The last few months have been weirder than normal. I left my job of 15 years to pursue my passions, but I wasn’t clear on what these passions were. I had a vague direction, but at the core, I simply wanted the freedom and space to discover what really made me happy.
This is a very important topic for me and I think it has a direct connection to IRONMAN. Ironman may be a goal, but now it means nothing if I don’t understand the other 364 days before and after each race.
It’s the proverbial, what do athletes do when the stadium lights are turned off? It can’t be the “identity,” there has to be deeper meaning, or possibly no meaning, but either way, it’s important to know why we chase a goal.
It always comes back to living in the moment.
The other night I was waiting at a restaurant for a friend. I asked the server for a piece of scrap paper and went into a stream of conscious writing on a Guest Check.
How I Will Dominate
1. Don’t try (to please everyone)
2. Pay attention
3. Be passion
4. Own myself
5. Captivate
6. Be persistent
7. Walk
8. Run
9. Persevere
10. Roll with it
11. Be an artist
12. Be a musician
13. Be invincible
14. Be humble
15. Love
When I wrote “dominate” it was more about Crushing Life than Iron, but it’s appropriate for both because in many ways a long and challenging race like Ironman is symbolic of what we face each day. If we’re not enjoying the process, what’s the point?
I think it comes down to having faith and not being consumed with the end, and frankly I have been terrible about that most of my life. Putting myself into uncomfortable situations just to prove to the world I can be amazing. But none of that matters because history has proven that humans can do just about anything they put their minds to, except consistently be in the moment.
So, really, it has nothing to do with proving anything to anyone, except myself. And the more I think about it, that burden lies in exhibiting a happy and consistent pursuit of a life I love.
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