Monday, December 24, 2012

From The Failures, Success.

fail·ure  (flyr)n.1. The condition or fact of not achieving the desired end or ends: the failure of an experiment.2. One that fails: a failure at one's career.3. The condition or fact of being insufficient or falling short: a crop failure.4. A cessation of proper functioning or performance: a power failure.5. Nonperformance of what is requested or expected; omission: failure to report a change of address.6. The act or fact of failing to pass a course, test, or assignment.7. A decline in strength or effectiveness.8. The act or fact of becoming bankrupt or insolvent.
It may seem odd that I would be writing a blog about failure. I mean, it's the time of year when people send Christmas Cards out celebrating a year's worth of accomplishments. And here I am, posting about all of the things I failed to accomplish in 2012. Weird, right?

Here are a few of the failures, in no particular order:
  1. Attempted the 100 Pushup Challenge. Failed.
  2. Created my Holiday Challenge. Failed.
  3. Tried a "Countdown to Key West" Challenge. Failed.
  4. Signed up for the Laguna Hills Half Marathon. Failed.
  5. Eating Clean? Failed.
And these are just health and fitness failures. I haven't even mentioned financial, personal and emotional failures I've been responsible for this year. All tallied, it's a pretty significant pile of suck.

Just reading my own list feels like this picture.

And yet...

I don't feel like a failure. That might seem hard to believe, but it's true. And I'll you why. I don't feel like a failure because none of the things listed above were enough to make me quit trying. 

Yes, I make big plans for myself. I dream up big challenges that I may or may not be able to complete. But that's the point of a challenge, right? To push me to do more, to try more, and to keep going long after I want to give up.

And the other important thing about failures? They aren't permanent. They are just stepping stones to the next challenge, the next opportunity, the next chance to be successful.

And this year, I have been successful. I've finished two marathons, thirteen half marathons (with two more to go), three relays, and a few other runs. I've accomplished so much more than the old me would even have attempted. And that courage to try, to keep trying, that is what makes my successes so much more powerful than my failures.


So, now that you know that failure isn't something to fear, what are you going to attempt to do? What big and scary challenge are you going after?

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