Nevermore

On many an occasion, while I toiled weak and weary from cadenced elliptical turning of metal towards failure, the nightmare of darkness came rapping (chanting at the very least) to my mental chamber door. 

Again today I was reminded of our (more specifically, my) need to keep a constant vigil on the path of (well, you name it: Life, Enlightenment, Fitness, Self Awareness, Fame, Glory, Meaning, Riches, Happiness). Whatever path you are on this very moment will undoubtedly have some degree of failure, setback, challenge, defeat, sadness, loss or sorrow today. Have your found this to be true?

I sure have. I am constantly reminded of my need to re-define failure. The meaning evolves. With more data, more experience and more, ahem, wisdom defining the tweak. 

Please allow me to illustrate.

Have you reached your fitness goals?

Are you currently operating at 100% efficiency?

Are you where you want to be in life?

Are you deeply and sincerely happy?

Do you know who you are?

Are you serving your highest calling?

Are you helping others, leading by example?

Do you have one bad habit you would like to lose?

Are you the best you that you can imagine?

Are you living fully?

If you answered no to any of the above…..

Welcome to the path. This process. Our time together. Your quest, this journey, the epic adventure of your life, and mine. 

We have work to do and the clock is running my friends. We are being chased by the demons of time, fire breathing dragons determined to engage us in a battle to the death. Spiked club wielding monstrously strong Orcs intent on separating your head from the rest of your body. Our magnificent fears. Ravens in the night quoting Poe foretelling doom, torture, pain and eventual termination of heartbeat. How Poetic. 

Let's quickly re-define failure then, shall we? Losing is not failure. Taking a wrong turn is not failure. Defeat is not failure. Getting lost is not failure. Falling is not failure. Injury is not, soreness is not, pain, suffering, heartbreak and foreclosure either. 

The only failure is quitting. Everything else is part of the path of growth. Learn the lessons. Face your fears. Engage the dragon in combat. Be strong, be courageous, be happy. Laugh some. Cry if you need to. Firm your relationships. Be heroic. Stand your ground. Create. 

And by all means keep moving. Onward, upward and forward. Persevere. Don't stop. Ever.

The Raven