Why? Because It’s There

George Mallory was a mountaineer. He took part in the British expeditions of climbing Mt. Everest back in the 1920’s. This was to be the first ascent to the highest mountain on earth. He and his climbing partner Andrew Irvine lost their lives on the North East ridge, 800 feet from the summit. Mallory was often asked “What is the use of climbing Mt. Everest? Why take the risk?”

“Because it’s there.” Was his reply

Mallory knew the risks involved in following his dream. He knew that most people thought he must crazy to pursue such a thing. He also understood a certain aspect about life that most people never will. He risked his life to live his life.

James “The Iron Cowboy” Lawrence is a record holding endurance athlete. He knew nothing of the sport, and ran his first 4 mile fun run on Thanksgiving along side his wife, who urged him to do it. She then signed him up for a marathon the following spring, without him knowing, and he struggled to finish it. He decided to not let it beat him. Ten years later, he now holds two world records in the triathlon. He wasn’t satisfied with that. He set out to do 50 Ironman triathlons in 50 states in 50 days. And did. An Ironman triathlon consists of a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride, and a 26.2 mile run. He did it all with 2 friends, his wife, and 5 kids in tow, helping him along the way. Why?

Why not.

When we see these masters of their craft achieve great things, it seems impossible. If you were to ask Mallory how he climbed so high, or Lawrence how he ran so far, they would tell you it’s something different, something between the ears. It’s sheer determination and drive. It’s a love for the challenge and thrill for the unknown. A true test of the mind, body, and spirit. Each would also tell you they had to start somewhere. It all begins with the first step. Then one more. Then one more.

Tim Ferris is a writer, among many other things, most famously known for his self-help books. He is constantly looking to break boundaries and achieve excellence in whatever he does. He loves the pursuit of knowledge. It is the one thing that you carry for a lifetime. He speaks 5 languages, many of which he taught himself. Why?

Because it’s there.

These people have achieved great things. Mankind is in constant pursuit of pushing the human race further. The ultimate goal is to push it, ever so slightly with each generation, closer to the creator. The path from God, to birth, back to God. I’m never going to climb Everest. It’s not in me. You may never run a single Ironman triathlon, and that’s OK. But there is something that we can do. Find what works, and go for it.

“Are you a born writer? Were you put on earth to be a painter, scientist, apostle of peace? In the end the question can only be answered by action. Your talents and creative work are a gift to the world. Don’t cheat us of your contribution. Give us what you’ve got.”

Steven Pressfield

A Near Death Conversation With God

I’ve been sick the past few days. Actually, my whole family has. The house is a wreck and we don’t care. It’s a struggle to get off the couch and walk hunched back to the sink for a glass of water. The energy is drained, the body is tired, and the mind is exhausted. I try to overlook the pressure in my head that is giving me a constant headache. The only good thing about being sick is the feeling that you get when you’re over it. There’s nothing else like it. I feel like a brand new man, full of life, energy, and drive. As I wait for myself to get better, the thought hit me; what if we’re all sick and our souls are waiting for us to get better?

There’s a quote going around the net that goes something like this, “You weren’t born to pay bills and die.” It has mountains in the background calling for an adventure.

Every single person that has ever lived is unique. There is no one like you in the world. There never has been and there never will be. God has made you with purpose. A one-of-a-kind soul blueprint. You, and only you, can create, make, and shape your world. The creator has a perfect plan for your soul’s path, but the choice is ultimately up to you. That is the beauty in being human. We live and we die. Life, and the time given to us, is a gift. Given that time does not exist to God, and eternity is the sea in which the soul resides, how precious then is every single sunrise that we see.

If I had a near death experience, and stood in front of the Almighty, I wonder what he would say.

“Here you are the way I created you, with all your gifts, talents, and skills.” God says to me while revealing my soul at purpose.

I stand in awe at the things that I could, would, and should have done.

“This is the road that I made straight for you, but look at how many turns you took. Look at how many bumps you hit along the way.”

“But, God, I was young. I didn’t know what I know now. I partied, lived for the moment, and enjoyed life to the fullest.”

“And after you tired of the aesthetic life, what then? Why didn’t you find your soul’s path?” God says.

“Life happened. I went to work, had bills to pay, and started a family.”

“That’s great, and I understand, but why didn’t you do more?” God says and fast forwards my life to where I’m an old man. I see that my children are grown, gone, living their own lives. I see my wife, gray headed like me.

“I worked my whole life, paid my bills, went to church, raised my kids the best I could, and was faithful to my wife. I deserve a break. I deserve to retire in comfort. I’ve worked hard for it. What else do you want from me?”

God looks at me and smiles. “It’s never too late to find your soul’s calling. The choice is, and has always been, yours.”

 

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?'”              Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

 

 

I’ve always been a runner. I just never realized it.

