A Detour Does Not Mean You Have to Stop

Happy Fit Friday family!

Fitness implemented today. What have you done today to optimize your health?

I want to encourage someone who may have experienced a detour in your health, wellness, and fitness journey. Maybe you started strong. Maybe you had a plan. Maybe you set some goals, changed some habits, started walking, started eating better, started exercising, or simply made up in your mind that you were going to be more intentional about your health.

And then life happened.

You got sick.

Your schedule changed.

Your body started acting up.

You had pain.

You lost your momentum.

You got discouraged.

You had to pause.

Let me encourage you today: a detour does not mean you have to stop.

It may cause a delay, but it does not have to stop you from getting to your destination.

Recently, I was driving my normal route during my daily commute, and the street I usually travel was blocked off. There was road work being done, and I had to follow a detour sign. Now, I will be honest, it was a little annoying. It caused a delay. It took me out of the way I was used to going.

But it did not stop me from getting where I needed to go.

That detour reminded me of how life can be sometimes, especially when it comes to our health. We can be moving along, doing what we know to do, and then suddenly there is a roadblock. Something comes up that we did not expect. Something interrupts the routine. Something causes us to slow down, pause, or take another direction.

But just because you have to take another route does not mean the journey is over.

Sometimes the detour is necessary.

Sometimes construction or reconstruction has to take place. And if we keep trying to travel the same road, the work that needs to be done cannot happen. Sometimes we have to slow down long enough to see what needs attention. Sometimes we have to adjust so healing can take place. Sometimes we have to listen to our bodies instead of pushing through everything.

That is still progress.

That is still part of the journey.

That is still you choosing not to quit.

For the past several weeks, I have had some health challenges that created detours for me. I had to put a hold on some things I had started. I was not able to show up the way I wanted to. My voice was gone. My body was tired. My emotions were tried. My thoughts were tested.

And yes, discouragement tried to creep in.

There were moments when I wondered, “Is this going to be the norm?”

But I had to rebuke that thought.

I had to remind myself of what the Word of God says. The Lord desires that we prosper and be in good health, even as our soul prospers. And that wellness piece is not just physical. It includes our mind, our emotions, our will, and how we respond when life does not go the way we planned.

Sometimes the real work is not just getting our body moving again. Sometimes the real work is shaking off discouragement, negative thinking, and the temptation to give up.

But by the grace of God, you can shake it off.

You can restart.

You can get back on track.

You can keep going.

Maybe you are not where you want to be right now. Maybe your routine has been interrupted. Maybe you had to slow down. Maybe you are only able to do a small portion of what you used to do.

That is okay.

Do what you can do.

If you planned to work out for 30 minutes but only have five minutes, do the five minutes.

If you wanted to walk a full trail but your body is saying, “Not today,” walk a small portion.

If you wanted to change your eating habits but found yourself grabbing things that were not the best choice, press the restart button.

If you missed a few days, a few weeks, or even a few months, do not throw up both hands and say, “Forget it. I tried, and it did not work.”

No. Restart.

Something is better than nothing.

A small step is still a step.

A slow walk is still movement.

A restart is still obedience to the commitment you made concerning your health.

We have to learn how to give ourselves grace without giving ourselves permission to quit.

There is a difference.

Grace says, “I had a setback, but I can begin again.”

Quitting says, “I had a setback, so I might as well stop.”

Family, do not stop.

The detour may be annoying. It may be uncomfortable. It may cause you to take a different route than the one you planned. But it does not mean you will not reach your destination.

It may just take a little longer.

And that is okay.

Keep your focus on healthy living. Keep your focus on becoming stronger. Keep your focus on making better choices. Keep your focus on doing what you can with what you have, where you are.

You do not have to do everything at once.

You do not have to be perfect.

You do not have to compare your pace to someone else’s pace.

You just have to keep moving in the direction of better.

So today, I want you to ask yourself:

What can I do today to optimize my health?

Can I take a short walk?

Can I drink more water?

Can I stretch for five minutes?

Can I prepare one healthier meal?

Can I rest when my body needs rest?

Can I restart without condemning myself?

Whatever your answer is, start there.

And remember, you can do that thing that God has specifically designed you to do. You can do it. Even if you have to take a detour. Even if you have to slow down. Even if you have to restart.

You will get there.

Be encouraged. Be intentional. Be willing to begin again.

Be blessed, and keep moving toward better.

Jacqueline Deneen
Your Partner On Purpose

Join me next Friday for another #HappyFitFriday where we’ll continue our health, wellness, and fitness journey together!

Let us know what you think. Comment below. Get focused and eat healthy…