I was at the doctors office recently and while waiting I thumbed through Red Bull’s magazine, Red Bulletin. In it they had stories about people doing epic adventures – climbing down 400ft ice glacier caves, running a 69 mile pilgrimage trek in Spain. Seeing these I started wondering – what makes something epic?
Dictionary.com defines epic as “1. noting or pertaining to a long poetic composition, 2. heroic; majestic; impressively great: 3. of unusually great size or extent: 4. Slang. spectacular; very impressive; awesome.”
When we think of epic we usually think of definitions #3 or 4. For many we look to those who push the boundaries of what man can do. We climb down into glacier caves, free fall from a height of 128,000 feet, run a marathon in the arctic (-20 F) without a shirt, run 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 days, swallow 18 swords… the list could go on. These are surely epic feats, but they are epic in relation to mankind collectively. Bringing it down to a personal level what then is epic?
If epic is of unusually great size or extent, spectacular, very impressive, then we need to start evaluating what that means to us individually. We need to start understanding ourselves better, acknowledge our flaws, our weaknesses and then challenge ourselves to push beyond them. With my weak legs I don’t believe I will ever run 50 marathons in 50 days but I can try for a marathon. You may not have much coordination but you can try for that 1 (almost) perfect dance. You may not have traditional art skills but you can push toward that beautiful painting.
Redefining epic is not about creating an excuse. Quite the contrary, it’s about acknowledging reality and then pushing yourself beyond it. Dean Karnazes, who ran the 50 marathons in 50 days, could have ran 40 in 40 days but he pushed himself toward a larger goal. He understood his personal limits and pushed himself further. And while I know I will never be a Dean Karnazes, I know my personal limits and I push toward what is individually spectacular for me – redefining epic.
Attempt it. Chance it. Try it. Get to It!