"Life begins at the end of your comfort zone." - Neale Donald Walsch
I found a magnet at Barnes&Nobles with that quote and it's really my favorite one. Of course my voice inside me likes the comfort and HATES being out of it :) Running has giving me the reason to actually have some kind of a conversation with the voice, especially when I run hills or I am on mile ~8 of the half - sometimes I really have to say bad words to it so it shuts down.
As you can tell, I do hear voices as many of you and I think it's part of us that shows us what we are capable of.
I even think it's the Universe that gives me choices or chances (in the form of my own voice talking somewhere on back in my head) and it looks of how I handle them. I decided to have fun with it from now on:)
I love the way you ended it... you put a name to that voice... doubt...
I call it second guess... It, like you, has followed and sometimes ruled my life.
Failure is a word most people dread... it's a stigma you don't want associated with anything you attempt. My dad was a tough cookie. At 17 he joined the Navy in world War two. As he stood in line, an officer weren't done the line and counted... 1,2,3,4,5 you're assigned to a Marine unit. 1,2,3,4,5 You're assigned to a Marine unit. And so it went. My dad was assigned to help a medic in a marine unit overseas. As my dad tells the story, his medic was killed the first week in battle. The Sargent gave him the medics pack and said he had been promoted. He got some training, mostly on how to stop the bleeding and bandaging up a wound. When he was discharged, they offered to send him to medical school if he re-uped. He declined and said that was the worst mistake of his life. I don't think it was... he and my mother raised 10 kids and we all turned out pretty damn good. When I heard that voice telling me not to try because I was going to fail, I remembered what my dad had instilled in me. You've already failed if you don't try....
I followed his advise and did at times fail, but I did my best... that's all anyone can ask of you.
Everyone stay safe... we need more runners pounding the pavement...
I really needed to read this today! I have a goal for my half marathon race on Sunday that seemed pretty lofty when I started trading 18 weeks ago but I put in the work and quieted the voice for awhile, but with race day in 4 days it’s louder. After reading this today I will use that voice to motivate me! Thanks Terrell!
This post definitely made me think. I was training to run my first half in early 2021 with my main goal of just finishing it. I was at the point of being able to run for 6 miles when it was cancelled. I basically lost all the motivation to keep running. This post makes me feel like I should start over and not give up on finishing a half marathon one day.
Your post is magic and absolutely true. I have just registered for my first marathon in Tokyo in March. I never run more that 25km... how can I do this? The voice inside tells me “you can not do it...” but I need to give a try... I want to challenge myself and do something only for myself, to remember. Thanks Terrell, I love your newsletters. Cheers from Italy
I call that voice “the human condition”. It’s our security blanket that we never gave up as an infant. It keeps us alive but at what cost? From my experience, the more you prepare & practice anything, the softer “that voice” becomes. And one day, just maybe, you may still hear “that voice” but you will no longer need to listen because you finally know exactly what you will do and why you will do it. A friend once told me that if you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space. When I asked him how you live on the edge, he simply replied…practice!
My only regret in being here is that I only have 30 minutes for lunch [my only time during the day to read for myself]. The comments, along with the thread, make my Friday's...
Thank you again for great words of encouragement.......just signed up for a 15K after taking a good 6 weeks off for a foot infection........I did a 5K fundraiser for fun last week.....not my proudest moment but I finished and at least had a running shoe on my foot......still trying to find a pair of shoes that feel great!!! I have until November to train........it will happen.....I signed up knowing I could fall back to the 5K.........now that is not the option!!! The 15K is the only option!!!! Thank you!!!
This is a great commentary. My friends and I talk about the little devil on our shoulder who whispers in our ear. We have a fall half marathon here in southern Indiana every year. It’s a great all-inclusive event where you don’t have to be a speedy Gonzales to participate. I have spent time pondering on whether to do it or not since my hamstring is still on the mend. I did the 15K and, while my time was not atrocious, recovery took awhile. So I’m opting out of the race this year. But not because of the little devil. Because I choose to heal so that I can run another day.
"Life begins at the end of your comfort zone." - Neale Donald Walsch
I found a magnet at Barnes&Nobles with that quote and it's really my favorite one. Of course my voice inside me likes the comfort and HATES being out of it :) Running has giving me the reason to actually have some kind of a conversation with the voice, especially when I run hills or I am on mile ~8 of the half - sometimes I really have to say bad words to it so it shuts down.
