Two Questions...

Two weeks left in 2024.

Two questions to consider:

1) How do you want to arrive at 2025?

Who do you want to be when you open the door into 2025’s embrace?

Most of us tend to wait for the new year to arrive without as much emphasis on how we want to arrive at the new year.

In this equation, the certain part is that 2025 will be here in a finite number of days (16), hours (384), and minutes (23,040). The variable in the equation, the thing that can be changed, is how we will arrive to greet 2025 when the clock hits midnight on 12.31.

Admittedly, the finite part of the equation (16 days until 2025) can create pressure to change things about ourselves in a tight time window, so let’s first resolve to not play that stressful game.

Instead, let’s have fun with the image of who we want to be when we open that door to 2025. Answers like, “I want to be in a place that is more calm and slow than I am in currently,” are not only concrete and attainable, but they also inform our second question…

2) How and where will you spend your energy in these last days of the year?

So, having considered how we want to arrive at 2025, we can now get to work on our game plan for making that happen.

Imagine for a moment that the next two weeks are focused only on making intentional decisions around what is best for you, what you need for rejuvenation. Write down what how and where you would spend your energy – this is list #1.

Now, make a second list of the family, work, travel, etc. obligations for the next two weeks, noting which things are set and which ones are negotiable – this is list #2.

In a 2023 poll of Americans, 50% of people find the holidays stressful. I think a significant part of this is that we tend to let list #2 control how the last weeks of the year are spent, sometimes to the point that we don’t even get around to making list #1. Or if we make the list of what we need for ourselves during this time, it becomes a far lower priority. As in, remembering on New Year’s Eve, “Oh yeah, those were the things I was hoping to do to feed my soul and heal in these last weeks. Where did the time go?”

What if, in these last weeks of 2024, you have the courage to make list #1 a priority, finding ways to make list #2 support, not defeat, your personal goals for the holidays?

Put the two lists side by side and see what comes to mind. Could you modify list #2 right now so that it was more consistent with supporting list #1?

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I hope these two questions allow you to strategize for a healthy holidays and look forward to seeing you in 2025. 

A very happy winter break and winter holidays to each of you!

 

p.s. I hope the Litmus family, wherever they may be, is excited that I chose their GIF for today's blog. And if you happen to see them, let them know about the two questions above, please.

And with only one shoe...

Imagine…

It is the biggest race of your year, with everything on the line.

On either side of you are hundreds of the best runners in the country.

About halfway into the 6-mile race, suddenly, unexpectedly, one of your shoes has come off.

You suddenly become aware of the cold ground on this overcast 35-degree day in Wisconsin.

Your balance is off, with right foot having a shoe and left foot bare.

How many seconds would it take before quitting the race?

How many steps on that frozen ground before limping to the sideline?

 

This scenario played out for Habtom Samuel, an Eritrean sophomore for the UNM Lobos at the NCAA Cross Country Championships on Saturday, November 23^rd.

At the halfway point of the course, running with the lead pack, he lost his left shoe after being “spiked” by another runner and had a decision to make. Drop out or keep running?

Well, for Habtom, there was never any decision.

I asked him if he considered dropping out and here was his response:

“Honestly, quitting never crossed my mind. I was determined to keep going and give my all of my team, no matter what.”

Not only did Habtom run lopsided with a bloodied foot on the frozen ground for the last 3 miles of the race against the best in the country, but he finished 2^nd in the race. He ran 14:07 for the second half of the race, 4:30 per mile. And in doing so, he helped his UNM team to a 9th place finish.

As he crossed the line, he pointed to his bare, bloodied left foot as if to say, “See what I did despite this!”

Habtom, we are inspired by you and your perseverance.

May we find that same resolve to not give up today, this week, this month when adversity hits us halfway through our race. Instead of asking “Why now?” and “Why me?” you remind us to change the questions to a declaration: "Yes, I can! Si se puede!"

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Extra: Interview with Habtom post-race as he talks about running with one shoe - click here

A picture from this fall, where Habtom came out to share with our Running Medicine youth and families. He shared that it felt like being back home in his village, surrounded by love and laughter.