Close

Sometimes, we come up short.  Sometimes, we do not win the game or make the sale.  Sometimes, we are only close.

But, what does that mean?  Being close is not the same as winning.  Losing the Super Bowl does not feel as sweet as winning, even if there is confetti raining down on both teams.  Was it all for nothing?

There are days when I walk down the subway stairs, feel the wind of the train, run through the ticket machine, and swerve between bikes only to miss the train by five seconds.  This feeling feels like the end of the world.  Seven minutes!  You mean I have to wait another seven minutes?  I was only five seconds behind.

Yes, you have to wait.  You missed the train.  You were close, but now it is gone, and you are still standing on the platform, feeling the wind as the cars woosh by.

But, for every time I just miss the train, I also just make the train, and I try to remind myself that when I am five seconds too late.  When I'm close, but not close enough, I remind myself it is ok.  My effort though seemingly in vain is fair enough.  Sometimes, we are close.

Sometimes, all we can do is show up, to play the game, to give it our best.  And when our best is not enough, we know we have to try even harder the next time, or in my case, leave the house five seconds earlier to make it on the train.  Because, we only really lose when we give up, when we stop trying.

Sometimes, being close can feel so tough.  Rather be a blowout than to taste victory and come up short.  But, I would rather be close, even if it is harder to swallow. 

Sometimes, we can not control the outcome.  Sometimes, things do not go according to plan.  But, we can keep trying.  We can show up.  We can learn from coming up short.  We can leave the house five seconds earlier.  We can make the train.

Write It Down

Before I started publishing to this blog, I kept several journals with me. I still keep two small notebooks in my bookbag, just in case inspiration wants to pay a surprise visit.

Why do this? Why keep journals, write a blog etc. Most people find they are full of goals and ambitions, but when it comes time to act on these wishes, they are lost. Somewhere between dreaming of the beach body for spring break or the vacation home for retirement, the trail to our dreams goes cold. Where did it go? I should be on my way to muscles by now!

Writing down your thoughts and ideas is the first step to bridging this gap. When ideas are put to paper they become physical. They are no longer these intangible flickers of a better life. They are written in .7mm ball point ink, staring you in the face. And, now the ball is in your court. No one is going to make you start. You have to decide. Once you begin, friends and family are usually thrilled to help. But you have to be the one to get the ball rolling.

Write it down. What ever you are thinking, dreaming, hoping. When it looks you in the face, you decide. You make the leap, or you let it go, but do not let your goals vanish in to the ether. Writing is the paintbrush for your imagination. You control the colors and the canvas. You can make art.