It’s Not for Everyone

This past Saturday, I was on my usual Peloton bike ride, and it was challenging.

To maximize my workouts, I usually select rides of 45-minutes or longer, and they can be very exhausting, especially when deciding to compete with others on the leaderboard. I should leave my competitive spirit at the door and focus just on the workout itself …

But … I’m wired to compete! Ha!

The trainer, Ben Alldis, is one of my favorites because he is focused on the instructional aspect of riding the bike.Throughout the intensive session, he shared many motivational quotes, such as the following …

“Progress over perfection!”

“You didn’t come this far just to come this far!”

“You will never have this day again, so make it count.”

While these words help keep me on track, there is one that captured my attention the most and motivated me to keep going …

“Remember … these workouts are not for everyone!”

Got Me!

When Ben said that the commitment I was making to improve myself was something not everyone would do, I was hooked!

For the next 10 minutes, I kept thinking about the meaning of this expression.

I remember the hundreds of hours I put into my doctoral program, and I did this work way before ChatGPT became a thing!

It was tough, and I kept working at it, even when doubts would permeate my mind.

Behind the Scenes

I remember a story about a successful business owner who was interviewed by major media outlets after the product he invented became a hit in the marketplace.?

He said, “You know … it’s interesting that I have received all this notoriety for this product. I say this because I spent 16 years working on it behind the scenes, and no one was interested in interviewing me then. However, all that hard work when no one really cared was necessary for this product to become a reality.”

The point here, at least for me, is that a ton of the best work is done when no one is watching. As long as I know the work is creating value, I need to keep doing it, even if there is no immediate acknowledgement.

In fact, acknowledgement and recognition shouldn’t even matter. We know when we are doing good for others.

Bringing it Home

When I began writing this blog, I knew I would end up with the topic of volunteering time to help others. Over the past couple of years, I have met many nonprofit leaders who are seeking individuals willing to donate their time, talent, and treasure.

For more than 20 years, I took a selfish approach to life. I was only interested in activities I could quantify with billable hours. Yes, my friends … this was me.

Over the past decade, however, my mindset has changed, and it started by hanging around my Brothers and Sisters at our parish. I observed how they freely gave of their time to help others through the various parish ministries, and I saw the beauty of life through their actions.

So … as Ben the Peloton trainer said, “It’s not for everyone!”

I’m glad this new life of giving and caring for others is indeed for me.

Homework Inquiry

During the next week, here’s your homework inquiry: How will you make a difference?