Finding Ultra
This is a story of a man, Rich Roll, who at 40 yrs old, decided to change his life & he ended up becoming one the world's fittest men... becoming an Ultra-man...
Ultra Man as in extreme running (like hundreds of miles) & biking (like HUNDREDS of miles) & swimming (like HUUNNNDDRRREDDS of miles) ...
all starting at the age of 40
For me, turning 40... I need to hear stories like this because my body feels like this age thing? Its creeping up hard...
I've only just started, but something really struck me in the 3rd chapter. He was telling his life as a teenager. He was awkward, not very coordinated, always was bullied by other teenage boys - had really a hard life.
He found his nitch in swimming though. His grandfather was an Olympic swimmer & the legacy had been passed down. Finally, something he was good at.
When he was nearing the end of high school & colleges were scouting him for his skills, he would travel to visit the campuses & get "swooned" over by the coaches.
One man imparticular ended up giving Rich a beer. Rich loved the way it made him feel. Bold - not intidimated by others - (From the book) "All those feelings of fear, resentment, insecurity, & isolation just vanished, replaced with the rush of comfort & belonging"
Soon, Rich became an alcoholic... years of hardship, struggle & rehab...leaving a lifetime of a battle with alcohol.
I thought about that...
One thing this random person did - this coach at a school did - giving a beer to a young man - it changed a man's life forever...
Would he have become an alcoholic if this man didnt give him that beer that night? Whose to say...
but Rich even acknowledges that this man, giving his beer to him at that time in his life changed his world around...
The power of a moment... the impact one person can have on someone's life... all without much thought given...
I think it reminded me that every single thing I say or do can impact someone around me...
I want to always remember that... so I'm aware of it & impacting people for the better
Its a good reminder for us all...
You touch people lives everyday... with the things you say, with the things you do, with your actions...
what kind of impact are you leaving on someone?
A powerful (and scary) thought! The key, I think, is to be intentional always...which is hard to do, especially with kids. Being mindful of what you say and do all the time can be exhausting, but look at the outcome: could be positive or negative. One thing to remember: we aren't in it alone...as a mom, a friend, and a nurse, I often ask God to help me be a positive influence. It's when I let myself get tired that I fail miserably.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Rebecca!