You can do it
On running, attention, and effort / Issue 1,150
Oh, hi friends!
Well, I did it!
On Saturday, I ran 26.2 miles in Central Park in a kind of personal marathon.
It was fun, challenging, and—notably—right before I took off, I was nervous.
(Nerves, as I always say, are a good sign. They are a sign you care.)
When I finished, I was filled with deep satisfaction.
The satisfaction that comes after you say you're going to do something—and then you do it.
There is so much we can't control in life.
Sometimes all we can do is tap into our individual reservoirs of attention and effort.
We can ask:
What deserves my attention?
Where will I concentrate my effort?
And then we can tell ourselves we're going to do something—and then do it.
Your something is specific to you.
I know you hear the rumblings of a personal goal.
What is it?
What do you want to do next?
Follow your attention.
Concentrate your effort.
Then fulfill the promise you make to yourself.
You will be very glad you did.
Congratulations on your personal marathon, Kara! You're an inspiration!
Belated congratulations! Way to go!