There is something different about someone who runs. Some do it to be fit and healthy. Others do it because they like to push themselves to see where their limits are. Some do it to treat their body like a machine by analyzing and calculating data. Whatever the reason is, there is something that sets a runner apart from others.

It is the drive to make yourself better and the yearning for something more.

I used to lift weights. I loved the iron, the pump, the feeling of being able to move something that most people wouldn’t be able to budge. If I saw a runner, especially on a treadmill, I pretty much summed it up to someone who wants to lose weight. Then I would see a runner in the dead of summer, or freezing winter, and think “they must be crazy.” Why run unless you’re running from something or running towards something?

Exactly.

The runner gears up for battle and knows what’s at stake. He knows the hell he’s about to put his body through and laces his shoes up despite the pain that’s soon to come. The runner is dedicated. She realizes the time it takes, the commitment, the sacrifice. She puts one foot in front of the other anyway. The runner’s battle is either running from something that they don’t like about their life, or running towards something that they want in their life. In some cases it is both.

I run because I feel incomplete without it. Not necessarily running, but action and productivity in general. If I’m not producing something to make my world better, I feel empty. It took me a while to figure this out. I haven’t always been the most productive person. After I had kids, I didn’t have the two hours for the gym to lift weights. Before long I felt that something was missing. After realizing it was the lack of gym time, I knew I needed something. I figured I could do thirty minutes of running around the neighborhood, so I did. Like anything that requires pain, the body rejects it at first, but soon develops an affinity towards it. The pain fades and the body reacts by producing more energy, a clearer mind, and better overall health. It was after this relationship bloomed that I truly realized why people run.

I love the challenge, the trail, the road. The union between man and nature. There is peace in the pain.

Running makes me a better person. It solidifies my work habit and confirms my drive. It makes me live better. Work better. Write better. I’ve always been the type of person who has set a high standard for myself. The drive for something more has always been there. I’ve always been a runner, I just didn’t know it.

 

I live a happy life, so why am I unhappy?

Define happiness in one word. What would it be?

Family. Freedom. Money. Career. People. Equality. Love.

If you asked someone what they envisioned their life to look like in five years, or what they wanted, a majority would say “I want to be happy” and/or “I want to be healthy.” That’s the secret right there. The lifelong pursuit summed up in two words: happiness and healthiness. So why is it so hard for many of us to be happy and healthy? I’ll speak in terms of the American lifestyle, but this would apply to everyone.

The answer is consumerism.

We have been brought up to work our lives away, and for what? To live the American dream of buying material things? To trade our time, which is the most valuable resource in life, for a new phone? I have bought clothes because they were ninety percent off; that’s a great deal! I didn’t even need them. We buy into advertising and get a good feeling when we acquire plastic junk. Retail therapy. And to fuel the shoppers, why not put a fast food restaurant on every corner of every street so that way nobody goes hungry. I am guilty of consumerism like everyone else. I still buy things I don’t need and I still eat fast food, even though I know it’s bad for me.

A few years back I was fortunate enough to take a trip to the eastern Caribbean islands. I was amazed at how happy, as a whole, the local people were. They didn’t have much, and they didn’t need much. Sure, they had struggles like everyone else, but their mindset was different. The lack of stress reminded me of that feeling you get when your floating on your back in the shallow end of a swimming pool with your eyes closed. I wanted that feeling, and almost had a grasp on it, until I stepped back into my all-consuming reality.

Now that I’m a father, the evidence of consumerism and stress has reached new heights. My wife and I struggle with stress everyday, and are constantly in pursuit of eliminating it. Most of it comes from rearing two babies, but I see that we raise our children up in this system of wanting and needing. Spoiled attitudes take place of sufficient thankfulness. The accumulation of all our things bring on a negative energy and a feeling of suffocation. We have the big picture of happy and healthy in our minds, but how do we overcome all of the stress and clutter in our lives?

It is, first, a choice of mindset, and then deciding to commit to that mindset on a daily basis. Nothing worth having comes easy.

There’s nothing wrong with having nice things. I have nice things and have worked hard for them. I’m talking about the excess. By limiting consumerism, we free ourselves to the possibilities of the life we long for. It opens the door for true happiness and allows us to pursue our calling. If working forty hours a week at a gas station and then going home to your family knowing that you have provided security for them makes you happy, then pursue that. If being a missionary or devoting your life to others makes you happy, then pursue that. If you want to be an astronaut, and you know that will make you happy, go do it. If you want to be a writer, start writing. Set a daily goal, and take one small step each day towards that goal. I wake up at five a.m. everyday to write because I don’t have much time otherwise between family and work. There’s only so many hours in a day, so prioritize your time according to your goals and what makes you happy. Commit to it because tomorrow is never guaranteed.

What is happiness to you? Go and get it.