Be where you are

Monday, January 22

Run the mile you are in.

This is a common phrase among runners, especially marathoners and ultramarathoners. When you’re in the middle of a race or run, your mind can easily drift to the end. “I just need to finish.” “If I can just get to mile ____ then I’ll be good.” Sometimes you start to replay previous miles, trying to figure out what went wrong or what went right.

But at the end of the day, you can only run the mile you are in.

Which means you must be present. You must focus on the next step, the next breath, the next movement. You can’t change the miles you’ve already run, and you can’t run the later miles of the race yet. You can only be where you are.

The same is true for us on our journey of growth. You aren’t who you were. You can’t change past mistakes or relive past successes. And you can’t get be where you hope to be in the future, yet. You can only be where you are. You can only be at this point in your journey.

Which means you must focus on what needs to be done today. What progress can you make today? What changes need to be made today? What decisions need to be made today?

Yesterday is over and tomorrow isn’t here. Run the mile you’re in.
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Keep chopping wood. 🪵🪓

-Kevin