Flashes of Inspiration

by Michele Boy | July 1, 2021

Maya Angelou said, “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”

A dream of mine that has sat on the back burner is to run a half marathon. I have said it so many times I don’t honestly believe it will happen anymore.

But driving through town last week a friend was running and I had one of those moments. Bam!

Inspiration comes at random moments, often a flash and if I don’t pay attention or seize the moment it is gone.

That afternoon my daughter and I started running. Short distances but we continue to build every day.

Another source of inspiration is a moment I had when working with former Syracuse Elementary first grade teacher Miss Phyllis Howard. She had a point system to encourage students to read in her class. When they got to certain goals they got a small reward. 10% 25% 50% 75% and 100%. Ten percent was something small like a pencil but the students loved it. Somehow the system stuck with me and I have used it for all sorts of projects to help me complete them.

I am sharing this because I hope that someone else is inspired to move forward on one of their dreams.

I can’t say I will get my half marathon completed. But if I don’t start I will fail for sure.

What’s a dream you have that is overwhelming? Could it be broken down into smaller chunks?

Our first goal is a 5K or 3.1 miles. We broke that into Miss Howard’s system. And we are almost 75% done. The next goal is a 10k or 6.2 miles. Once the 5k is 100% complete I will be 50% done with my 10K goal.  I pray my health will stay strong enough.

It was almost 20 years ago that I ran regularly. In 2009 I was running 8 mile distances and made arrangements to run the Oklahoma City marathon. I got the confirmation email that said something like only the top 1% get to the starting line. I was so proud that for the first time in my life I was in the top 1%!

Then I got sick, really really bedridden sick. And every time I tried again and again, but my respiratory system said no again and again.

Winston Churchill said, “The Pessimist Sees Difficulty In Every Opportunity. The Optimist Sees Opportunity In Every Difficulty.”

Somehow I feel the time is right to try again. I hope and pray that each of you reading this finds the courage to follow a dream that has been long set aside.

Jim Rohn says, “Success is nothing more than a few simple disciplines, practiced every day.”

While I agree with that there is also timing and environmental factors that can contribute.

As Vince Lombardi once said, “It’s Not Whether You Get Knocked Down, It’s Whether You Get Up.”

Today I pray the stars align and God opens your heart to those dreams and gives you the strength, fortitude and health to complete them.

I hope you sow towards someone else’s dream too. I would love to see us all at the finish line.