This is a blog for the strong, the determined, the wild. In the past ten years more than 100 have joined the triBE on a journey to BE strong, to BE fierce, to BE triathletes. We are dedicated to the belief that anyone can BE a triathlete and support each other in every endeavor. Our team members are all sizes, speeds, and ages. This is our story.

"When anyone tells me I can't do anything, I'm just not listening any more." ~Florence Griffith Joyner

If this isn't enough you can read more from me here: http://debcostello.blogspot.com/



Sunday, March 4, 2012

Waiting on the World to Change








I believe that some things name themselves. 
My red Jeep Patriot mirrors the first car I ever bought on my own, part of this long mid-life crisis that has me determined to seize my own destiny, Scarlett O’Hara style.  Driving Scarlett is freedom and a little bit of my mischievous, reckless youth.
The first moment I rode my black Specialized bike I knew her name was Spunky, for that’s how she made me feel.  She is all speed and my way of throwing off the bounds of gravity and coming as close as I can to flying under my own power.  She is all mischief and spunk.
My beautiful black lab Lucy came to us as a pup, and it took her a few days to earn her name.  One afternoon when we came home to chewed shoes, I knew she was trouble just as Peanuts character Lucy van Pelt has been right from the start.  Years later she has mellowed but she still shows the mischief in her heart when we play catch, and she demands I chase her to get her ball.
And this week, after a long 10 year wait, I am convinced my triathlon team has named itself.  A single pair of words from the thousands I have written over the years has led to the fabulous Rachel Gardiner and Nicki Drumb designing the logo you see.  The logo represents us so well… strong, beautiful, a little wild.  Much to my delight there is mischief in their design, a quality I find in all the important things in my life.  Our Tri triBE is official and soon this website will permanently carry this design.
I am so grateful for Nicki and Rachel’s efforts to help me with this dream.  Their ability to see both the “tri” in tribe and the “BE” is what makes this design so special, for it is this continual journey, this endless becoming, that makes what we are doing so powerful and transformative. 
Their efforts have also reminded me of an important lesson.  It was because of patience that this Tri triBE, this name, has come to be. I did not see what they saw in all these years, and I cannot create what they have made.  It has taken me 10 years to meet these amazing women, and I am blessed to know them. 
But this journey also reminds me to treat each challenge with patience.  In dealing with my current injury, I must be patient.  In improving my fitness and stamina, I must be patient.  In raising my sons, in teaching my students, in loving my friends, in building my character, I must be patient.  Nothing worth doing, nothing worth being seems to come easy. It is through a patient and determined struggle that the best things in my life have come to me.  This team and the women I have met are truly some of the best parts of my life.  I am so grateful for patience.
Patience is the companion of wisdom.  ~Saint Augustine

Train safely, eat well, hydrate, sleep, stretch.
Safe journey.  Wind at your back.

4 comments:

  1. Great use of story in this post, and I love the design!!!

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    1. Thank you! I love the design too! Can't wait to get the shirts printed! :) Hoping you'll rejoin our triBE!

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  2. i love this, deb! (and not just because it includes such high praise for me & rach - although that always helps.) you're such a great writer. this is so inspiring a great reminder about patience and paying attention to what is talking, asking, aching, cheering, volunteer and organically developing around me.
    we were elevated all day after that (first, for us) great swim this morning. it was humbling and scary, yet exciting and fun. it was... well, spiritual being in this triBE. i felt (assumed) such a kin(d)ship and sisterhood and encouragement, rather than any judgement or competition, surrounded by this great group truly of beautiful, strong, wild women you've nurtured relationships with. it gave me patience to just go ahead and try and see what i might be able to do.

    with gratitude,
    -nicki

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  3. Thank you Nicki... It has been such a pleasure coming to know these women, learning from them, BEing a part of their lives, loving them, sharing this incredible journey. I am so unbelievably lucky and blessed. It's hard for me to explain how amazingly powerful being a part of this group is but once you join, there's really no turning back.

    Looking forward to training with you and spending race day with you! :)


    I'm adding you and Rachel to the team. You designed the shirt. I can't see how you can back out now...

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