If I’m to believe what I read on the internet, lots of people set resolutions and “themes” for their years.
I don’t do resolutions, and I’m really bad at preemptively “themeing” my year. If I did, it would always be something like:
This is the year of workin’ hard bad-assery and money!
This is the year of the six pack!
This is the year of sooper success!
See? All really bad, and typically also not true (year of the six pack??).
Instead – often a “theme” comes into place over my year (or seasons) gradually. I look back at a period of time and find a thread of learning that’s often continuing to the very day I’m living in.
Today (as I’m writing this) is that day for 2019 thus far. I’m going to share it with you, because I think you’ll benefit quite a bit – perhaps even be encouraged. Fancy that!
I Nearly Died
Okay – that’s a gross over-exaggeration. But I did run a 5k over the weekend. I also forgot to take some medication for my sinuses because I woke up at 4:45am and at one point during the run I thought I was going to die.
At least, that’s the excuse I’m making to make myself feel better that my wife beat my time by ~1:30…
Now, that’s a silly intro – but I did successfully run a 5k this weekend. For me, that’s a super huge deal. I hate running. I loathe it with all of my life. Simultaneously I’m envious of runners who seem to always be in great shape. However, lacrosse in my youth and constant shin splints really killed my enthusiasm for traveling any faster than what my southern-bred people call “mosey” very often.
But, a few months ago my wife found this 5k run, got enthusiastic, and invited me along. I wanted to encourage her, and I figured it wouldn’t kill me – so I signed up.
But in my heart I thought to myself – “Oh God Adam… you haven’t run a mile in years – now you’re expecting to run THREE!?!?!”
It was, to put it frankly – outside of my comfort zone.
So I ran, I lifted, I kept active. Then it snowed in Seattle and my gym closed and I didn’t work out much for most of a month. I experienced setbacks, lethargy, and I had every excuse in the world not to do the work. I was launching a new book! I’m doing online class! I…. am SO BUSY!
But the date wasn’t moving, and I had my accountability buddy – she sleeps next to me every night, I can’t get away.
So we woke up on Sunday, I complained, I shivered (it was 32 degrees – or 0 degrees for all of you not in the States), and then a bit later I ran.
And I ran. And I ran out of breath and walked. Then I ran more. And I finished.
And while running I thought to myself “you know – this is pretty fun!” I had on music I love, was running (nay – dancing) to the beat, had plenty to look at, was doing this with other crazy people, and had no option but to get to the finish line.
Even though my wife beat me to the finish (oh, I’ll get my revenge!), I was proud of myself for running the race at all.
I pushed my boundaries, and it was completely worth it.
Read that Again
Let me repeat –
I pushed my boundaries, and it was completely worth it.
I know this is a running theme under what I usually have to say – but my words to you this week (both today and Wednesday) are about themes so… it’s apt.
I also don’t mean this lesson how you’re likely to take it.
- I don’t mean work harder
- I don’t mean exhaust yourself
- I don’t mean you’re not doing enough
- I don’t mean that if you’re pushing, push harder
- I don’t mean more success at all costs
I mean there’s something that scares you – it freaks you out. Something you know inside that you should do, you should try, whatever. You know it would be good for you, but it induces anxiety the moment you think about it.
You’re probably now getting anxiety thinking about it right now – I’m not happy about that, but I don’t know how else to bring it up.
It could be a small thing that you’ve been stupidly procrastinating. It could be a big, scary, super intimidating, life-changing thing. Maybe there’s multiple of these and they all make you overwhelmed.
Let me encourage you – run your race.
At various points over the last few months, I was really freaked out about this 5k. Like, the moment one of my doctors laughed off the distance like it was no big deal. Or, the moment I got on a treadmill and realized I couldn’t even do a mile without running out of air. Or, those few weeks I couldn’t get to the gym and I wasn’t running in the snow. Etc. etc.
None of these were life threatening or sheer terror inducing things. But yours don’t have to be either.
Maybe you’ve been putting off reading a book, going through a course, making a demo reel, putting in a resume, going to a meetup, whatever.
Or maybe it’s just something outside of work, related to your life.
Let me reassure you – you can do it. Even if not the whole thing, you can take the first step – you’re built stronger than you think you are.
The best part, when you get to the finish line – you are going to look back and be crazy proud of yourself. You’ll have done something that just days ago you’d deemed impossible.
The Theme
For me – this is at least the 3rd example within the year of being pushed beyond where I’m comfortable. I’ve been pushed/pushing hard mentally, physically, and emotionally this year already and I think all of it is going to turn into fantastic, helpful stories for you. I’ll tell you of another one on Wednesday.
Until then – if you need to hear it – I believe in you.
I know it’s weird to hear that from an internet stranger, but I do mean all 4 of those words.
If I’ve learned one thing from 2 years of reaching out to people all over the globe, it’s that sometimes people just need to hear those four words from someone to have the courage to act.
So random stranger over here believes in you. Run your race, do what you know you need to do – the thing that’s intimidating, but good and helpful to you.
Now – last thing.
This is the part where I’d creatively segue into a pitch and say “For some of you, that intimidating thing is learning to program! Buy my C# course in two weeks!”
But instead I’m going to tell you that so I can laugh at it, and just say the following about it –
For those of you interested – C# Implementation with Wwise and Unity is going to open up for five days starting on March 18th.
For those of you going to GDC – that’s also GDC week. Plan accordingly, because it will close on the evening of March 22nd.
And, if you’re not interested or you can’t afford it – you won’t be left out. I plan on doing something else fun as well, but I’ll tell you about that later.
Copyright 2016-2021, NIR LLC, all rights reserved.