Growing Bolder Motivation: Pass it On

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Added: Sat. Oct 04, 2008 12:50pm
Posted in: Self Help

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I swam across a lake and back this morning. It’s a swim that actually began nearly a year ago and illustrates the power of motivation and the importance of challenging, inspiring, and supporting one another in our growing bolder adventures.

The day it all began was the day we covered the inaugural GeezerJock National Masters Triathlon Championship.  Executive Producer Katy Widrick was so inspired by the men and women competing that she began training and competing herself.  Watch the story that motivated Katy to take up triathlon.

Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago when photographer Jason Morrow and I did a story on Lucky’s Lake Swim. I was so motivated by what we saw that I promised Lucky I’d be back before Thanksgiving to take the plunge.  The story we did motivated Katy so much that she couldn’t wait for me. Watch the story that motivated Marc and Katy to swim.

Katy announced that she was going to do the swim this weekend with or without me. A little peer pressure was all I needed. At 6:45 am Saturday morning Katy and I headed to Lucky’s lake.

We joined a diverse, intergenerational group of about 40 others - men, women, parents with children, 70-year-olds, teenagers, triathletes, people in great shape, and people trying to get into shape.  It was a great way to start the day.

After the swim, Katy and I were presented with our patch (highly coveted by open water swimmers) and allowed to sign the wall of fame (ditto). We both thoroughly enjoyed the experience and will definitely repeat it.

Recapping the motivation chain. An event inspired Katy. An unusual workout inspired Marc. A story about the unusual workout inspired Katy. Katy motivated Marc.  Katy and Marc swam across the lake.

That’s usually how this stuff works in real life. It’s tough to do it on your own. It’s even tougher to keep it up on your own. Moments of weakness will derail your plans and crush your dreams. Support the dreams of your friends. Make commitments together and then hold one another to those commitments. It easy to let yourself down. It’s more difficult to let your family and friends down.