I was 40-something, going through a divorce, and moving from upstate NY to Arizona. I flew out there to find a place to live, and was fiddling with the FM dial when a song came on from an Arizona band, Jimmie Eat World: “Hey, don’t write yourself off yet. It’s only in your head you feel left out or looked down on. Just try your best. try everything you can. Don’t you worry what they tell themselves when you’re away. It just takes some time, little girl. You’re in the middle of the ride. Everything, everything will be just fine. Everything, everything will be all right, all right.” Just the song I needed….. seems like music always knows.
I had a breast cancer scare, that turned out to be nothing. But during the time between the biopsy and the good news, I was scared. And I was going to run the Marine Corpse 10k. Wondering if running would be in my future and did I even have a future, I was full of doubts. An unexpected friend told me I was a strong, healthy, awesome lady. And that became my mantra for any life difficulties. Because guess what? He was right....I am. A strong, healthy, awesome lady. 😄
When I started doing ultramarathons I had Relentless Forward Progress tattooed on my forearm. Tom Petty's Running Down a Dream would be my most often recited song played during long training runs.
KS Ultra Extravaganza, Pumpkin Holler, Angry Bull....so far only 50ks and after a car accident hurt my back in 2019 I'm slowly getting back to it and want to do a 50 miler next fall.
Great post...thanks for sharing your story! I always tell myself, "forward is forward, and be comfortable with being uncomfortable." I've started to apply these mantras to all aspects of my life now to help shed fears and old misconceptions.
My 2 favorite mantras I use for any endeavor: I set my intention with “persevere regardless”. And after I do my very best, I look back and no matter the outcome I say “ No regrets, only love”.
I got down to “So I kept going.” and remembered a running story that Peter Sagal (Yes, the NPR guy who does “Wait, Wait”, the news quiz show) told as part of the Moth Radio Hour, an NPR production where individuals do 10-minute oral presentations of their written compositions. If you want to hear a great Boston Marathon story, click on this link: https://themoth.org/stories/keep-going
I believe Kafka once said a book must be an axe for the frozen sea within us. Words, poetry & prose and song lyrics can be so powerful especially if they allow us to feel and act according to our highest values.
And by the way, the Tennessee Williams quote you have curated for us may be the best bit of philosophy I have ever read. So real, so inspiring, so perfect. I see the Buddha smiling!
My mantra is “Never Give Up!” I will run, walk, or crawl to finish something. I tell my students it’s called determination, when in reality it’s being stubborn. 😜
It works though! I think of how many times I have wanted to give up on myself, my running, my career, etc. & am so glad I didn’t.
P.S. (I tried for years to make my first marriage work, but it takes two to keep a marriage alive. Broke my heart, but opened the door for my current hubby, who is awesome! We are much better suited for each other. 👍🏼)
I have a built a 5 hour collection of classic rock to train by. It seems that I have played it so much that I can almost predict how far I have gone by the song playing. For my mantra song, Carry on wayward son by Kansas. Comes on after Fortunate son by CCR has cleared the garbage from my mind.
GM Terrell, funny thing that I’m realizing is that you and I went through things at a similar time. I recall I started reading The Half Marathoner right around the time of your divorce, and because I too was going through one, I found that commonality comforting. (I pictured you WAY different than what you look like though lol!)
Anyway, yes I had a mantra back then. I think I mentioned it once, and I PRed repeating it in my head. It was the lyrics of “stronger” by Christina Aguilera. It reminded me that no one, not even this man that I devoted my life to and discarded me, was going to keep me down. I can’t say I have one now but I do wish I had one. My passion is not where I wish it was at this time.
Side note: that album is one of my faves!!! I, however, liked the less popular ones. I’m not sure if it’s because they played the heck out of those, or if it’s just because I truly would have liked them more anyway but my faves we Bullet the Blue Sky, One Tree Hill, Running to Stand Still, and …there’s one more…can’t remember the name. Anyway, phenomenal album!!! Agree!!
I love the whole album too! I even created a live version playlist of it on Spotify, which I can share if you like. I'm with you on the passion thing, but honestly I think it's okay -- I think passion is like the moon, it waxes and wanes, and even in the NYT story about Courtney Frerichs, I got the sense that her own energy/enthusiasm went through peaks and valleys.
Really interesting what you say about going through a divorce -- I'm so glad what I wrote made you feel that way. Sometimes I hesitate to share a lot about that time, because I don't want to bum anyone out. But from time to time it feels relevant to a story or an essay here, so I try to figure out what's right to share. Really glad it resonated.
I was 40-something, going through a divorce, and moving from upstate NY to Arizona. I flew out there to find a place to live, and was fiddling with the FM dial when a song came on from an Arizona band, Jimmie Eat World: “Hey, don’t write yourself off yet. It’s only in your head you feel left out or looked down on. Just try your best. try everything you can. Don’t you worry what they tell themselves when you’re away. It just takes some time, little girl. You’re in the middle of the ride. Everything, everything will be just fine. Everything, everything will be all right, all right.” Just the song I needed….. seems like music always knows.
Yes! I love this, Steph ❤️
I had a breast cancer scare, that turned out to be nothing. But during the time between the biopsy and the good news, I was scared. And I was going to run the Marine Corpse 10k. Wondering if running would be in my future and did I even have a future, I was full of doubts. An unexpected friend told me I was a strong, healthy, awesome lady. And that became my mantra for any life difficulties. Because guess what? He was right....I am. A strong, healthy, awesome lady. 😄
You are, HHR! And I'm so glad it turned out to be nothing!
