Success (but not at last)

I like success stories. I love when people share them with me. No matter how large or small, the scale is not the story, it is the effort. That is where it all comes together, flows, gains momentum, challenges our resolve and ultimately manifests as growth. There are certainly other names for it; Victory, achievement, winning. But they infer a completion, and ending. And I think of all this as more a journey than a road with a final destination. Making The Road, the goal. A path with a thousand options, the tao of the journey. Along that sacred, unique and sometimes chaotic trip success should be monitored relentlessly as motivation to press intrepidly onward. One step after another.

On days like today, sitting in my humble cabin sanctuary amid smells of fire blazing and coffee brewing, the snow has condensed our world. There will be no barefoot running in the park, no swims in the lake and no long rides. It is an indoor training kind of day. Just another way to deal with the circumstance. Another way to overcome obstacles and simply do what must be done.

A minor success in itself. If you are serious about anything you will find a way to make it work. Despite the challenge. Despite the amount of work necessary for completion and despite the weather conditions outside.

Let's consider for a moment what the journey would be without conflict.

Frodo Baggins finds a ring and walks a mile to give it back to its rightful owner under the 90 degree sunshine of a summer day in the Shire.

Harry Potter and his pals go to school.

Barack Obama gets all his legislation passed, ends poverty, war, sickness, is reelected in a landslide.

Tim Tebow tosses ten TDs.

I win my AG at IMC

Without conflict, without the opportunity to face seemingly insurmountable challenge, without harrowing pitfalls and detours, without all the evil and nasty bad guys, and without formidable opponents, there is no story.

And I like the story. I like it jam packed with action, adventure, challenge and the classic confrontation of good vs evil. I like drama. I like a passion play. I like suspense. I like clenching my fists and pounding YES, when push comes to shove. I like character development. I like the transitions, the arc of change as success builds on success. I like the moment of truth and I like the powerful feel of momentum change. Truth be known, I like a little romance in there as well, but that is another story altogether.

For today then, as the snow begins another volley, let's take a close look at our paths. The success' that have led us to here. And the many success left to come.

There is another success story awaiting somewhere today. Keep your eyes open.

And your toes warm.

Pix: Curried baked tofu with onions and capers. The Exploder to the rescue again. Frankie's woodshed in the snow. Success' all.