Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Why do we fall?

"Why do we fall Bruce? So we can learn to pick ourselves up."-Bruce Wayne's Father in Batman Begins

I was fortunate today to have a conversation with a friend of mine who competes in the grand daddy of all triathlons the IRON MAN.  The IRON MAN is a grueling race where each competitor swims 2.4 miles (3.9 km), a 112 mile (180 km) bike and 26.2 mile (42.2 km) marathon run.

The Ironman Triathlon, or The Ironman Triathlon World Championships, is both the original triathlon and the annual world championships of the event, held annually since 1978 in Hawai'i. It was made famous by its grueling length, harsh race conditions, and television coverage.

This is my friend's dream to compete in the World Championship.   Why would anyone do this? For many reasons.  Some simple reasons, some complex.  To raise your kids with a picture of the type of Father who knows how to work hard and chase dreams, to inspire others, because someone once told you it was impossible and I had to find out, to an addiction, or simply to stay in shape.  And a million others.

But, I think the most compelling reason is because you want to learn.  How do you know if something is impossible for you until you try it?  Think about it logically, how much do you really know about yourself until you try and fail.  Until you try and succeed.  Until you try and see what inspiration may come of it.  The point is you don't learn anything until you are willing to try and run the risk of failure.

When you were a kid, how many times did you fall before you learned to ride your bike?  How many times did you babble before you learned to talk?  How many times did you fall before you learned to walk?  To ride a skateboard?  To pass a test?  Give a speech?  You get what I'm saying, right?

You fall because you learn to pick yourself up.  And in that moment when you learn to fight, to endure, to never give up, to pick yourself up and try again is the moment inspiration is born- the moment Victory is experienced- the moment you become someone who is changing the world, or your sport, or your family.

This is why stories like that of Lance Armstrong are so amazing and inspiring. 
But why is it that the older we get the more we do everything we can to avoid failure?  We used failure to learn everything we know up until then, and all of sudden we don't want to ever be in a spot where we can fall.  We avoid falling at all costs.

But, may we always remember that Victory can only be experienced when there is a possibility of defeat.  May you and I be World Changers, next time someone tells you something is impossible may we have the courage to try it and find out.  Because sometimes falling is the only way to learn, the only way to inspire, and the only way to taste the sweetest victories.  

And in my experience - impossible is nothing- trying is everything- because trying is learning. You may be surprised at what you can accomplish, but you have to try and never- never- give up to find out.  

The person saying it can't be done is often surpassed by the person doing it.  Which one will you be?

1 comment:

About Sean Buvala said...

Looks great. Nice to see a fellow west-valley coach get some good press in the WV Magazine. Well done! We have so much to offer in the WV, we need more good things from folks such as yourself. Congrats.