Lesson to Self #13: Pick your hard but know your why

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Alone in the forest and breathing with ferocity, I was probably sucking down more than my fair share of oxygen offered up by the photosynthesizing vegetation. Struggling up the mountain, my watch reported that the trail was rising at a 30% incline. That explained my heave-ho respiratory effort.

My foray into the woods did not present an every-second brutal effort, but with many steep sections ranging from 15-20% grade in the first nine miles, it required considerable effort. But why did I get up at O’dark 30 and head to the mountains by myself in the first place? I submit to you that had I not known my “why” in tackling what was hard, I would likely have stayed in bed.

There are a lot of hard things: relationships, career decisions, academics, athletic endeavors, sickness and injury, to name a few. In my situation, my “hard” is pushing myself physically and mentally. I spend hours swimming laps, push, pull, and lift iron in the weight room, and hike long miles during this time of recovery from a serious knee and tibia injury.

Why? In the big picture, it’s because God made me this way. He made me to be a life-long athlete not for the sake of listing accomplishments, but to use this perfect venue to teach me grit, endurance, and perseverance. Had I not been an athlete learning life lessons for the last 55 years of my athletic career, I honestly don’t think I would be who I am today.

In the short term, my “why” is more personal. I have athletic goals I want to accomplish, none of which will happen without training. Then there is the solace of alone time where the cacophony of birdsong, diversity of flora, scampering squirrels, deer, and even the little Bunny Foo Foo who runs through the forest all speak to the glory, genius, and creativity of our God. The solitude and beauty draws me back time and time again. It is my constant “why.”

What is your “hard” and what is your “why”? Not knowing the latter dooms the first to a short-lived attempt.

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You can read Lessons to Self 1-12 in prior posts.

I help teams and organizations do their hard better. Let me know how I can serve your group. I am currently booking speaking engagements for 2025-2026.

 

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