Corey Harrington Anew

I haven’t been able to figure out what to say about this last Saturday. I still don’t. But I’ll give it a shot. There are certain experiences that change your life. They change what you think about yourself and break down walls in regards to limitations you may have artificially built for yourself. My experience in St George was life changing.

I didn’t race against any of the 3,500 athletes that started the race. I raced against my mind, my body and my Why. And when I crossed the line with 3 minutes to spare at nearly midnight I had pushed myself mentally and physically further than I ever thought capable.

I collapsed, my mind went dark, my entire body cramped and I was eventually wheeled to the med tent where my vitals were heading in the wrong direction. I couldn’t make words or communicate. I was hooked up to monitors, given IVs and laid there unable to move, talk, function while vomiting profusely under a space blanket with my body shivering uncontrollably. There were doctors shining lights in my eyes and asking me questions that I thought i knew the answer to but i couldn’t form the words or make anything happen. I have never felt so overjoyed, panicked, proud and helpless.

And that is where I needed to go to prove what I needed to prove to myself.

Life will always be full of things that cause stress and anxiety. But this picture is my proof that I can find peace in moments like this that we are fortunate enough to experience as a family.

I used to feel, even while immersed in some pretty amazing adventures, that I was operating on borrowed time. That sooner or later my secret opioid issue was going to either be found out or catch up to me in an even more real sense. That even in moments where I should be present and grateful I found myself anxious and fearful of being found out or worse.

There was never a moment where I felt at ease because there was always this weight or darkness that tainted even the most incredible adventures and experiences.

That anchor has been removed and I am able to freely experience these moments while being present and peaceful. Life will never be easy and will always have stress but my secret is no longer one I have to carry around stealing these moments.

“Whether you believe you can do a thing or not, you are right.” -Henry Ford

I knew I could complete my first IRONMAN.. And I 100% believed I would.

I chose the hardest goal I could think of as a way to prove to myself that after overcoming 10 years of opioid abuse, there wasn’t anything I couldn’t accomplish that I set my mind to.

It wasn’t about the physical challenge. I wanted the mental challenge. I wanted it to suck. To be terrible. To be so fu***ng hard. It was all of those things and then some. And because of that, I was so grateful. I got to prove myself right. I believed I would, so I did.

Choose to believe you can, put in the work, and you will achieve your goals.

How have you proven yourself right in 2021? How will you prove yourself right in 2022?

You can be a different and better version of yourself by making a choice.

Make a choice to create a new habit. You don’t have to settle for who you have been or who people think you should be.

In January 2021 created a new promise to myself--a fitness habit to do 200 push ups and sit ups every day. I have not missed a single day.

Change is possible- but your desire to make a change has to outweigh your excuses.

You ready to set some goals and create real change? I created a free Ebook with a roadmap to help you make lasting change. Head over to my Instagram and grab it in the link in bio.

What change, personally or professionally, are you ready to make?