Iron Strong Part 90: Success...
Success...
In 2012 I journaled daily through my divorce, leaving the Mormon Religion, being a Single Mom, becoming a Marathoner and eventually an Ironman Athlete. This story will be delivered in parts and not really edited down from the original writings in my journal (including some typos and grammar misalignment). I do this to uphold the integrity of the Woman I was when I wrote these, long before I knew this would end up as a full book and even though my writing has evolved in the decade since I wrote these pieces. They read in present day time from a decade ago. These are stories of hope, miracles and never giving up on your dreams. It is a heroine’s journey of shame, secrets and ultimate seclusion to the Finish Line of Ironman Arizona....and then beyond. An Outward Journey to an Inward Destination of Freedom and Liberation, Iron Strong.
Success...
Success teeters the line of perfectionism It seems no matter how much success you have in your life it still is being taken out of your hands and there is always more to be acquired.
A faster PR, more wealth, more countries to visit, more weight to lose, more followers on social media, bigger house…more..bigger…better…faster…stronger…wealthier...
It is an infectious disease in our culture.
Success like perfectionism is not tangible. You can feel or touch success. Based on my pervious paragraph there is no defining success.
What is success then?
As I was watching all the athletes at Ironman Wisconsin, many months later, start to get into the water and line up to start their personal journey to 140.6 I thought to my dear friend Bob Scott. I thought of all the concepts he taught me through his example and life. As the cannon fired off and all the athletes started in a mad dash to fight for breath, space and victory at the end of the day … A cannon went off in my mind and I realized what success really meant.
In order to be successful you need to feel successful within. Success will NEVER and I repeat never come from the outside.
Success is an inward calm. Nothing more. Nothing less. Simply peace.
Success doesn't come from a pace it comes from peace.
Success doesn’t come from a PR…from a distance traveled or accomplished…from a outward symbol. If you measure success based on ANY of those you will always be pushing for more. You will never find peace and calm because there is always a longer race, a faster time, MORE more more to accomplish and gain.
I finally understood what Bob meant when he says we do this for fun, fitness and friends. Maybe it wasn’t about a race at all that he was talking about. Maybe he was reflecting on life. Not the journey to a finish line but the journey to the final finish line of life…
Because in the end success is living our best life, being kind, being genuine, being authentic, being our personal best every single day, being strong and loving fiercely. It is about laughing, family and friendship. It all comes back to love. Who is there for you at the end.
You cannot measure success in athletics or numbers any more than you can with wealth because success is not tangible. It is not realistic. It is an illusion and there will always be more.
To find success, true success from within, believe that every single day is a success no matter how it turns out. Life is for living, loving and learning and if you have done this, you are a success.
If you chose love, you are successful beyond measure. Love is all that really matters in the end. Chose life, learning and love and you will find within your heart that you truly are living your most successful life.