I have grown. My small pond. My big pond.
Flash: New Record! “1.48.33”
My 21kms Personal Best at the Lewa Marathon virtual race on Saturday, 27 June 2020. Grateful. Ecstatic.
For the longest time, I worked hard to run half marathon below 2hrs. 2.25, 2.17, 2.12, 2.10, 2.06, 2.02, 2.01, 2.02. No colour. No lustre. You push the barrier, it pushes you back.
Doesnt hardwork pay? Well maybe not just hard work. Change your pond.
I reflect with joy today when I look back at this record.
The truth is you dont wake up one day and ace it.
It takes time. Time.
It takes conscious investment in self. Self- investment. To learn from others who are better than yourself.
It takes courage to try. Risk.
I have doubted myself, days over. Of many things. Of ever running paces that call for a little attention. A dean’s list equivalent. It’s been many things but today it’s my pond. It’s grown bigger. I have grown. When I left the small pond, my strokes were that. Small. The pond was small. I was stuck. “Sized” to my small pond. I moved to a big pond. To grow. It was painful. Frustrating. You know growing extra fins to breathe. I remember that. I missed my small fins. Little air, slow breaths. Faint heart rates. No sweat. I was intimidated. The big fish. You gotta notice their blue and green fins. I desired. I trailed them to the deep waters. Aw the thrill in deep waters. I watched. I copied. I listened. I followed. I dropped my small pond tendencies. I signed up for all deep dives. I took the risk. I failed. I trailed. I got up. Attempted my dives. Most days. Any day. Aw. I grew fins. Slowly. My Orange fins. And now I can make a big pond stroke.
A big pond stroke – 5.08 minutes per Km. That’s my stroke speed!
Even “Nemo” in “Finding Nemo” fish cartoon didnt see that coming.
You got take the risk and jump to a big pool. You owe it to your self. You’re made for growth. Yes. In skill. In ability. In Intelligence. Emotional. Spiritual. And oh yes even in size! But. You got to leave small ponds that “size” you “small”. Let your fins grow. Your “gills” shall nourish your heart.
Got my mind thinking through the growth experiences we miss in life by basking in our small ponds. Easy to manouvre. We are the biggest of the smallest fish. The waters are shallow.
2020 first half is done! Take a tape. Measure the growth.
The joy of second chances.
The opportunities of second halfs. Grab it.
Grow.
Chase to deep waters.
Grow.
Make the best. Find joy. Have fun. Most importantly. Grow a new fin. The exciting simple experiences to the exciting twisted ones. Let yourself be challenged. Your career. The accountant who is constantly challenged by the lawyer on why 2.67% of 6.7%. Just 2.67 %. And why 6.7%. On what basis. None. When What. How. A new pond. A pandemic that closes one door for a business venture and opens another. A new pond. Running an ultra marathon. Crazy. A new pond with waves. A marathon under 3.00. Twisted. A new pond. A marriage proposal after waiting for a vision of mr.right or miss right. A new pond. A pool actually. You know the kind with diving depth. A new skill. Cycling. A new pond. A new job. A new pond. New Babies. A new big pond. Very big pond.
Now, I know I can. Moving on quickly to create my next PB. I know it may take time. I may need 100 shots and more. But I know. I can. God keep me, sanctify the works, to do it for your greater glory here or up above. Your will.
Did you know: “Finding Nemo” was a 2003 hit animation. A timeless watch. Try it.
It tells the story of an overprotective clownfish named Marlin, who, along with a regal blue tang named Dory searches for his missing son Nemo. Nemo is unexpectedly taken far from his ocean home and dumped into a fish tank in a dentist’s office. Along the way, Marlin learns to take risks and comes to terms with Nemo taking care of himself. From a big pond to a small pond. Nemo survives and returns home to the big pond where he belongs!
