The Paradox of Finish Lines
Last week I was busy taking finals and finishing up another semester, but that did not keep me from thinking.
A finish line is a powerful thing. It forces you to train for months. It causes you to lose sleep. It encourages you and frightens you. It stares at you defiantly as you start, and it celebrates you stoically as you finish.
A finish line becomes most powerful at your weakest. At your weakest, the finish line taunts you. You wonder if you will ever cross it. It presents you with a choice: give in or dig in. It forces you to either quit or reach new heights.
What are the finish lines in your life? A life without finish lines might lead to less disappointment. Nevertheless, a life without the possibility of disappointment is a life devoid of purpose. If a thing is worth pursuing, failure to achieve it will be disappointing. Despite this, the only life that can be filled with purpose is one that has the possibility of failure.
Some people have said that the only way to ensure that you are never disappointed is to never put your heart into anything. In reality, the only way to ensure that you are entirely disappointed is to never put your heart into anything. A life where you never raise the stakes does not lead to contentment. It results in complacency.
There is an interesting paradox in finish lines. They never move yet they spur us to move our swiftest. Pick your races wisely. The finish lines you set can lead to incredible feats. Ensure that your efforts are not wasted. Choose to pursue unchanging finish lines that are both daunting and exhilarating!
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