August 6th, 2023| Issue #80

1 Quote. 1 Reflection. 1 Question.

1 Quote.

"For a true writer each book should be a new beginning where he tries again for something that is beyond attainment. He should always try for something that has never been done or that others have tried and failed. Then sometimes, with great luck, he will succeed."

 -From: Ernest Hemingway

-Source: Nobel Prize Speech, 1954

1 Reflection.

When you think about a great performance, movie, game, or book, there is always a back-and-forth dance between success and failure. 


-The Boston Red Sox came back from a 3-0 deficit in a 7-game series against their rivals, the New York Yankees in what is known as "Baseball's Greatest Miracle."

-New York Times bestselling author, Steven Pressfield wrote for 27 years before his first book was published. 

-In Rocky 4, Rocky knocks out Drago right before the end of the last round even though Rocky's wife said he had no chance at defeating the Soviet slugger. 

We all know these kinds of iconic stories, and no one can help to admire and become inspired by them. We love them because they share one common thing—success when all hope is lost.

When I hear stories like these in the real world I think that they are rare, and that never in a million years that something like that could happen to me. But I never stopped to ask myself, have I put myself in a position to find out? 

It is an uncomfortable question, but one that needed to be asked. Usually, I try to find the easiest and most convenient way of living because that's the norm, and no one is really looking into what I am doing. 

However, I am trying to find areas of my life where I really push the envelope. For example, I am running in the Warsaw Marathon next month with about 3 months of training under my belt.

Is this impossible? far from it. 
Does it make for a great movie? No not really. 
Will it inspire anyone? Probably not. 
Can I become Instagram famous? Unlikely. 

So why am I doing it? No one is looking, no one cares (maybe just my parents and a few friends). But in reality, the world is going to be no different whether I run or not. 

But the only thing that really matters is that I will be different because of it. 

Does it make me physically and mentally healthier? Yes
Do I build mental resiliency from it? Absolutely. 
Does it take me outside my comfort zone? You bet.
Will I build some relationships with the people I run with? No doubt. 
Will I hit my goal of 4 hours? Probably not, but I will learn some lessons from the failure. 

Everyone has different challenges in life. Yours probably won't be as flashy as the 2004 Red Sox, the 27-year roller coaster of Steven Pressfield, or the plot of Rocky 4, and that's okay. For me right now it is the marathon, and after that, it will be something else. The point is to keep growing, failing, and challenging yourself. 

1 Question.

What is a challenge you can take on 3 months from today?