I completed a full Ironman Saturday. What meaning do I give it? Well it was actually one specific event in the Ironman that inspired today’s Friday Reflections. I was waiting, with 1,500 other people to get in the water where we all knew there were lots of jellyfish. I had experienced them in the practice swim the day before and they were not fun, but also not debilitating at all. What was great about this group of Ironmen is that I didn’t hear any complaining and the guy next to me, said, “Each time you get stung, say a pray for or say “I love you” to a loved one.” This was magic! I got strong dozens of times. My whole neck was welted up when I got out. And, instead of cussing or getting angry each time I got stung, I would silently say, “I love you Kayli or Alex or Tonya or Sawyer”. My outlook changed greatly by the meaning I assigned to the event. Each time I got stung it was a great opportunity to practice loving my family. It changed a grimace, or worse, into a smile and a warm thought and the discomfort of the sting diminished greatly. When I assign a positive meaning to something hard, it not only improves my overall outlook and reduces the pain of the event.
So what meaning do I give the whole IM experience. It was a great experience where I got to really connect with those that I loved who were with me at the race. I got to practice doing something I have never done before without getting my ego involved, and simply follow the heart-rate-based plan I set out to do. It was a great adventure, great connection, and great challenge that I rose to. I know that I can do what I set out to do and in the way I set out to do it, when I focus on what I can control. I am smiling thinking about it. The meaning I give it is joy.
What meaning are you giving to the good things in your life? And to your challenges? Whatever you are experiencing this weekend and week, what meaning are you assigning to it? That is something we control.
Have a great weekend,
Art
