Friday, October 18, 2013

Be Tough, Be Strong

My whole life I thought that I had it all figured out. I thought that the way to make it through life was to be tough and be strong. Well those qualities came naturally to me.

For Example: 

On mile 20 of a marathon, I felt my tibia snap. I toughed it out the next six miles to run a time just seven minutes off of a Boston qualifying time. 

I swim in the shark tank that is the business of mortgage lending. And I'm good at it.

Right after a girl headed my face and completely broke my nose, I told my coach just to put a band aid on it and let me keep playing. 

I began college soccer just one week after getting my gal bladder out. 

I ran college cross country with mono. 

Those are just a few examples I can come up with off the top of my head that illustrates my strength and tenacity. But, perhaps those aren't the secrets to success in life. Sure, those qualities have made me successful with certain physical challenges and in my career. They are great qualities. 

But I believe true strength is called humility. 

Being humble enough to share weaknesses. 

Being humble enough to let people know that I might not have it all figured out. 

Being humble enough to ask for help, because I can't do something on my own. 

Being humble enough to say "I don't know" when asked a question. 

When I think of those examples of humility, they scare me a lot more than my examples of strength. I live in a world where being tough and strong represents success temporally. But that doesn't mean they represent happiness eternally.

Can you tell I'm running again and my moving meditation has the deep thoughts flowing again?




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