Seeing Your Goal Through the Fog
I couldn't see further than a few feet. My running light beam refracted the mist, turning the distance into a sparkling light show of tiny water droplets. It was quite distracting, despite its otherworldliness. As with most of my morning runs, I had no pre-planned route, only the intent to run for about thirty minutes.
Thirty minutes in dark, dense fog. It had all the ingredients of a wayward run that could have taken me miles from my home. Yet while I could only see a few feet ahead of me, I always knew I was going in the right direction. I recognized landmarks, familiar hints that I used as my guide.
There was the bench in the park, nudging me to a right turn; the road-side boulder indicating that a left turn would take me to Richardson Road. Then the change from paved to gravel road that meant my next and final left turn approached. Then home. Twenty-eight minutes, forty-two seconds later. Still dark; still foggy. But goal achieved.
It’s remarkable how we make decisions sometimes, isn't it? When I saw the fog that morning I could have decided to wait for it to clear or I could have simply not run that morning. I chose neither because I have a longer-term goal related to total miles for the year and this day’s run would keep me on target. The metaphor to life and purpose is clear as day.
Long-term goals can be terrific motivators. Except when they become lost in the fog of everyday junk. Framing your actions around what is the best next thing and watching for indicators that you’re on track (the “road-side boulder”) provides clarity.
We can’t control the fog. Some days we’ll encounter barriers and distractions. On those days focus on what you can control: your choices. There is continual opportunity in the next moments.
A keen awareness of the destination is critical for success—knowing what success looks like in the end. But so is awareness of what I do now to keep momentum.
Days off are ok. Some days (and moments) may take us off our intended path. We may have made a bad decision or responded to a situation unproductively. Don’t beat yourself up. There’s always a way back. It might take longer or more effort. But as the expression goes: everywhere is walking distance if you have enough time.
You have a choice. Both of the goal and the path forward. Losing hope is also a choice.
According to the weather report, tomorrow should be clear. But I won’t know for sure until I show up, shoes on, laces double knotted, and dressed as best as possible for what the day might bring. After all, all runners know there’s no such thing as bad weather only bad clothes.
Notes:
100% human written.
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