There Is No Finish Line

I ran my first marathon when I was in my early 30’s. My sister-in-law suggested that we train and run together, and I remember thinking, “That’s not possible.”

I don’t think I had ever run more than 3 miles at that time. But once she suggested it, I couldn’t let the idea go. What if it was possible? I mean, clearly humans can do it. They do it all the time. Why not me?

So we signed up for a training program and began the journey. It was one of the most life-altering experiences I had ever had.

With every new barrier that was crossed — 5 miles, 10 miles, 15 miles, and eventually 26.2 — it was pure adventure into the unknown. It was exploding barriers that stood between what I thought I could and couldn’t do.

After it was over, I became a bit of a marathon pusher. Dragging all kinds of people into races, convincing them they had to do this at least once. They had to experience what it feels like to do something they thought they couldn’t do.

And from there I was continually searching for more physical challenges that would give me that feeling again. From climbing Mt. Shasta to Tough Mudder and GoRuck races, to an ultra trail run where I ran over 50 miles. I was chasing that feeling of exploration into the unknown.

Eventually I reached a point of saturation. I trusted my body to be able to push beyond what I thought it could do, and I gave up the continual drive to find physical challenges that I had never done before.

It probably was somewhere around the time that I began meditating. And from there the drive moved inward.

Of course I am still one who tends to push toward extremes, which led me to four-hour group meditations with John and many hours of daily practice. When I go in, I go all in.

What I didn’t realize at the time was that I was about to discover a frontier with no finish line.

There is no finish line because there is no end to self-discovery. There is no end to becoming more conscious of who I am beyond my personality.

Once I move beyond certainty, I am in the unknown. Every time I respond in a way that is different from how I normally respond, it is a new frontier.

How exciting is that???

And I mean that with zero sarcasm.

I can always choose a different response, a different reaction, a different way of seeing something that I haven’t considered before.

And as long as I am alive, there will always be more unknown to explore.