The other day I drove through town where there was a sign for a local running race that was coming up in the next few months. I have no plans to run in the race in which the course goes straight up the side of a mountain for 4.3 miles up to an elevation of over 2,200 feet and then turns around and comes back down for a total of 8.6 miles, but . . . it sure made me think about it. And I have ran it before. Twice.
Why do we have the desire to climb the highest mountains, dive into the deepest oceans and run for hundreds of miles at time?
I believe it’s because we have an innate desire to know what we’re capable of when we push ourselves to our limits. To reach deep and see what we’re made of. If we can face the fear of doing so. Which is a feat itself.
Often times, the decision to do commit to the challenge is more painful than the actual event itself. But the end result is always the same: a deep sense of satisfaction and accomplishment. A feeling of self-worth and self-respect. The sore muscles, bruises and pain will subside over time, but I would argue that your confidence does. It may fade a bit – nothing another self-induced challenge can’t cure – but always remains deep within you like a valued resource sitting in the corner of your office waiting for you to call upon it’s use.
But, often times we can’t help ourselves from engaging in another activity in order to kindle that feeling once again.
And so, we reach deep.