It occurred to me today that I really like to hear people's accomplishments. I know it sounds weird to say that, and I have felt it before, but it just hit home today. My principal came into my classroom today to tell me about her first 10K over the weekend, just seeing the joy in her face, after having heard over time of her development as a runner, perked me up a little.
This, on the tail end of an exhausting weekend where my wife and I ended up running tandem 8 milers on Sunday after I got back from an exhausting trip to Chapel Hill to see a close friend who had just been paralyzed in a motorcycle wreck. Just seeing his accomplishments in physical therapy in such a short time perked me up, too.
This was also the longest distance my wife had run in preparation for the upcoming Lynn Spittle Memorial 5K next Saturday. What was cool is that my boss and my wife have the same goal to find a 10 mile race to start preparing for a half marathon in the future.
Over the weekend, I was talking to one of my friends who came with me to Chapel Hill about running and why I do so much of it. I told him the brief version of my story and that, in the past, I, too, hated running. I told him that I learned to love running after I got in shape and that to really understand the joy in running, you have to go a little farther than just a couple of miles. In fact, I usually hate my run until after I've crossed over 5-7 miles, then I get into my groove and the rhythm takes over.
What I love is to hear from others who have found this same joy in the sport that I love. I know that at the beginning, it was very hard for them and the idea that they would ever strive to run more than 5 miles, much less a 13.1 mile race was ridiculous, but after a while, they started to go longer- then, the ludicrous seemed possible, then it became a goal.
This is what I love. This is why I teach. I take great joy from watching others go beyond themselves and accomplish things they never knew were possible, because I know what it takes to do it. I know the wall, I know the mountains that need to be moved and I know the seemingly incomprehensible odds at the starting line of the race, but they start anyway. I know the elation of the finish line and feel connected to those who have crossed it- so I feel their joy as they celebrate.
We may not be able to see the finish from the starting line, but we know it's there... anyone who has crossed the finish line knows that it's just the beginning. There are more races to run, mountains to move, and strength to be gained. We know it's worth pushing ourselves beyond our perceived limitations because the more we do it, the wider the boundaries become. Our accomplishments are only as big as we allow them to be. Through the strength of God and our willingness to accept the challenge, we can push through anything and create our own new normal.
I believe this can happen with my principal, with my wife, with myself, with you and with my friend, and that's why I enjoy hearing of other's accomplishments. These accomplishments just prove it. Thanks for sharing and God bless!
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