Incremental moments measured through small successes and occasional letdowns.

After literally months of trying, struggling, agonizing, beating my fists and sometimes even crying in frustration, I was finally able to complete not one, not two, but THREE successive roll ups the day before yesterday.

I was even able to squeeze out a fourth when Kiddo and Smilin' Vic got home that afternoon.

I can't explain the science behind it, but I can attest to the fact that for the first time I could actually 'feel' my ab muscles, my breathing and my body alignment all connecting, just like my video instructor kept telling me I should.

I can't explain the rush I got when I was actually able to roll up smoothly (fairly) off the ground with my legs straight out and my heels firmly planted on the floor. It was such a small movement, over in about 8 seconds, but that tiny blip in time encompassed months of effort.

It wasn't that different from so many life moments. The birth of a child as the result of years of praying for what you thought you'd never have. The first kiss that you've imagined for so long. The conferring of a degree after years of studying. The completion of an actual 10 km run after years on a treadmill.

You may be thinking that comparing a simple roll up to these life events is a little crazy, and there's merit to that. But the fact of the matter is that achieving anything you work hard towards, no matter how big or how small, can change your outlook, improve your mood, boost your confidence and generally make life seem that much sweeter.

I'm a big believer in objectives, big and small. I think there's value in always having something to work towards, rather than something to run from. Life is made up of incremental moments measured through small successes and occasional letdowns. The thing is, if you can find the strength to push through the failures and temporary setbacks, the success at the end becomes all you will have to measure your life by.

If you've got a goal, don't give up on it. Keep on keepin' on. You'll get there.

I did a pilates roll up!

N.B. Hard as I tried, I couldn't do a proper roll up yesterday. That's ok. I'm headed back to my mat to give it another try today.