Life Is A Marathon – Not A 50-Yard Dash

I am a sprinter. And before anyone who knows me well interrupts with raucous laughter, I will clarify. I am speaking only figuratively and only with regard to life’s tasks and challenges. I am the type of person who can accomplish a tremendous amount of work in a very short amount of time with a sudden burst of energy that brings to mind the Tasmanian Devil or Roadrunner of my childhood cartoons. I speed-walk everywhere I go, and I have had to apologize more than once to a frightened person in the grocery store who thought they were being charged by an angry bull. I am not angry…just fast. But life is a marathon, not a 50-yard dash. It requires patience that does not come naturally to me, so I am guessing there are others who are struggling to surrender to the truth that some things can only be developed with time. Here is what I have discovered.

The finish line is the ultimate goal of a marathon runner, and I am certain it is beneficial to keep that goal in mind at all times. But the finish line is not visible for much of the race. Focusing only on the miles that lie between the current location and sight of the ultimate goal can be discouraging. It can weaken the determination of the runner – or stop progress entirely. Each mile marker achieved should be celebrated. Recognizing that progress has been made in the journey adds fuel to the confidence it will take to reach the finish line. This example of a marathon runner’s crucial mindset can be applied to all the areas of our lives we strive to develop along our journey – relationships, careers, financial stability, and personal goals like healthy eating habits and good time management. Acknowledging and celebrating progress in any of these areas boosts our confidence and determination to press forward for more.

At this writing I am well into my fifties, so it is fairly safe to assume half of my journey is likely over. I have a few actual accomplishments standing as mile markers through the years, but scattered along the path behind me is also a myriad of unsuccessful “beginnings” that crashed and burned. I have gotten on and fallen off more proverbial wagons than should ever be humanly possible! As you can imagine, watching so many ideas, dreams, diets, and what I thought were “eureka!” moments fall apart has been terribly discouraging at times for a sprinter like me. So why do I keep trying when half my life is over without meeting my goals? I will let you in on a secret. The reason I am still running the race with all my heart is that I (finally) understand that with every mile my character is developing strength and endurance. The many setbacks, obstacles, and heartbreaks that caused me to shed some tears, and made it necessary to pause long enough to catch my breath, have left marks of grace and wisdom on my life that I would not have had otherwise. Every experience has shaped who I am today and made future successes much more likely. I am okay with the fact that so many goals have not yet been achieved. I am still moving forward toward those goals, and I am developing patience with myself and others through the process.

It honestly does not matter how much farther you have to go to reach your goals. What matters most is that you celebrate the progress you make, and then continue to press forward. Avoid distractions and drama that keeps you running in circles. Forgive yourself and others for failures, and then move on. However slow, progress is still progress. Live. Learn. Repeat. The journey just may turn out to be the best part of the race.