I hope you don't mind if I start use it for myself - I love to remind myself that I am a strong, healthy, awesome lady:) Thank you!
I would be so happy to have others benefit from such good thoughts. Thank you!!
When I started doing ultramarathons I had Relentless Forward Progress tattooed on my forearm. Tom Petty's Running Down a Dream would be my most often recited song played during long training runs.
Love that, Diane! Which ultras have you done?
KS Ultra Extravaganza, Pumpkin Holler, Angry Bull....so far only 50ks and after a car accident hurt my back in 2019 I'm slowly getting back to it and want to do a 50 miler next fall.
Great post...thanks for sharing your story! I always tell myself, "forward is forward, and be comfortable with being uncomfortable." I've started to apply these mantras to all aspects of my life now to help shed fears and old misconceptions.
Thanks, Victoria!
My 2 favorite mantras I use for any endeavor: I set my intention with “persevere regardless”. And after I do my very best, I look back and no matter the outcome I say “ No regrets, only love”.
I'm not very original, "smooth, easy, light, fast" works for me when I need a little extra. That's from "Born to Run" if anyone is wondering.
I absolutely love “Born to Run” — I often think of it as a counterpart to this song, in fact. The themes are so similar, aren’t they?
2nd response … I have no mantra but I do have some favorite songs on my phone that DO perk me up … one is “Life is a Highway” by Rascal Flatts … check out the lyrics: https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/rascalflatts/lifeisahighway.html
Love that song — heard it a lot during all the times we’ve watched “Cars” with my little man over these past few years.
I got down to “So I kept going.” and remembered a running story that Peter Sagal (Yes, the NPR guy who does “Wait, Wait”, the news quiz show) told as part of the Moth Radio Hour, an NPR production where individuals do 10-minute oral presentations of their written compositions. If you want to hear a great Boston Marathon story, click on this link: https://themoth.org/stories/keep-going
A very touching story from Peter Sagal. Thanks for sharing.
Just listened per your recommendation. Indeed a “great Boston Marathon story”. Thank you!!!!!
I believe Kafka once said a book must be an axe for the frozen sea within us. Words, poetry & prose and song lyrics can be so powerful especially if they allow us to feel and act according to our highest values.
“a book must be an axe for the frozen sea within us”… that’s poetry, Clark!
And why the written word can be so potent. Keep writing Terrell. You are very good at it..!!!
That means a great deal to me, Clark — thank you!! 🙏
And by the way, the Tennessee Williams quote you have curated for us may be the best bit of philosophy I have ever read. So real, so inspiring, so perfect. I see the Buddha smiling!
My mantra is “Never Give Up!” I will run, walk, or crawl to finish something. I tell my students it’s called determination, when in reality it’s being stubborn. 😜
It works though! I think of how many times I have wanted to give up on myself, my running, my career, etc. & am so glad I didn’t.
P.S. (I tried for years to make my first marriage work, but it takes two to keep a marriage alive. Broke my heart, but opened the door for my current hubby, who is awesome! We are much better suited for each other. 👍🏼)
I have a built a 5 hour collection of classic rock to train by. It seems that I have played it so much that I can almost predict how far I have gone by the song playing. For my mantra song, Carry on wayward son by Kansas. Comes on after Fortunate son by CCR has cleared the garbage from my mind.
Is it on Spotify?
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1JULYYnH7t5p9QKufqzJ1c?si=vUea7hVzSXuoqfYpAybwUQ&dl_branch=1
Yes titled classic rock
GM Terrell, funny thing that I’m realizing is that you and I went through things at a similar time. I recall I started reading The Half Marathoner right around the time of your divorce, and because I too was going through one, I found that commonality comforting. (I pictured you WAY different than what you look like though lol!)
Anyway, yes I had a mantra back then. I think I mentioned it once, and I PRed repeating it in my head. It was the lyrics of “stronger” by Christina Aguilera. It reminded me that no one, not even this man that I devoted my life to and discarded me, was going to keep me down. I can’t say I have one now but I do wish I had one. My passion is not where I wish it was at this time.
Side note: that album is one of my faves!!! I, however, liked the less popular ones. I’m not sure if it’s because they played the heck out of those, or if it’s just because I truly would have liked them more anyway but my faves we Bullet the Blue Sky, One Tree Hill, Running to Stand Still, and …there’s one more…can’t remember the name. Anyway, phenomenal album!!! Agree!!
I love the whole album too! I even created a live version playlist of it on Spotify, which I can share if you like. I'm with you on the passion thing, but honestly I think it's okay -- I think passion is like the moon, it waxes and wanes, and even in the NYT story about Courtney Frerichs, I got the sense that her own energy/enthusiasm went through peaks and valleys.
Really interesting what you say about going through a divorce -- I'm so glad what I wrote made you feel that way. Sometimes I hesitate to share a lot about that time, because I don't want to bum anyone out. But from time to time it feels relevant to a story or an essay here, so I try to figure out what's right to share. Really glad it resonated.
Yes please share the list. I don’t use Spotify but I can download it.
Phooey, it’s Fighter not Stronger. Need coffee….
That was one of your best posts. Thank you.
Thanks so much, Jeff! That means more than you know.
Bono says that he wrote WTSHNN song about heaven.
My personal running mantra song is "The Distance" by Cake.... "he's going the Distance, he's going for speed!"
And on a lighter note, I also use The faster you run, the sooner you're done. Because you can never have too many mantras.
Ha ha! I need that one!