“Many persons have a wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness. It is not attained through self-gratification but through fidelity to a worthy purpose.” – Helen Keller
My awesome coach gave that to me last night after I told her how my heart had been brutally torn out of my chest on Friday. It got me thinking about what my worthy purpose might be. And, let it be known, I have been looking for a really long time for my worthy cause! For a while I thought it would be helping homeless people, and while that’s still hugely important to me, I think there might be something much deeper that I’m just getting to understand now:
We looked back at what had happened since the start of this running project and I was forced to admit haven’t made the huge donation I wanted to to a homeless charity, there aren’t millions of pieces of art for sale because of the #PhotoARun Challenge and it doesn’t look like there will be for a while longer. It’s an amazing work in progress, and one day it will happen, and I just need to dig a little deeper to make it work.
When I look at what I have achieved, I started seeing things differently:
From nothing I have
- inspired people to capture over 1000 photos on Instagram.
- gotten over 200 people to vote on their favorites photos in the past 2 days alone.
- had nearly 6,000 people visit this site.
- had people have created art out of nothing – perhaps the most important achievement of this project.
- perhaps got those of us that play the game thinking about things and seeing the world a little differently.
- made runners from all over the world have started communicating, sharing ‘likes’ and ‘hearts’ with each other.
- started a conversation about how runners can ‘capture their runs, and change the world’.
When I read this, I get a huge amount of satisfaction and pride, and invigorated to keep working at it – more than anything I love the sense of community and art that’s arisen out of me typing every day.
So when my dear friend Miss Cartier sent me this via the Book Of Face this morning, I realized my ‘worthy purpose’ may have been much closer to me than I thought, perhaps even right at the top of the page.
What’s the worthy cause that gives you happiness?
Happiness, Running, Inspiration & Fidelity
January 23, 2013 · 4:23 pm
Such an inspiring post. Sorry to hear your recent news, but often great things come from something that feels so painful (speaking from experience). My running journey started as a result of separating from my husband!
Off to read the rest of your blog.
I am so inspired to hear that – I think the sadness I feel is matched with equal amounts of excitement and ambition… a weird, but comforting combination.
That’s totally it, a whole new set of options opens up that you never dreamed of! Look forward to reading about them
Inspiration comes from within and you have found it. I know exactly how you feel when one see’s a homeless or less fortunate.
Thanks for following my blog and will do the same
have a great weekend
Isaac
My inspiration is my daughter, who at 22 received a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. She is facing it head on with grace and determination. If she can walk with pain every day, I can certainly run when I feel too tired to do so, or to keep going.
Wow, what an AMAZING family
I hope in my small ways I help others live healthier lives. I teach group fitness, assistant coach middle school track, and look for opportunities to encourage others. I hope that my blog will be informative and helpful as well.