On my bucket list for ~15 years has been “Run A Marathon.”
I’m 40 years old, so since about 25 years old this has been a goal of mine. I still haven’t accomplished it. Are you telling me I simply wasn’t able to find the time?
It is true I’m pretty busy (what family man isn’t busy), but that busy? Yeah, right.
So, what’s going on here? Why haven’t I run a marathon given a 15 year timeline in which to complete it? Or perhaps a more important philosophical question–why don’t we do the things we want to do (especially when time, money, and health aren’t barriers)?
Looking over my life I see a main reason and a minor reason. Let’s clear the debris of the minor reason first. Actually, let’s first discuss the nature of the bucket list–AKA items you want to complete or experiences you want to have before you die.
On the list are three categories:
- Items that can reasonably be achieved now or soon (with a little work, planning, and focus)
- Items that can be achieved if life conditions are changed (aka need more money, time)
- Items that require work + luck (write a NYT bestseller)
I have “Epic Trip To Australia” on my list, I looked up airfare and found out I’d have to take out a second mortgage. So, that is clearly a Category 2 item–I need more money!
“Run A Marathon,” however, is indisputably a Category 1 item–there are no barriers (except for a little work, planning, and focus). So why the heck is this item still unchecked on my list?
For me the minor debris is busyness.
The Curse Of Busyness
Busyness is not the same thing as not having time.
Busyness is you were gonna get off work at 5:00pm but instead it’s after midnight and you miss a planned workout and then you have to hit the work grind again at 5:00am the next morning.
Or your kid gets sick. Or there’s a school concert you attend for your kid instead of working out because you’re not one of those goddamned deadbeat loser fathers.
Well, there is a simple trick to defeating busyness when it comes to getting workouts in.
We all know you are not supposed to workout everyday. We all know there are supposed to be rest days.
So what’s the secret?
Simple.
Plan to work out every single day!
Because life happens. It always happens. Life will dictate rest days.
Have to work late? Looks like it’s a rest day! Have to go to your child’s game? Rest day!
It really is that simple.
While busyness can often trick us into betraying ourselves, it’s not the real reason I, and probably most people, do not reach their personal objectives.
It’s something much more sinister than busyness; it’s someday-itis.
The Curse Of Someday-itis
Just like the Road to Hell is paved with good intentions, the Road to Despair is paved with someday-itis. And at the end of the Road of Life, everybody always says the same thing: “I thought there would be more time!”
So, why haven’t I run a marathon yet?
Because I always said to myself: “I’ll definitely run a marathon–someday!”
Luckily, I turned 40 and birthdays that end in a “0” usually result in some self-reflection; I dusted off the mental file labeled “things I’d like to do before I die” and realized there are items on that list that are within my grasp now. So why wait another day?
I signed up for that marathon and I am training.
Don’t let someday-itis kill your dreams.
Run that marathon, or do whatever it is you need to do.
The seconds are ticking by and they are finite.
Oh, look. Another second just ticked by.
And another.
Another.
You better get going!