCCEED and I would be able to support my family.

  17. What a great Monday post! I can see you wanting to push yourself more or differently. Can’t wait to hear more!

    Yes, I would love to create world peace, find cures for cancer & stop people from being hungry… but looking at it realistically for me.. here it is:

    Me, I would do what I have wanted to do for years if I could not fail… try to be a fitness model, write a book about my experiences with weight loss the wrong & right way, speak to others on my experiences in this realm & how I learned to change with the times, age & especially now at this age & stage in a woman’s life.

    That friggin fear of failure! You are so on about us needed to get past that!

  19. What would you do if you knew you could not fail?

    The answer to that question for me is to wait.

    I’d go get a job outside the home. I need something that’s mine. Something where I can make the money I used to make.

    Any job I get outside the home right now would be equivalent to failure. Failure to be a mom to my kids.

    So, I wait. Wait for them to get in school full time so that I can start working again.

    Oh, I could swing it now. I know lots of women do. But I know in my gut, it’s not right…for me…not yet.

    And so, I wait, because I’ve got others to put before my own desires right now.

  21. It’s time to stop using the word “but” in any thoughts/discussions about the future.

    I’m having a bit of trouble redefining my between careers self. I knew there’d be an adjustment period when I stopped taking new projects and made the official SAHM decision. (The “stay-at-home” part is seriously wrong though, as I haven’t had a whole day at home in months. I sometimes spend more time in a week volunteering at schools than I did “working”.)

    I’d like to start studying for my “what’s next”. In playing out the various paths, it’s time to stop following “I’d like to…” and “I could…” with the word “BUT”.

    It’s time to do what I keep telling my children to do – to dive in to new subjects and experiences.

  22. I’d quit my job and become a professional runner. If I couldn’t fail, that would support me, right? And then no injuries, no utter lack of speed like I have now…. 🙂

  24. If I knew I wouldn’t fail, I’d run for president.
    If I knew I wouldn’t fail, I’d come back in my next life in a healthier body – no issues.
    If I knew I wouldn’t fail, I’d fall in love again.
    If I knew I wouldn’t fail, I’d invite the world over for dinner and dinner would be served on time.
    If I knew I wouldn’t fail, I’d write books.
    If I knew I wouldn’t fail I’d be a motivational speaker.
    If I knew I wouldn’t fail, fer shure, I’d do stand up comedy though I’d keep a close by.

  27. Great question! Seeing as how fear of failure has always been a weakness of mine, my life would be so different if I knew I couldn’t fail. I would prabaly go for that job I wasn’t sure I could get, I would talk to that guy I thought was too good for me, I would run further, try harder, and actually live life.

  28. POD’s comment is GREAT!

    aaahhh….the age old question of what would I would do if no barriers held me back.

    If I knew I wouldn’t fail, I would sell all of my possessions and give my money away and then rely on the goodness of people’s hearts for things I truly needed.

    If I knew I wouldn’t fail, I would speak my mind more because opinions are just opinions and we each have our own.

    If I knew I wouldn’t fail, I would quit my job and spend all my day helping people love themselves and fight for what they want.

    If I knew I wouldn’t fail, I would stop pondering the word “fail” and take a leap of faith.

  29. Is it crazy that my knee-jerk reaction was “gymnastics”?!? After all this time and all my injuries, I still miss that feeling of flying:) Can I change your questions to “…if I could not fail AND not get injured”?

  30. You know what? I don’t see a lot of serious consequences for failure for a lot of the stuff above. I don’t see anyone going broke, losing their houses, or becoming injured. Why not go for it? What is holding us back?

    For me, I pretty much try anything. It took me a long time to think of the one thing that fear of failure holds me back from: Returning to work. For me, if I return to work and my lupus comes out of remission, I could well be 4 years without income or health insurance until Social Security hears my claim again. For me, if the healthcare initiative doesn’t pass, I could find myself working, but without the health insurance I need to deal with my various health conditions. Going back to work and failing likely would mean ending up in a shelter or on the street for years.

    But even “failure” is relative, in that case, it would be a health failure, not a spiritual failure, not an emotional failure…

  32. If I knew I would not fail I would probably get more education. I’d love to have an advanced spanish degree as well as my Doctorate of ministry but I don’t have the money and I don’t know if I have the time.

