What If There Was No Finish Line?

 I am not sure if this idea makes me feel peaceful or uneasy.  No finish line.  No end point.  No way to determine when the work has been done, or accomplishment attained.  Or is there?  Could there be a way to know that we are moving in the direction that our hearts are pointing us in, if we don't have a line to cross to let us know when we have finally arrived?

This idea struck me as I was on a run today.  It was a fun run, (and virtual) so there was no timing chip or need to submit a time to anyone or even really prove that I had done it at all.  As I was running along I started to think about how much importance we tend to place on finish lines, on the end to a task or to-do.  There definitely is a sense of satisfaction as we check chores off of a list and as we complete goals that we have decided we want to accomplish or attain.  What I have noticed in my life is how often I have managed to use these to-dos and goals as a way to procrastinate or put off the realization of the bigger focus that I have.  Falling into the "I'm not ready yet" trap and looking for a new certification or training to take in order to become ready to move forward.  Telling myself that I want to be in a different place but that I need to do X, Y and Z in order to be able to get there, when in all honesty I am just delaying my own progress. 

In this way,  the finish line for me has become something to aim for and also something that I causing me to delay my progress.  It has allowed me to add distance between where I am and where I want to be out of the desire to meet some ridiculous standard that I have set and that ultimately I will not be able to attain.  So what if there was no finish line.  What if instead of looking to arrive in a state of completion I continued to grow and at the same time apply what I already have towards my end goal?  Finally acknowledge that I may never be "ready" and instead consider the state of "ready enough" as acceptable.  Maybe I am already where I need to be and just need to open myself up to that and see what comes forward.  Maybe I already crossed the finish line a long time ago and had no idea because I was too busy distracting myself with undermining thoughts.  What I do know is that I feel ready to leave the finish lines for races and am going to work on giving myself the freedom to embrace and appreciate all that has passed and all that lies ahead.

 

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