Years wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusaism wrinkles the soul. -Douglas Macarthur
Running marathons and training for triathlons has transformed my understanding of endurance and sustained enthusiasm. While I have always been an athlete, not many people realize that I actually spent the majority of my life as a competitive sprinter. Any swimming records that I have or had were for sprint events, lasting no longer than 90 seconds. In college, I was on a full scholarship to race distances of 24 seconds to 59 seconds in length. For those who knew me in my athletic past, it comes as a shock that I now train and compete for races that last for hours instead of seconds. My point is that I have learned to extend the sustainability of my enthusiasm in my races and training, and from it I’ve learned that there are gems awaiting me around every ticked off mile that I cover. I have learned that I am not limited to being what I thought I would always be (a sprinter), and instead, that I can be anything I want to be (an endurance athlete).
Redefine what you’ve thought yourself to have always been and never give up your enthusiasm for life and for the pursuit of your dreams. What you were and how you were in your past do not have to define who and how you are in the future. If you gave up easily in the past and never landed in a field of diamonds, it doesn’t matter, you are no longer that person who gives up. Cling closely to your enthusiasm and your belief and you will be unstoppable, no matter whether you are chasing weight loss, freedom from addiction, the completion of your first marathon or just general happiness in life. Keep digging and never stop.