Why You Should Do Something You Hate
Updated: Nov 26, 2019
We all have things we know we should do, but we avoid them because we hate them.
Maybe it’s eating healthy… my pizza has spinach on it, that counts right?
Maybe it’s exercising… but binge-watching "The Good Place" is so much more comfortable!
For as long as I can remember I’ve always hated hiking.
It’s hard and my lungs always felt like they were going to jump out of my chest. All in all, it feels like my body is being tortured.
Not to mention, there’s bugs and dirt everywhere.
Back in 2006, my fiancé at the time took me on a short hike which because of all my complaining instead of only taking an hour it was a three-hour hike. Little did I know he had planned to propose to me at the top.
It wasn’t until 2014 that I began focusing on my health, both physically and mentally, and decided to share it all on my YouTube channel. youtube.com/sarahjoy88
A few years ago I thought it would be fun to do a challenge video.
There are challenge videos about almost everything.
The “Ice Bucket Challenge", the “Cinnamon Challenge", the “10,000 Calorie Challenge”, and even the “Try Not To Laugh Challenge”.
For my challenge video, I wanted it to be unique but it also had to be something healthy, and of course, something that I hate… because it’s not a challenge if I love it right?
I’m sure no one would have a hard time eating cake every day for a week.
First, I started thinking of things I hate…
-The sound of people chewing, when someone drives too close to my car, and... hiking!
I came up with a plan and created three rules that I would have to follow throughout the week.
#1: For the next seven days every single day I would have to go to a new location.
#2: The hike had to be at least 30 minutes long.
#3: I not only had to hike while carrying my 1-year-old and my 4-year-old walking by my side but I was going to bring my camera and Vlog.
Day 1 we started off easy and went downtown to hike around Tubbs. I was feeling strong and actually had some fun.
By day 3 we were hiking a trail called Big Tree Trail which I had never heard of before and it turns out, it was very very steep.
After just the first few minutes I began regretting doing the challenge and wanted to turn back.
But my girls were having so much fun that we pressed on.
Each day got harder and I hated it so much! Until...
By the last day, my husband was able to join un and as a family, we all hiked the same trail that he proposed to me on. This time, we had fun and it only took an hour… that’s with a 1 and a 4-year-old!! I really complained a lot that first time haha
Throughout the whole week and all of it’s ups and downs I learned things about myself and how I was treating my body.
In the past I was so embarrassed about breathing hard that I would hold my breathe and pretend that I was fine and definitely not dying.
I was so focused on comparing myself to others around me that I stopped taking care of my body.
I was literally depriving my body of something that keeps me alive.
After hiking every day for 7 days I realized that I actually really liked hiking. It was fun exploring with my family and friends. It was nice having time to think and enjoy the beauty that surrounds us every day. And I learned that breathing is good. Even if it’s heavy! That means I’m exercising and not only does my body need that but I’m valuable enough to give it that.
Now, I have hiked more and more every summer. This most recent summer I even had the honor to go on a couple of backpacking adventures with some friends and with my daughter, who is now 6 and has been having such a blast! It has brought joy to me, to my husband, and to both our girls.
So what is something that you hate and avoid doing?
I challenge you to take on this 7-day challenge!
Find something healthy that you can incorporate into your life every day for a week and see what you will learn from it.
Do something you hate.