I'm racing against me. As long as I come across the finish, I'll be okay. -- Ruben Studdard
When you have a great and difficult task, something perhaps almost impossible, if you only work a little at a time, every day a little, suddenly the work will finish itself. -- Isak Dinesen
A couple years ago, I was in a book club on Facebook with some old friends where we read & discussed One Word That Will Change Your Life. Basically, rather than setting goals or making resolutions, you pick a word that is the driving force of your year.
I've been thinking about 2017...and how resolutions usually don't stick and I'm not so great at goal setting...and so I've decided to pick one word instead. My word for 2017 is FINISH.
If you know anything about my race season last year (or even the last couple years), you're nodding your head. This is the most obvious word ever for the most unlucky triathlete around. 2017 is clearly the year I will finish an Ironman. And all the other races I set out to do. Let this year be the year of no hypothermia, no head kicks, no hurricanes, nothing that will stand between me and the finish line of my races.
But if FINISH is the driving force of my year, it can't really be so simple...there is a lot more to it. Another aspect of FINISHING means I need to really strive to finish my workouts, as written by my coach. I'm not horrible at this (at least I don't think I am...but maybe my coach would tell you differently)...but I can always do better. The finish line comes from the little bit of work put forth every day. This year I will also work harder to finish my workouts.
But that still isn't the full answer. I didn't pick FINISH just because of triathlon. I was thinking about this yesterday. I did my annual fundraising swim at 100x100s...pretty much you swim as much as you can in 3 hours. Back and forth, back and forth, in a 25 yard pool for three hours gives you plenty of time to get lost in your head. So I was thinking about my word - at least for part of the time.
In real life, I am a chronically bad finisher. At home, I have unfinished projects. At work, I have unfinished projects. I suffer from some sort of "ooh, look - a shiny squirrel" syndrome. I am all excited to start a project. I work on it for a while. Then something else looks more interesting. This isn't to say I never finish projects - there are a lot of things I get done because the end is easy to see or because I know the "reward" of the end is worth getting over the hump. But projects that have a more nebulous finish line or that have uncertainty (or worse, more work) at the finish line are harder for me to finish.
Now races, those are easier, right? Because the finish line is pretty well marked (at least usually) and after you finish a race, you get a medal. You eat fun food and maybe drink a few beers. You take a few days or so off, depending on the race. Plus, at least in my experience, you're only participating in one race at a time.
And think about the end of a race. I am usually so jazzed to see the finish line that I can put aside the hurts and the "don't wannas" and everything that has bogged me down in the last however many miles and run. HARD. Because the finish. Maybe my life projects need to be more like racing?
This year I will strive to finish my races and my projects. Instead of getting weary as the finish line approaches (or doesn't), I will kick it into gear. When I finish a race, I will accept my medal proudly. When I finish a project, I will give myself a small reward. Whether I finish a race or a project, I will kick back with some fun food and a few beers...and I will not think about the next project or race for a few days.
2017 will be the year of FINISH. I can't wait!
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