Goals

We live in an instant gratification society. Easy credit, diets, social networks, fast food, etc. As 2013 approaches I'm thinking about goals because by nature, a goal focus delays instant gratification for something bigger. You must be patient to reach any goal. The larger the goal, the more patience you need. Goals require consistent hard work ethic. It doesn't happen overnight, it will take time, so create new positive habits, make it who you are as a person and endure the journey.

Limitless

Every man has a journey that defines them as a person.

It all started when I meet my good friend Justin for lunch.  It was one of those lunch meetings where you get excited about an idea put on the table.  However, the pitch was not about business ROI but rater self improvement ROI.  What type of goal setting do you think about individually or with friends for self improvement?  I’ve signed up for races before to go big with friends and create a plan to work toward a race date.  But this one was different.  Similar to training for a race but the event itself runs right past the finish line.  Something bigger.  The platform, life is limitless and the paradigm shift getting past your limitations imposed by outside circumstances or by yourself.  

The idea was to go on a long journey to find purpose.  On our computer we pulled up Visalia on the map and looked at stepping outside our home and going on a journey, a 300 mile run with the purpose to inspire others that life is limitless.  I got pretty excited to go beyond the boundary of that circle you draw around your neighborhood as you plot an everyday run and to open my eyes to how much bigger that could be. I looked at the possibility of leaving my door and going 300 miles away on my own two feet.  What route would you take if you had the ability to step outside your door and discover the backyard you can access on foot is bigger than you ever imagined?

The Route selected was: 

Visalia, Porterville, Oildale, Tehachapi, Mojave, Lancaster, Palmdale, Angles Forest, Glendale, LA, Santa Monica.

For five days my world was pared down to just running.  Running from my own hometown traveling by foot on the shoulder banks of the road into the horizon as far as the eye can see.  A pilgrimage from the landscapes of the valley to the desert through the forest from city to sea.  Along the way as we settled into our pace for 16 hour days the 300 mile journey shaped us.  Running is a journey inward and in subtle ways we traversed both land and thoughts.  I may not be the fastest but Gods blessed me with endurance and putting your talent to work builds enduring character.  No doubt, in a society driven by luxury and modern day convenience choosing the discomfort of running let alone ultra running is weird.  But now is the time in my life when 'I can' do this.  My health is my wealth.  When my doctor cleared me to run after my Pnemothorax surgery last March I became a runner again and through my actions I joined the LIMITLESS journey to inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more.  Running has its highs and its lows and you do the best you can, where you are, with what you have, now.  You work at it with all your heart and reach past your limits with a positive attitude. That's my LIMITLESS story, now go out there and make your own life awesome!

When the present is not weighted down, immersion in the moment is where creation lives. The entire trip was planned out with a crew so all we had to do was run. Its amazing what happens once all of your basic needs are meet and your free to explore your abilities and strive for further development.

Some people simply refuse to accept limits or listen to conventional wisdom. Instead of merely existing in status quo, they have the courage to change it. Their drive takes them beyond the ordinary, and their sense of purpose propels them far beyond the boundaries of reason.

Altering view of ones self. Justin and Ira are physically exhausted by the number of miles run compounded by lack of sleep so they look within both mentally and spiritually to find that source to move past their physical limitations.

We limit our own self development if we are distracted by societies perceived deficiency. Think about what a runner faces from societies perception of being self centered or a non conformist. Alleviate that tension that comes into play from re-acting to society by being devoted to your own actions and driven by one's authentic self. This is an inner hold on self. Its a

lessened awareness of other people and their demands in order to pursue the path to finding one’s true identity. Its an active process of becoming the person you were meant to be, not what society wants you to be.

This song takes me right back to the whole experience:

Time Without Consequence, Alexi Murdoch

http://youtu.be/zUH9YnBD4NM