A favourite quotation...
Alice laughed. `There's no use trying,' she said `one ca'n't believe impossible things.'
`I daresay you haven't had much practice,' said the Queen. `When I was your age, I always did it for half-an-hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.
Lewis Carroll, Through The Looking Glass
A few years ago, I found this quotation printed on a fridge magnet in a card store while looking for a birthday card for one of my sisters who, at the time, was in the fight of her life with depression. I bought it for her because it reminded me of a time earlier in my life when I was under the very mistaken impression that I really didn't care much whether I lived or died (I did and I very much do). As I didn't have much going for me at the time, I figured that I had nothing to lose by dreaming of impossible things.
Today, she and her husband own a successful store called Main Street Health in Picton, Ontario (www.mainstreethealth.com (site under construction)). The fridge magnet is still on her fridge. We don't talk about it but I know that she knows that I know it's still there, if you know what I mean...
As for me - dreaming impossible things has inspired me to persevere and to continue scaling the emotional cliffs of life. Since posing the question why? the other day, I have concluded that for me, my desire to run a marathon is all about dreaming impossible things. It has little to do with whether or not I actually do it - desiring it, pursuing it, training for it (even to the extent my battered old body will allow) will take me to heights that I have only ever dreamt of.
I am writing this to remind myself (yet again) that my glass is more than half full - on a day during which I let everyone and everything (including the freakin weather) get me down.
Alas, my impossible dream of running the marathon at the Gay Games this summer in Chicago is not to be. I have very much decided to spend the rest of this year focusing on fitness/weight loss in general and running short distances while doing inner core strengthening.
However, you would be wrong to understand this to be about giving up. In reality, it is very much about dreaming impossible things. It's just going to take a little longer.
In the meantime, I've booked a tennis/spa vacation in Hilton Head, SC this May. Who knows, maybe I'll find my old game (I was once a diehard court rat) and kick some serious ass this summer on the weekend warrior tennis tour!
Game, Set, Match.
`I daresay you haven't had much practice,' said the Queen. `When I was your age, I always did it for half-an-hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.
Lewis Carroll, Through The Looking Glass
A few years ago, I found this quotation printed on a fridge magnet in a card store while looking for a birthday card for one of my sisters who, at the time, was in the fight of her life with depression. I bought it for her because it reminded me of a time earlier in my life when I was under the very mistaken impression that I really didn't care much whether I lived or died (I did and I very much do). As I didn't have much going for me at the time, I figured that I had nothing to lose by dreaming of impossible things.
Today, she and her husband own a successful store called Main Street Health in Picton, Ontario (www.mainstreethealth.com (site under construction)). The fridge magnet is still on her fridge. We don't talk about it but I know that she knows that I know it's still there, if you know what I mean...
As for me - dreaming impossible things has inspired me to persevere and to continue scaling the emotional cliffs of life. Since posing the question why? the other day, I have concluded that for me, my desire to run a marathon is all about dreaming impossible things. It has little to do with whether or not I actually do it - desiring it, pursuing it, training for it (even to the extent my battered old body will allow) will take me to heights that I have only ever dreamt of.
I am writing this to remind myself (yet again) that my glass is more than half full - on a day during which I let everyone and everything (including the freakin weather) get me down.
Alas, my impossible dream of running the marathon at the Gay Games this summer in Chicago is not to be. I have very much decided to spend the rest of this year focusing on fitness/weight loss in general and running short distances while doing inner core strengthening.
However, you would be wrong to understand this to be about giving up. In reality, it is very much about dreaming impossible things. It's just going to take a little longer.
In the meantime, I've booked a tennis/spa vacation in Hilton Head, SC this May. Who knows, maybe I'll find my old game (I was once a diehard court rat) and kick some serious ass this summer on the weekend warrior tennis tour!
Game, Set, Match.
posted by Scott at 7:48 PM
5 Comments:
OMG--I think I have the same magnet that you are describing! It's a square? Anyways--LOVE the quote. This is a great post! Excited to hear how your summer goes and your road to your marathon!
First: CONGRATS ON DAY 100!!!!!
Second: You are smart to scale things back a bit and work on your foundation. Sometimes putting too much pressure on oneself is counter-productive! Can't wait to read about your journey.
"Good things come slow - especially in distance running."
- Bill Dellinger, Oregon coach
Taking your time to get ready for a marathon is a smart thing to do. There will be plenty of shorter distance racing out there, and maybe even a sprint tri? ;)
Hey Scott, Thanks for the kind comments. I am glad to hear that you are not giving up your dreams, but perhaps just postponing. I think impossible dreams are what help keep me going every day. I also gather from reading that the 100 day post has to do with quitting smoking. It has been almost 4 years since the last time I had a cigarette and it was running my first marathon that finally got me over the hump. I actually smoked every once in awhile while I was training and finally my running overtook my desire to smoke anymore and I have not wanted to smoke since. Good luck with the fight.
What a great quote, and congrats on day 100! Even though you may not be ready to run it this summer your plans to strengthen up other areas are very smart! Having a strong all around core will really help!
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