As you can tell, I do hear voices as many of you and I think it's part of us that shows us what we are capable of.
I even think it's the Universe that gives me choices or chances (in the form of my own voice talking somewhere on back in my head) and it looks of how I handle them. I decided to have fun with it from now on:)
I love the way you ended it... you put a name to that voice... doubt...
I call it second guess... It, like you, has followed and sometimes ruled my life.
Failure is a word most people dread... it's a stigma you don't want associated with anything you attempt. My dad was a tough cookie. At 17 he joined the Navy in world War two. As he stood in line, an officer weren't done the line and counted... 1,2,3,4,5 you're assigned to a Marine unit. 1,2,3,4,5 You're assigned to a Marine unit. And so it went. My dad was assigned to help a medic in a marine unit overseas. As my dad tells the story, his medic was killed the first week in battle. The Sargent gave him the medics pack and said he had been promoted. He got some training, mostly on how to stop the bleeding and bandaging up a wound. When he was discharged, they offered to send him to medical school if he re-uped. He declined and said that was the worst mistake of his life. I don't think it was... he and my mother raised 10 kids and we all turned out pretty damn good. When I heard that voice telling me not to try because I was going to fail, I remembered what my dad had instilled in me. You've already failed if you don't try....
I followed his advise and did at times fail, but I did my best... that's all anyone can ask of you.
Everyone stay safe... we need more runners pounding the pavement...
I really needed to read this today! I have a goal for my half marathon race on Sunday that seemed pretty lofty when I started trading 18 weeks ago but I put in the work and quieted the voice for awhile, but with race day in 4 days it’s louder. After reading this today I will use that voice to motivate me! Thanks Terrell!
Your friend, Stephanie
This post definitely made me think. I was training to run my first half in early 2021 with my main goal of just finishing it. I was at the point of being able to run for 6 miles when it was cancelled. I basically lost all the motivation to keep running. This post makes me feel like I should start over and not give up on finishing a half marathon one day.
Your post is magic and absolutely true. I have just registered for my first marathon in Tokyo in March. I never run more that 25km... how can I do this? The voice inside tells me “you can not do it...” but I need to give a try... I want to challenge myself and do something only for myself, to remember. Thanks Terrell, I love your newsletters. Cheers from Italy
I call that voice “the human condition”. It’s our security blanket that we never gave up as an infant. It keeps us alive but at what cost? From my experience, the more you prepare & practice anything, the softer “that voice” becomes. And one day, just maybe, you may still hear “that voice” but you will no longer need to listen because you finally know exactly what you will do and why you will do it. A friend once told me that if you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space. When I asked him how you live on the edge, he simply replied…practice!
“maybe I’m going to have to hear the doubts, and feel those doubts, but still find the courage to act anyway.” Love this. Yes
This was a great one Terrell. Definitely one of my favorites. I wish I was better at action despite the voice, but it sounds like so does everyone.
Wow, that was great. I'm glad I'm not the only one that hears that voice. Thanks. This was very inspiring, and reassuring.
My only regret in being here is that I only have 30 minutes for lunch [my only time during the day to read for myself]. The comments, along with the thread, make my Friday's...
Thank you again for great words of encouragement.......just signed up for a 15K after taking a good 6 weeks off for a foot infection........I did a 5K fundraiser for fun last week.....not my proudest moment but I finished and at least had a running shoe on my foot......still trying to find a pair of shoes that feel great!!! I have until November to train........it will happen.....I signed up knowing I could fall back to the 5K.........now that is not the option!!! The 15K is the only option!!!! Thank you!!!
This is a great commentary. My friends and I talk about the little devil on our shoulder who whispers in our ear. We have a fall half marathon here in southern Indiana every year. It’s a great all-inclusive event where you don’t have to be a speedy Gonzales to participate. I have spent time pondering on whether to do it or not since my hamstring is still on the mend. I did the 15K and, while my time was not atrocious, recovery took awhile. So I’m opting out of the race this year. But not because of the little devil. Because I choose to heal so that I can run another day.
What a great post! We've all heard that little voice before. I'm glad yours never held you back.
Good thing your teacher/coach didn't "let it go" and followed up with you the next day huh
Wonderful thoughts. Listening to the little man on my shoulder.
I thought everyone had that!