challenge.

after my seemingly numerous, but nonethelss far and few between years of sporting (about 4), there have been a great many things i have learnt about life, not only from doing the sport myself, but watching and thinking.


the philosophers were right. hardships in life would either make you, or break you. most of the time is a mental "barrier" per-se that stops you from achieving beyond your potential. it is the tiny voice in your head that says "give up, you can't take anymore". but sometimes ignoring that pesky little voice may be the best thing to do. and may be the best thing you could ever do. how would u ever know how good you are unless you've tried and tested yourself to your limit. where you're stripped down of all bodily comforts, where pain and consciousness blur. where the only strength you're going to find is from your own willpower and your maker watching down from above.

those are the defining moments.

in addition, i think that sports, especially endurance sports have allowed me to experience a closeness to a God, a dependence on a God that you cant get anywhere else. when you feel like you're going to collapse from exhaustion, the only thing that keeps you going is the faith in a greater being giving you the boost of spirit you need to do the impossible. its the frailty that allows us to realise how vulnerable and needy we are, and how much we do need God.


sports has also taught me that nothing in this world can ever be achieved by sitting on your bum and wishing it to happen. okay so coincidentially good stuff happens sometimes to the most unlikely of people. i know. but MOST other things need you to get going doing something useful. i mean, Lance Armstrong didnt win 5 consecutive lTDFs from sitting around in a french vinyard sipping Merlot and watching the girls go by. no. he trained his ass off. see.


lastly, i learnt that great things come to those who dream and set their goals amongst their dreams. i mean, how are you supposed to reach a goal if your eventual goal is something thats just not too far out of reach? not much of a challenge innit? as IBM says it, "Think Big" and as NatGeo say it, "Think Again". its true that if you Aim High, you'll Shoot Low. so how? Aim HIGHER!


anyway, in my opinion. the best things in life, the most meaningful things in life and the most defining things in life are things which cannot be learnt from any textbook in the world. it cannot be found on a television, it cannot be told or instructed to you. it can only be experienced. and experience is the true mother of all teachers. it will give you knowledge and understanding that is priceless.