Life seems so overwhelming. From the minute I open my eyes in the morning to when I finally drag my sorry butt to bed, I feel like I am always behind and can’t possibly get everything done that I intended to in that day. Of course, my expectations were unrealistic to begin with and for every item crossed off of the “To Do” list, more were added. I remember when I was young we had gerbils, Chip and Dale, whose lives consisted of eating, sleeping, and running on their rodent wheel, over and over and over. While they never seemed to mind the repetition, I become irritated when my life takes on such redundant patterns.
Lately, my priorities seem to be shifting. There are things that I’ve wanted to do in life, and yet never pursued them. Maybe it’s a type of midlife crisis but I’ve decided it’s up to me to set some goals. Either way, the bucket list is going to get smaller. I’m reminded of a story of a marathon runner who astounded his opponents by his outstanding accomplishments:
In 1984 of the Tokyo International Marathon, one Japanese athlete Yamada unexpectedly won the world championship. When reporters asked what made him such a startling success he said,
Lately, my priorities seem to be shifting. There are things that I’ve wanted to do in life, and yet never pursued them. Maybe it’s a type of midlife crisis but I’ve decided it’s up to me to set some goals. Either way, the bucket list is going to get smaller. I’m reminded of a story of a marathon runner who astounded his opponents by his outstanding accomplishments:
In 1984 of the Tokyo International Marathon, one Japanese athlete Yamada unexpectedly won the world championship. When reporters asked what made him such a startling success he said,
"Use wisdom to defeat opponent." Many people didn't believe him. Since running Marathons is the sport requires both physical strength and endurance, his response seemed unusual.
Two years later, at the Italian International Marathon, Yamada won the championship again. Again a reporter asked him, "You have won the championship again. Can you talk about your experience?" Yamada answered the reporter the same as last time, "I use wisdom to defeat opponent." Everyone was puzzled by his so-called “wisdom”.
Ten years later, the mystery was finally discovered. Yamada wrote his autobiography and he said,
"Before each game, I will travel the whole route and check it carefully. I will mark some important signs alone the road, such as the first mark is a bank, the second mark is a tree, and the third mark is a red house, thus mark to the end. When the race begins, I run as fast as I can towards the first goal, the bank. When I arrive at the bank, I will strive for the second goal, the tree. I break the whole marathon route into many small goals and finish them one by one easily. At first I don't know this method and set my goal at the end of the 40 kilometers marathon. Usually I get exhausted in the first 10 kilometers because I am frightened by the remote distance."
Therein lies the rub. If I look at the large ominous goals, I will give up and become disappointed and a bitter person. It is up to me to break down the large goals into lots of tiny little smaller goals that are do-able. Even realizing this as my new plan gives me hope.
Hope that my life isn’t just what it’s become day after day after day.
Hope that my life can be full.
Hope in things unseen but hoped for.
Hope.
