10 bold moves for a more creative you – Day #4
Thursday, January 15th, 2009Today is day 4 of the “10 bold moves to stir up your creativity”.
Bold Move #4:
Run a marathon. Learn to snowboard or ski. Sky dive. Go to racing school. Start your own business. Try defying gravity. Do something you didn’t think you ever could and prove yourself wrong.
My father has always been a stellar athlete. National Water Polo player, Pan American Water Polo champion, College Champion Coach, Northern California Racquetball Champion. But all that pales in comparison to when he decided to become an Ironman Triathlete. His history with water polo was before my time, but I will never forget the lessons that I learned about motivation and drive from his experience in the Ironman race, at 50 years old. I could tell you the stories of his training, the hours he spent to improve his abilities on the bike and in the run (the swim was easy for him, as we often think he is actually half fish…) and how that taught me drive and passion. But that wasn’t what did it. What taught me the lesson about doing something you never thought you could was the last mile of the race. For those of you who haven’t seen the Ironman, the run is the last leg of the race, and the last couple miles are a straight stretch towards the finish line. My mother and I were waiting at the final mile mark, watching for him to come in. When he got to us, he was exhausted and looked like hell, but was still running and SMILING! Better yet? He won the 45+ age group.
My dad has taught me many lessons in my life – but watching him at 50, running the last mile of a 140.6 mile athletic event and smiling changed how I looked at going for the ‘impossible’. He made me realize that the level of your creativity and happiness is only kept down by the limits you put on your life (including athletics). If you unlimit yourself, you will unlimit your creativity.
What do you want to do? What risk have you been waiting to take and why are you waiting?
