Needless to say it has been a long journey. More about the journey in a latter post. I want to talk about motivation. I have taken to reviewing videos, books, and websites for motivational quotes. I find a particularly pertinent one and I write it on a piece of paper. I then pin it to my bulletin board (old school; cork, really old school). I leave it there for the week. I read it and re read it. It is an intricate part of my life for the week. It is not only part of my Ironman training it is also part of my work as well. It sits there within my field of vision.
This post is not here to delve into the meaning of each of these quotes. They are what they are. They did start me thinking about "bulletin board" material.
We hear this term every time a pro athlete in a team sport shoots off his mouth a trash talks an opposing team. If an athlete says disparaging things regarding an upcoming opponent you will hear the hosts of the local sports radio station reference the quote as "bulletin board " material for the opposing team.
In spite of my advanced age I remember this from playing high school football. One example in particular the opposing team "decorated " the entrance way to our school with signs and banners claiming how they were going to beat us. Generally said with colorful language. No cursing or fowl language just how they were going to wipe the field with us and stomp us into the ground.
Our coaches took this art work and placed in our locker room on the day of the game. They're goal is somewhat obvious. Use our competitors lack of respect for us as motivation. I assume that they we were not expected to get all riled up and crazy but to get focused on the task of beating them. Winning the GAME! It was meant to focus our collective thoughts and efforts on our competition.
In looking at my bulletin board I recalled those days. Then I started to think about the material I currently have posted and compare it to the good old days. Then I started to think about the content of these messages.
I do not have copies of the High school banners but as I remember them and their purpose of focusing us outward. Focusing on our opponent. My new bulletin board is adorned with sayings that are more focused inward. Definitely very different messages. Reasons for the differences; some are obvious. Two entirely different events. A football game pitting 2 teams against each other and an Ironman Triathlon where you are generally racing against yourself.
I guess the biggest difference is the latter. You are racing against yourself. In a team sport you sense of self is usually sacrificed for the good of the team. This is admirable and honorable. We need to put the common good first in many cases.
What about delivering your best for the cause. How do you know if you have given enough to the team. We sometimes need to know how far we can go. We can only know that by pushing ourselves. By pushing ourselves we know were our limits our and where they are not. The only way to know is to take on a task and see where you get to. Something like say an Ironman Triathlon.
Now we are into something that does not really have an opponent. Or better said, the opponent is the task itself. That is why the quotes that seem to resonate with me at this time are ones that build the spirit, shore up the man within and most importantly address the fears that we all have. I do not fear my opponent in an Ironman triathlon. The task is fearful enough. I know it will hurt and I want the strength to carry me through.
That strength will only come from within me.
No comments:
Post a Comment