PEBBLE
There.
-Mark Freeman, written and shared by Mark in Blacksburg, VA
BOULDER
Today if anything is trying to hold you back, give no attention to it. Get your hopes up, get your faith up, look up, and get ready to rise up.
~Germany Kent, shared by Mel in Sidney, IL via PassItOn.com
PONDER
You may have glanced at the Pebble and wondered if I forgot to paste in the rest of the quote. I initially thought Mark had done the same thing when I first peeked at his submission. Then I read the note he included:
“I have been a runner at times, and sometimes it’s hard. The way I get through it is to spot a place in the distance. Maybe it’s a tree, a turn, a bridge, or just something a reasonable distance away. For the next few minutes, that’s where I’m going… There.”
There.
Ah, There.
The Swedes use a variation of this in interval training they call Fartleks. (As a bonus, we English speakers can burn a few extra calories by giggling each time we say it.) You pick a landmark ahead and commit to moving more intensely until you reach it.
Years ago, I taught a time-management strategy called the “Swiss Cheese” method. Instead of being overwhelmed by a giant block of a project, you just take one bite. Then another. Before long, there are more holes than cheese.
Here’s the thing: even though I still use Fartleks on my walks (giggling every time), and even though I’ve taught the Swiss Cheese method to countless others… I recently forgot.
I’ve been staring at a really (really) big project, and each time I try to start, I crumple. And the crumpling is usually followed by my inner critic accusing me of being an entirely unmotivatable “motivational speaker.”
What’s a Ripples Guy to do?
After pondering Mark’s single-word Pebble, I took a breath — long exhale and all — and asked, “What’s my next ‘there’?”
I found it. I focused on it. I made it there.
Then I ate a cookie to celebrate.
Turns out, one “there” is enough for today.
Peace,
Paul
P.S. Fartleks. Hehehehehehe.