Is Enough, Enough?
Is Enough, Enough?
Yesterday morning I found myself tired, exhausted, and in pain. After 4 hours or running, I had just passed mile marker 23 of the Lost Dutchman Marathon. On the edge of tears, pain shooting up my hip from running down a hill too fast at mile 12, my feet tingling with pinpricks of pain, I was staring at the “Dutchman’s Revenge,” a 500 foot vertical hill looming straight up in front of me. It was another obstacle to overcome.
“Wasn’t it enough? I had completed 23 miles. Wasn’t it enough? I just completed another marathon a month earlier? Wasn’t it enough? I had completed 6 other marathons and almost a dozen half marathons. Wasn’t it enough? I had logged over 600 training miles in the last 5 months? Wasn’t it enough? Wasn’t it enough already? Wasn’t it enough?”
It is during intense emotional moments that the true character of a person is revealed and they can find more of who they really are. All I wanted was to sit down, rest and walk the rest of the course. Who would care? Who would know? Only one person would know me.
Enough is never enough. People can not live on past emotional moments, when they do, life becomes flat, barren and void. Emotion dies. That is the problem with only living “in the moment.” Happiness is found when enough is never enough; something has to bring to a “moment.” Success in life can only be achieved if you put yourself in a place where you set huge goals with huge obstacles that will put you in emotional situations. This is where you come face to face with the deepest parts of who you are and redefine yourself. In that moment is a deeper, more intense connection with gratitude for life, faith to overcome obstacles, strength and inner confidence to achieve more, and the choice to define a more intense personal identity.
I came face to face with my pain, suffering, and self doubt. I understood that this deep painful moment was what I wanted. I had run 23 miles for this exact moment. This was the moment that I had been searching for all along! It was a defining moment for me. I chose to lift my head up to focus on the future, pushed through the pain, made a commitment to run those last few miles with all I had inside of me. I found more of myself in that moment, more of who I am, and more of all that I am blessed with in this life. I experienced one of the deepest levels of thankfulness and gratitude for all that I have in that moment. I reconnected with how I would use that to make a bigger impact in the lives others in selfless service knowing that I am a part of something so much larger than me. I forged a stronger identity for myself as a man, husband and father. I am a marathon runner, an achiever, a contributor to make other’s lives more meaningful and powerful. I am a marathon runner and running through the wall is what runners do.
Who are you going to become this week? If you need support in creating more magical moments in your life, call now for a free 15-minute “Jump-Start” session. (480) 820-4072