  33. If I knew that I could not fail, I would do the following:

    1. Cure Childhood Cancer and Breast Caner (two diseases that have played havoc with my immediate family)

    2. Find a way to end pre-mature birth

    3. Open a bookstore/coffee shop in the historic district of my hometown.

  34. I’m already doing something pretty crazy that most wouldn’t try. Sure, there are a lot of selfless things that are already mentioned (helping with sorrows, cancer, etc.). But, one goal of mine is getting a grip on the whole eating and excercise stuff – but, I’m working on that!

  38. I reached 2 of my goals recently that I wasn’t sure I would succeed at: completing a sprint triathlon and passing my personal trainer certification exam. Now I feel like I CAN do anything. But…if I could do something and know I would not fail it would be an Ironman and a figure competition. Future goals maybe?!

    Courtney
    Adventures in Tri-ing

  39. as always fabkate makes a good point.

    and POD?
    Im coming for dinner.
    and POD?
    I dont care if its served on time.

  40. I really have to think about that one. There are several things I think I might like to do one day, but I can’t come up with one thing that stands above all the others.

    Maybe I just need more coffee…

  43. I would start my own personal training business and make it my full time profession.

    Oh wait I’m on my way to working on that…..step one: get my personal training certificate which is on its way to happening since I’m currently studying for it.

  44. My initial reaction was to say that everything I want to do, I’m already doing. Then I started reading some of other people’s ideas and now there’s so many things I want to do, I don’t know which one to pick! Stop genocide in Darfur? Train for mid-distance trail races (like Charlotte, injury-free as well as failure-free)? Ensure everyone in the world has the means to take care of their basic needs for food, water, shelter, health care, etc? Those are the first things that come to mind. Funny how I was completely in the mindset of career goals until I read others’ comments.

  45. I have been itching to move to the West Coast…I am going to San Francisco in a few weeks and I am afraid I wont want to leave!

    Problem is that I have a fantastic job, and could use at least another year of work experience before I start looking elsewhere. Combine that with I moved back from college to be near the siblings before they left for college…and my baby bro has another year.

    The timing is bad, but thats not stopping me from dreaming and making plans 🙂 Maybe the watch will remind me to bide my time, and lay the groundwork for the eventual move.

  49. I’d like to be in a play. I’m really scared of the whole audition process, so if I knew I couldn’t fail, I’d be up on that stage in a minute.

  51. I’d write a book. I’ve tried NANO WRIMO several times and I never manage to stick it out. Maybe this is my year.

  52. Holy crap I just wrote about this today!! It has to be in the air b/c this was also my sermon at church yesterday (hence why I wrote about it today) and my girlfriend’s FB status this morning.

    I love when this happens b/c it means somethin’ is a brewin’.

    Anyway, I would start a .TV station about absolutely nothing and try to go big time with it…Actually that might work…now i gotta think…:o)

  53. Yeah, we already know what I would do if I couldn’t fail. And, oddly, I do not believe that I will fail.

    I still have to get my butt in gear and MOVE FORWARD on it. Too much time has gone by without enough change.

  54. Skydive.
    OK, seriously, I, too, would finally sit my butt down and write a novel. One that I’d want to read. Humorous, fun, and a happy ending.

  55. So many things. Run a marathon. Start a adult springboard diving league. Write a novel. Become a rockstar. Make the video game *I* want to make. Get to a goal weight I’m happy with. Get back into acting.

    The problem is – picking a few, otherwise I get REALLY REALLY scattered with shiny syndrome. Right now – focusing on the marathon (by the end of 2010), work is at least starting to move me in the right direction for the video game goal (but it will be YEARS), and of course the goal weight (we’ll see).

    I really could use more time in my day, plz.

  56. For me, I would love to work for myself. I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately. I’ve basically spent the last 18 years sitting at a desk not particularly hating my job, but its nothing to get excited about. My brother in law passed away last week at 51 and I thought what would I do to make the best out of the time I have left??

    Great post! Then next thing is to take action!

  59. If I couldn’t fail I’d go after that great job where I was respected and that used all my skills, paid well, valued older workers, where having been a mom and a part-time worker was considered valuable experience.

  61. Failure can be such a powerful word if we allow it to be. What seemed like a simple question has really gotten my brain working hard here. The word failure itself means something different to me now than it ever has because my life isn’t following the script I tried to write. Accepting that life happens instead of trying to control things means I learn and grow instead of feeling as though I’ve failed (or worse yet, that I am a failure). So what would I do if I couldn’t fail? I am doing it- being me.

