I always love your essays, especially because they (usually) bring in both sport and writing and all of their overlaps. But I do agree with the previous commenters, who suggest that we can't STRIVE all the time and succeed at the long game. As you say, there's a necessary balance—but I love the idea of measuring yourself against your own previous achievements, rather than any other artificial scale. Thank you!
Absolutely. I think I didn't spell it out quite clearly enough (or at all!?) that I do believe in rest as a vitally important training intensity, but I also think there are moments in training and in creating when we can become complacent and content with what's "good enough"--when, especially if you're trying to write a book that will prevent anyone from putting it down--that's actually not good enough :-)
Absolutely agree with this. And if you need more inspiration, I just saw Terra Nova and Last Days cohabiting on the Curiosity Store shelves! Can't wait to see what's next.
I'd agree that complacency is not where one wants to be, but I have often sensed an available plateau beyond self-satisfaction but short of being driven that can be dynamic yet comfortable. Maybe it's a self-serving mirage. Or maybe age gradually requires a bit more selectivity in energy commitments.
I like that concept, Steve. Somewhere beyond self-satisfaction but short of being a certain kind of driven. I do think you can't be driven all the time. If you don't choose when to rest, the rest will come for you, in the form of injury or illness. Right?!
People burn out if they are always being pushed. Think of the major issues in the Boston medical community during the Covid years and since, with too much work, never really possible to complete, high level of responsibility and guilt going along with that. I like the panda at least part of the time.
Dear Henriette, lovely thoughts on self-motivation. But the pandas have something to offer, too. And maybe some unstressed time clears the mind a bit for better contemplation? And maybe not feeling guilty about not always "taking it to the next level" would be good for the soul. In most instances, perfection is not needed nor attainable. Really good is usually plenty good enough.
Oh, I completely agree, and I think I've written here about the importance of rest--which is, after all, one of the training levels :-) I think for me it's a balance between making sure to build in rest and plateaus and contemplation via reduced stress and, on the other hand, knowing when ease and rest turn into complacency that isn't helpful. Thanks for reading and commenting!
I always love your essays, especially because they (usually) bring in both sport and writing and all of their overlaps. But I do agree with the previous commenters, who suggest that we can't STRIVE all the time and succeed at the long game. As you say, there's a necessary balance—but I love the idea of measuring yourself against your own previous achievements, rather than any other artificial scale. Thank you!
and thank you for the kind words on the essays!
Absolutely. I think I didn't spell it out quite clearly enough (or at all!?) that I do believe in rest as a vitally important training intensity, but I also think there are moments in training and in creating when we can become complacent and content with what's "good enough"--when, especially if you're trying to write a book that will prevent anyone from putting it down--that's actually not good enough :-)
Absolutely agree with this. And if you need more inspiration, I just saw Terra Nova and Last Days cohabiting on the Curiosity Store shelves! Can't wait to see what's next.
I'd agree that complacency is not where one wants to be, but I have often sensed an available plateau beyond self-satisfaction but short of being driven that can be dynamic yet comfortable. Maybe it's a self-serving mirage. Or maybe age gradually requires a bit more selectivity in energy commitments.
I like that concept, Steve. Somewhere beyond self-satisfaction but short of being a certain kind of driven. I do think you can't be driven all the time. If you don't choose when to rest, the rest will come for you, in the form of injury or illness. Right?!
People burn out if they are always being pushed. Think of the major issues in the Boston medical community during the Covid years and since, with too much work, never really possible to complete, high level of responsibility and guilt going along with that. I like the panda at least part of the time.
The panda can be a role model!
Dear Henriette, lovely thoughts on self-motivation. But the pandas have something to offer, too. And maybe some unstressed time clears the mind a bit for better contemplation? And maybe not feeling guilty about not always "taking it to the next level" would be good for the soul. In most instances, perfection is not needed nor attainable. Really good is usually plenty good enough.
Oh, I completely agree, and I think I've written here about the importance of rest--which is, after all, one of the training levels :-) I think for me it's a balance between making sure to build in rest and plateaus and contemplation via reduced stress and, on the other hand, knowing when ease and rest turn into complacency that isn't helpful. Thanks for reading and commenting!