“I hope you were happy with your race.”
I was happy.
Not because I clocked my best time.
But because I didn’t blow up my life in the process.
I didn’t let the pursuit of a PR send me to the ER.
I found more synergy.
I did my swims, my bikes, my runs. And I loved it all.
But this year I took time away from training.
I played music with my kids. I hung out with my wife. I wrote.
It’s like gravity, the impulse to do more.
It’s the same trap I fell into with my business.
I see the parallels clearly now.
Too narrowly defining productivity.
Losing sight of the bigger picture.
Not honoring the full range of pursuits that feed my soul.
This year, I didn’t beat my fastest time.
But I ran the race; I didn’t let the race run me.
I was a better husband.
A better dad.
A better human.
I had better priorities.
And my wife and kids were waiting for me at the finish line.
