EARNING IT: YOU GET ONE SHOT. IT'S ON YOU

Puddle ice in spring. Taken by PKSenagore April 5, 2018. All rights reserved.

THE DAY AFTER WATCHING A COMPETITION OF ELITE ATHLETES, like the Boston Marathon, it is possible to be wistful. Thinking, “if only…fill in the blank…I could have become good at …fill in the blank…and would not be so …. fill in the blank”.
 
And then, after the day after the day after, the thoughts and yearnings to have accomplished something, like the participants in that competition, have departed. Everyday life resumes, the justifications for why a significant achievement has not been realized fill the heart and head, and replace inspirational images of the competition. 
 
The dream goal is just as far away as ever.
 
To get on an alternate ‘track’ that leads to accepting and meeting a challenge, sometimes an arm around the shoulders and gentle encouragement by friends or family will provide sufficient nudge to do so. However, depending on how far the current track is from the new track, a more forceful action is needed.  Rather than an easing-over, only a kick-in-the-behind jolt will do.
 
The jolt can come as a medical diagnosis, like diabetes or heart attack, or life event like the birth of a child, divorce, upcoming wedding, or retirement.  If none of these jolts is likely to hit soon, what can substitute as an impetus to move in a new direction? 
 
An article from The Startup by Taylor J Wallace, “You Get One Shot: Earn It.” featured on Medium.com might work. The piece is subtitled, “The Pity Badge is Tired”.  Wallace takes a hard stance on excuses.  “If you want more, just shut up and do something” he writes. 
 
“Earn your screen time, earn your relaxation and your happiness.” His exhortation urges us to see that that any ‘thing’ worth having is earned through hard work, eyes-on-the prize focus, and perseverance. 
 
Wallace provides a pep talk that is all over the place, in a good way.  Take action, responsibility, and abuse, but accomplish what you dream. And be generous afterward. 
 
It’s best to read Wallace’s piece if you need this sort of hard push forward to get going.
“This is your life. You get one shot.  Go get some”, he urges.
 
If an athletic or fitness-related goal is what you want to accomplish, read from this perspective. Earned Runs feels that although others may be able to assist and encourage along the way, the commitment and effort toward accomplishing a goal must come from the individual. 
 
“It’s on you” Earned Runs would say.  Taylor J Wallace seems to be saying it too.
 
RUN & MOVE HAPPY!
 
https://medium.com/swlh/you-get-one-shot-earn-it-ebcff1043815