What's Your Masterpiece....and What Scares You?

I am definitely a creature of slogans and sayings. They really move me no matter how corny, cliche or whatever....


I recently finished Dr. George Sheehan's classic book "Running and Being". The book is self-noted as "the book that got the world running" - and it was written 30 years ago or so. So it was before my time. It would take way too long to give the book a full review but suffice to say, with the exception of a few ideas I felt were a bit dated, I loved the book. I would put a link to it but my blogs seemed to get copyright nailed every time I do that - the book is readily available so grab it when you have a chance. 


Oh, I almost forgot - the most important things; it's not just about running or for runners. So much of what Dr. Sheehan talks about speaks to whatever your passion may be and how you are your best-self when you're at it whether it's work or play. One of my favorite lines - and I wish I remembered it verbatim - focuses on a wonderful idea:


Find that thing that allows you to create a masterpiece every day.


Simple. Elegant. And such a great concept. For Sheehan, it was a one-hour run that every day allowed him to create that masterpiece and be his best actualized self. Ironically, he was a cardiologist by trade. As a 49 year old healthy adult that that was born with congenital heart disease and is living today because of the work of doctors like him, interesting that he should state running - not surgery - as his art; his masterpiece.

On a related note, I was out for my early morning run yesterday and saw a great sign in a store window that read:


Do something that scares you every day.


I love that one too. So I immediately put into action. I had decided to focus on the whole reverse split thing; heading back quicker than I had made it to my halfway point. So, since I do run/walk intervals, I stopped my meter (aka my Garmin watch) to note the time it had taken me to hit my halfway distance. Then I reset my intervals to a good clip quicker for the way back and managed to shave :35 off my per mile time. I felt good and tired - like I had worked but happily so. 

Was this my masterpiece? Hardly. However it was a nice challenge to myself. I do think the two concepts working together could lead to some pretty awesome results. So, my hunch is that all of us are much more likely to find or create our own personal masterpieces by trying something a little scary every day.