Most everyone is familiar with the Aesop fable The Tortoise and the Hare. And most everyone knows the moral of the story – slow and steady wins the race. I understand the moral but even as a kid hearing the story I always questioned it. It wasn’t that the turtle was faster but that the rabbit was too lazy. In the end the rabbit is always faster. However, this is all predicated on the goal of winning. But what if the main objective is changed from winning the race to finishing it? What does this say about the tortoise and the hare then?
I went running last night. It was the first time I have run in a couple of weeks. When I started I had no goal of how far I would run but decided to run just over 2 miles. As I was running I noticed my legs were a little heavier than they had been in a while. This is just a symptom of MS. My feet weren’t dragging as bad as they have in the past but I had to take care to make sure I lifted my legs and feet properly. Because of the heavy legs I ran just under 2 miles, about a half a mile less than I wanted. My goal is to run a full marathon (26.2 miles) next year. Because of the MS my training is going to be the slow and steady route.
Not all people are like that. Where it takes me 9 months to train for a marathon some can train and be ready in 3-4 months. These hares can sometimes make us tortoises feel inadequate with how easily things come to them. But the focus isn’t on the tortoise or the hare or first place but it’s on the finish line. The goal is to reach the goal. First place, second place, last place… who cares. Focus on the goal at hand, find that activity you always dreamed of, pursue that passion you have. Whether you’re a tortoise who is slow and steady or a hare that is fast and ready, pursue your dreams. Remember, it takes all kinds to make all kinds.
Attempt it. Chance it. Try it. Get to It!