    Thanks, as always, for your thought-provoking inspiration and shining example!

    And no thanks on the watch. 🙂

  64. I know why I dodged this question last time: I think I’m afraid to say, because then gosh darn it, I’d have to DO these crazy things! You know, I feel like a real weenie now, even though my entire past year and a half has been spent doing crazy things I wondered whether I could do.

    My selfish “would do” list:
    (deep breath)
    – Raise our children to maximize their chances of being happy, kind, and well-adjusted people who can take care of themselves (“maximize their chances,” because it’s not all determined by my husband and me, thank goodness!).
    – Write a book (non-tech writing)
    – Investigate (and possibly pursue) the librarian career path
    – Move to Hawaii (longtime dream of my husband and I)
    – Complete an Ironman triathlon.

  67. If I knew I couldn’t fail I’d probably be more likely to have kids! LOL
    I’d also love to be a part of opening a vegetarian/vegan/raw friendly restaurant in my little southern town and would discover my inner chef.

  68. If I could not possibly fail, I should like to go on the space shuttle and see our wonderful world from space.

    I also wouldn’t mind going to veterinary school so I could learn to help injured and sick animals. As well as helping their owners.

    Or I’d like to start a small business.

  70. I would become much more social and join a local women’s club (my shyness/social anxiety holds me back). I would put my house up for sale (sure to fail in these times!), and move to a much smaller,simpler,less time consuming one. I would quit my good paying health care job(I’m burned out!!) and go to school for a much less stressful job with better hours. Don’t think my family that depends on my paycheck would like that so much right now….But I am soooo thankful to have the job I have in times like these.

  71. My substantive answer is: I’d like to find a way to do MORE… mostly in terms of helping others.

    So, MizFit, like your idol (the women who ran for others in the Congo)… I’d like to be the kind of woman who organized more, inspired more, made a difference more.

    Two other (less altruistic) responses came to mind too:

    1) I’d tackle my fear of long-distance flying — and take my family on a trip to Italy. Yep. I would.

    and

    2) I’d finish this darn dissertation. I’m wrapping up (what HAS to be) my final year… and it just has to be “buckle down” time so that I get.it.done.

    Thanks for the chance to reflect/read on this rainy Monday…

  73. If I knew I could not fail I would leave a comment at MizFitOnline and win a really cool watch.

    …..and play the lottery. :o)

  76. I’d go up in a hot air balloon! Although I guess it’s not fear of *my* failure that prevents me, but failure of the balloon or the success of gravity. 🙂

  77. Wow! looks like you all have been reading my little brain, huh? Well, When my husband was sick, I knew I wouldn’t fail to be the best caregiver. When I was getting ready to go to China for my daughter, I knew, completely, I wouldn’t fail.
    Since then, things haven’t been going so well.

    If I knew I wouldn’t fail, I would figure out how to start the blog I’ve written over and over in my head

    If I knew I wouldn’t fail I would find a way to afford the Kettle bell class I found today with a master teacher.

    If I knew I wouldn’t fail, I would throw away all my fat clothes and start today…..( by george, I think she’s got it!

  78. I know what you mean, I’m in that same place… I need some sort of change.

    I’d train for a marathon but I’m already working on that.

    The real answer, is I’d quit my job and search for the *right* one that makes me happy, no matter where it is and what I’d have to sacrifice for it.

  79. If I could not fail, I would work my butt off anyway (because it makes it feel more worth while) and change our food system, creating an appreciation for fresh produce that grew naturally and with lots of love, as well as for the animals that, as abused, different, species than our own, deserve our respect. I would teach people how to not be blinded by our giant food companies and how to make a stand for their health and happiness, something all people deserve even if they do not realize it. Technically the industries are keeping people from their basic right to pursue happiness by keeping people ignorant. This ignorance I would reverse, if I could not fail. Even if I could fail, I will try anyway.

  85. The first three things that came into my head:

    1.) Strive to get an audition for a lead role in a feature film and, since I would not fail, land it.

    2.) Interview with Self magazine after success in #1 and ask to be on the cover/in a workout spread.

    3.) Tell he-who-shall-not-be-named that I am still in love with him.

    What can I say? I am driven in my career, and I miss he-who-shall-not-be-named, even though I am “happily single.” ::sigh::

  86. FLY!!! the classic answer. But I’d fly not just anywhere, I’d fly to the tippie top of the eiffel tower 😛

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