“Would you like me to give you a formula for success? It's quite simple, really. Double your rate of failure. You are thinking of failure as the enemy of success. But it isn't at all. You can be discouraged by failure or you can learn from it, So go ahead and make mistakes. Make all you can. Because remember that’s where you will find success.” -Thomas J. Watson
I’d have to agree with Mr. Watson. The way I see it, when you “fail” you have two choices:
- Cry. Have a pity party. Give up. Give in. Be the victim. Stay down.
- Get back up. Know failing again is a possibility. Try anyway. Never lose sight of the goal, the prize. Keep the faith when you really don’t have a reason to do so. Be the exception. Never be the victim of your circumstances. Take charge.
Today I ran. You might recall I tried last week, but I had too much pain. I was so discouraged. I crawled back into the water with the pussy posse (for those new to the party, I have a hip stress fracture).
Pain today? Yes, there was some pain. But, much less. I’d give it a “3” on the pain scale. It was the first time in 106 days I felt like myself again. For 20 minutes. Walk 5, run 5, walk 5, run 5, walk 5, run 5, walk 5, run 5, walk 2. A total of 42 minutes and 3.5 miles.
Did I tell you I ran today? Tears sprang from my eyes as I felt like a runner again. I laughed/worried as I felt that familiar stirring in my gut that means stuff is moving (and I hoped I wouldn’t crap my pants). The icy wind stung my face. My legs turned over at 180 strides per minute (yes, I counted). My feet were light, my hips centered. YES! This is what it is all about.
Today I ran and it wasn’t in the water and it didn’t hurt like a mother f*cker.
You know how you have turning points? Those moments when you reap the rewards of all the shit you’ve been experiencing and all the trials you’ve been undergoing? I had that. I felt that.
I could not wipe the smirk off of my face. I stopped for coffee at a small corner store. I praised the coffee man for the warm, steamy cup he handed me. He said, “I live for smiles like yours. Go take that out in the world today and see who else’s day you can make better.” He waved and touched his heart as I drove away. I swear he did. You don’t get that at Starbucks. And, for just a moment in time it all felt perfect.
In the smallest of ways, I AM BACK. I felt that very subtle glimmer of hope. You know the one. You’ve had it too.
This wasn’t taken today (duh!) but you get the idea.
And, haven’t you missed my poop antics?
Shit yes, there have been many setbacks since October. And, there will be more to come. But, the point is, failure (setback) upon failure upon failure brought me to this day. To 20 minutes of “okay” running where my hip didn’t hurt and there wasn’t a grimace on my face from the pain.
20 minutes to Boston, right?
A reader emailed me today and said her kids had been slightly appalled when she got her SUAR sticker in the mail. After all, “shut up” is a bad word. They apparently have taken on the nasty habit of using “Shut Up and...(insert verb here)” throughout the day. They even drew a picture to symbolize the phrase:
Priceless. I like to think I am negatively influencing children, one kid at a time.
Shut up and shit! Shut up and masturbate! Shut up and pay a hooker!
Yeah, it’s true. We might be in last place if we don’t Shut Up and Run. But, last place or first place, the point is that we tried. That we did what we said we were going to do. That we weren’t afraid of failing. That fear never held us back.
On my way,
SUAR
