If you have ever run a race, then you will understand what I am going to try and convey. If you are racing, and I mean truly racing, not just running to finish, then you know how it feels when you can see the finish line. It is the light at the end of the tunnel that lets you know your suffering has not been in vain, and that your ultimate goal is within reach. Seeing the finish line is usually the spark that helps you reach deep and pull up the last traces of strength you have left to finish fast, holding nothing back.
It can be the same with long-term goals. I remember when I was finishing up my masters degree, the feeling I had starting classes in January knowing that was my last semester. I was still very much in the thick of it, but the end was in sight. It was a great feeling. Knowing that the culmination of 3 years of watching classes before work, at lunch, and after work while also fitting in homework and term papers was going finally pay off in a concrete way! I dare say, the moment the finish line is in sight might be better than actually crossing the finish line. After all, if you are racing to win, you should be exhausted when you cross the finish line. Conversely, when you first see the finish line, you often feel an increase in strength swelling up within as you realize the struggle is almost over.
I'm excited to say, that for another one of our long-term goals, the finish line is in sight. It's a goal we have been working on for a little over three years, and I must confess, the finish line is a welcome sight indeed. This goal has been one where the effort is measured in diligence and restraint, and not sweat like running, or hours studying like school. That is not to say this has been any easier.
The wife and I were discussing what it has been like to run this "race" over the past few years and in summation, it really hasn't been that hard. It has certainly had difficult moments. Times where we just wanted to say forget the race and lets do something else, just for short while and then we will get running again. Despite these few times, we persevered and stayed true to the course.
I think this goal has been interesting in that it has required more sacrifice and diligence than effort. Sacrifice not meant to indicate a negative, rather just to stress prioritizing one goal over others. This has had an interesting effect though. It turns out, when you sacrifice other things for the pursuit of a goal you value more, you tend to forget about the things you sacrificed. Perhaps you actually don't forget about them, you just forget you wanted them because you never let them materialize. It's a classic case of "you don't know what you're missing." It's awful tough to miss something you never had. I guess that has helped make this path much more bearable. This is also a strikingly profound lesson to learn in life.
All this to say that the finish line is in sight. In an almost comical turn of events, this finish line happens to fall almost exactly a year after my masters' finish line. I must say I don't mind that at all, given my love of summer it will be nice to welcome the summer as the start of a new chapter. We may not be so physically drained when we cross this finish line, but it will certainly feel good to have finished the race!
A quick note on racing: Anyone can race. When I say "race" what I mean is that you are giving it your best effort. So the person who is fighting for the win isn't racing any more than the person who comes in 278th place, but fought with every ounce of strength to be in the position to pass number 279 with their last full force effort right before the finish line. Both are racing in the truest sense of the word. The stakes don't make the race, the effort makes the race. I am very much against the 'enter a race to participate" culture that is so popular these days. Race to do your best. I don't understand otherwise. I digress.
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