Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Pushing Dailies

In the short-lived TV series, Pushing Daisies a young man finds true love by rejuvenating the love of his life with his touch. He has a gift, albeit a morbid one – for he can raise the dead for one minute before they succumb to the limitations of mortality. Unfortunately, he can prolong his relationship with his girlfriend only if he touches her through a plastic bag. The artificial barrier allows contact, yet restricts actual physical contact.

Push to the limits. What about pulled to the limits? We can force people to work against their will, enforce rules, and forcibly remove people from their creature comforts. However, how effective are these interventions?

How often do you push the limits of your perceived shortcomings? How do you encourage the best out of others? How often have you made breakthroughs with others without breaking them?

In endurance sports, we push through our physical discomforts when we train longer, or race faster. Pushing past our self-imposed limits allows us to experience new results and sensations. It could be shaving off 14 seconds off your biathlon time, making the qualifying time for Boston Marathon, or completing your first sea-swim. Swimming past your fear of open-water can spell new confidence and pride. Braving pain to inch in one second ahead of your competitor, to finally stand on the podium can be just a sweet as Manuka Honey.

Push or pull. Force through limitations, and create new results every day. Everyday is an opportunity to push past our barriers. Press on!

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