Slow Lane Sunday?
OK, so yesterday morning, as I’m jogging out of our neighborhood, a dear friend and long-time neighbor was walking her two dogs.
This neighbor attended our Son’s first Holy Communion on April 25. She had dinner with us that night, along with my In-Laws from Allentown, Pennsylvania.
The day before I had just broken the news to my Mother-In-Law that I’d be going to Finland for the Master’s Track & Field World Championships. She was surprised, of course, and also skeptical.
While celebrating our Son’s major accomplishment, we spoke of many things during that dinner.
Eventually, Finland came up. I saw it as an opportunity to share a vision of why I am going. My Son completely gets it. My wife is right there too. My In-Laws and my neighbor, not even close.
I had to tell you that so I can tell you this:
Yesterday my neighbor asked, “How’s your training coming? Are you still going to Finland?”
Here’s the point. Without even hesitating I replied, “Yes, even if I have to walk around the track!”
That had a haunting revelation, to hear myself say those words.
This is bigger than anything I can explain. At a gut level, I’m so invested in it, that seeing it through, no matter what the obstacles, is the only course of action
This scares the heck out of me. Talk about pressure and second-guessing yourself.
Than why?
It’s a platform, a metaphor, a challenge, a childhood dream reborn, a legacy, an impossible goal.
It’s all that.
My son will remember this long after I’m gone. I hope he will find strength and determination, in my strength and determination.
On Friday a colleague and I were talking about exercise and I asked if he was still running. He said no. He explained that it’s too difficult for him to get motivated.
I suggested his reason to exercise wasn’t compelling enough. Maybe if he was doing it to show his kids that getting old doesn’t mean you have to get overweight and out of shape.
PS. Make it a GREAT day.
PSS. I booked the flight to Helsinki last night. 🙂
