For me, winning isn’t something that happens suddenly on the field when the whistle blows and the crowds roar. Winning is something that builds physically and mentally every day that you train and every night that you dream.
Emmitt Smith
Hello, Lovelies,
I was toiling away at my desk early the other morning, after my 4am meditation. I’d gotten to bed, after my meditation the night before, at around 11pm. My team and I have been putting in long hours, and I’ve been working weekends and nights too, getting ready to launch our Academy and new website, and our 2020 Planner. So much work. Although we can almost see the light at the end of the tunnel.
I went across to Facebook to post my blog link and this came up in my feed:
And it didn’t make me think about whether I was going to be a ‘champion’ – it made me reflect on what it can take to follow your passion, to bring your dreams to life, to create something from nothing.
A successful life is not built from Instagramable moments.
Successful lives look boring in the creation of them – to an outsider anyway. The golfer who practices the swing a hundred thousand times, with no audience. The dancer in the empty studio after everyone else has gone home, trying again and again to get their routine right. The person getting up in the dark to go for a walk or do yoga in their loungeroom before their busy day begins. The writer on the eleventh draft of their book, alone at their computer surrounded by half-drunk mugs of cold coffee and piles of paper. The entrepreneur wearing many hats and working to slowly get a business off the ground. The student, surrounded by books and notes, studying and working late on a weekend while everyone else is partying.
The quote gave me a sense of solidarity with others, unseen and also toiling. It gave me comfort to know that there were others in the world holding themselves to a vision, and working and sacrifing towards that vision.
It also made me wonder.
What are you doing when no-one is in the stands? What are you doing when no-one is watching? Let me know in the comments.
Truth is, you are watching. You see. You know. And you might be the only one. But that’s enough. Do it for you. And do it for your future self.
I’m cheering you on.
All my love, Nicole xx
I’m answering the question “but why” for the hundredth time that morning, by a very cute but very persistent toddler. I’m feeding a little mouth, cleaning little hands, teaching a little person to use the bathroom, encouraging thoughtful conversation. Showing love, keeping our house clean, returning messages and emails, getting ready to face the day, remembering all the things we need to leave the house, all while feeling a bit crappy with not enough sleep, a sore throat and a back ache. I’m holding it together and trying to keep my patience in this fast paced world, when all my little one wants to do is go very slowly. I’m putting my immediate desires aside and shelving my dreams, for now. This is what I’m working on, while nobody is watching.
Caroline, I just want to acknowledge you, your post, and the choices you are making to support and nurture your family. That’s changing the planet in profound ways, simply by creating a stable and loving home where education, routine, hygiene and communication skills are valued and shared. All of us go through times where our dreams and desires are put on go-slow because of competing values and limited time. But I’m also asking you, can you make just a tiny corner of your life just for you? Nothing big and bold and grand. Just a tiny window of time, one small activity, one little habit. Big hugs and love to you xx
What do I do when no-one is watching? Dance like no–one is watching. Well I do in my mind. At the moment it is a bit more of a shuffle, but hopefully soon. In the meantime I sing, very loudly, to the songs, especially in the communal swimming pool and hope nobody else is around. (waterproof MP3 earphones)
This reminds me on my PhD! Slogging it out day after day not knowing if I would ever finish it. Towards the end, I would play The Distance by Cake in the morning while walking to the office:
“The sun has gone down and the moon has come up and long ago somebody left with the cup but he’s striving and driving and hugging the turns and thinking of someone for who he still burns.”