There's a new study saying that changing the name of something undesirable, like broccoli, into something appealing such as "super power energy green trees" can help children change their attitude and eat. Similarly, re-framing a situation can change the associated behavior such as telling a child that Jesus would want us to share or Princesses would never slurp their soup. Such a re-framing hit me today.
Anyone who knows me very well knows I have a weakness for anything Disney, Particularly anything Disney Princess. I'm so grateful that my husband is a good sport. We sang "I see the Light" duet from Disney's Tangled at our Wedding last year and he's very understanding of my periodic splurges at the Disney Store in City Creek. Well, today I was on Facebook and I found a "Run Like A Princess" Contest Link. I couldn't resist. One click and I was reading about the yearly Disney Princess Half-Marathon. My thoughts raced: What a concept?! A princess half-marathon?! Now I have to train to run!
Now if you ask my mother about my training for a half-marathon, she'd probably chuckle. She knows trying to get "running" and "Heidi" in the same sentence is kind of like trying to get "Cheesecake" and "nutrition" in the same sentence; it's usually impossible without the use of the word "not" in there somewhere. But if you told her it was a Disney Princess Half Marathon, and I was in it all for the crown (or in this case a crown-shaped medal), she might begin to believe you. Yes, I'm that obsessed.
The Disney Princess have inspired me since I was two years old. Something rings in my heart when I hear those songs about dreaming, achieving, and believing. I knew I wanted to be like them in every way possible and I set out to do so. I can't really explain why. So it is with physical fitness.
I've wanted to make this change in my life for a while. My brother and sister-in-law inspired me with their successful examples of completing races, ironically it began with a Disney race while they were living in Florida. But for some reason, I've struggled to step up and care for my physical fitness for myself. I can't get up in the morning. I eat junk, I work in a toy store and a bakery at a 5 diamond hotel with some of the finest foods imaginable available at my fingertips. But now I have a plan. I'll rename my quest. I'm now trying to rekindle that childhood flame and get myself "Running like a Princess."
For you naysayers who don't believe in princess culture, I'm sorry if this offends you. I know I'm not 5 anymore and I won't be 25 for much longer. But so what if I go walking in a skirt once in a while? Who cares if I wear flowers in my hair or a tiara on my name badge. I think for the most part, Princesses inspire young women to be their best, as mentioned on the RunDisney website Princess Half-Marathon Weekend page:
The Disney Princesses are the inspiration for the weekend's events and will focus on the attributes every princess possesses: commitment, courage, determination, fantasy, perseverance, and strength.
It sounds like princesses can inspire amazing things. I may not be running the race in Florida this year, unless by some miracle I win the "Run Like a Princess" contest, but I am going to train like I will. I've got Jeff Callaway's workout for beginners.I think I'm even going to route my own Half-Marathon to run along side the other princesses a thousand miles away. I invite anyone who wants to take the challenge with me to grab your shoes, stop watches, and come get yourself "Running like a Princess." I begin tomorrow and I'll be posting in, all along the way.
