Sometimes the people around us help turn our dreams into reality. Years ago, I read a story about legendary football coach Lou Holtz making a list of 100 things he wanted to accomplish in his lifetime. I was inspired, so I decided to do the same.
What an exercise! Coming up with 100 things was much harder than I expected.
One of the things on my list was run a marathon.
I had completed a half marathon, but running a full 26.2 miles seemed like an incredible achievement. Over the years, I thought about removing it from my list. Maybe it was too much. Maybe that dream had passed me by. But something interesting kept happening.
I would cross paths with people who encouraged me to keep that dream alive. My son ran the Denver Marathon a couple of years ago. My friend Jordan told me, “You should do it! If you can finish a half marathon, you can run a full.”
Isn’t it amazing how people can water the seeds of our dreams?
The research shows that writing down your goals increases your chances of achieving them and when you share with others, your chance of accomplishment increases significantly. But I’ve learned something else: When you share your goals with others, you invite encouragement, accountability, and sometimes the confidence you didn’t know you needed.
I remember telling friends and even sharing during my keynote presentations that running a marathon was on my list. Every time someone encouraged me, that dream felt a little more possible.
Then, this year, I decided it was time.
I signed up in March and began training.
There were plenty of days filled with doubt. Could I really do this? Could I push through 26.2 grueling miles? Would my body hold up? Would I finish?
And then it happened.
Race day.
Along the course, people lined the streets holding signs, cheering, and encouraging runners they had never met. Their energy was like fuel. Every cheer seemed to give me another reason to keep moving.
As I approached the 26-mile marker, exhausted and running on empty, I spotted my wife and daughter cheering me on.
My daughter shouted, “Only 800 more feet!”
I was almost out of gas, but those words gave me one final push.
Moments later, I crossed the finish line.
26.2 miles. A dream written down years ago. A goal finally accomplished.
It was one of the most unforgettable moments of my life.
As I reflect on this experience, I keep thinking about something my mom used to tell me:
“Surround yourself with good people.”
Who are those good people?
Wilferd Peterson described them beautifully:
“Walk with the dreamers, the believers, the courageous, the cheerful, the planners, the doers, the successful people with their heads in the clouds and their feet on the ground. Let their spirit ignite a fire within you to leave this world better than when you found it.”
What a powerful reminder.
Looking back, this marathon wasn’t just about running 26.2 miles. It was about writing down a dream, making a commitment, taking action, overcoming doubt, and surrounding myself with people who believed in me.
And maybe that’s the greatest lesson of all.
Sometimes we need people who believe in our dreams until we believe in them ourselves.
So, let me ask you…
What’s on your list?
What dream have you been thinking about removing? What goal have you been putting off? And who are the people encouraging you to keep going?
Write it down. Share it with someone. Take the first step.
You never know where it might lead.
Stay in pursuit… -Bruce W. Waller
Quote of the Day
“My life is my message.” Mahatma Gandhi
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