We aren’t guaranteed anything, and life can take some weird, crazy turns when we least expect it. So my list this year includes my goals to train to run faster and make myself stronger. It also includes my want to finish at least one of my books and get it into good enough shape to allow publishers to tell me I’m not talented enough to be a novelist.
What I do plan to do is try to control what I can. Make time to do the important things and chase the dreams I do have. I have no doubt COVID will continue to wreak havoc with everything, but I can keep it from derailing some of my list.
I remember a certain workout at Auburn one day. My coach had us running hard over the course of several miles, varying our intensity from 80 to 60 percent of full effort. For some reason, I didn’t have it in me that day, and I struggled through the workout, looked terrible and finished dead last, but I finished.
Being a walk on I could be asked to leave the team at any time, and a big part of me feared I had just sealed my fate and that would be my last time running with the team. Coach took a look at me, shook his head a bit and smiled.
“You’ll get more out of that workout than you would have gotten if you had finished first.”
He walked away. I breathed a sigh of relief. I was still on the team. And as always, my coach was right.
I feel like this past year has resembled that day in many ways. I’ve made it through, the slogging tough parts and learned quite a bit about myself. I wish it hadn’t been so hard, but maybe by going through it I’ll appreciate everything as bit more.
And now my list awaits.