Your Accomplishment Is Your Achievement

All the best to the runners doing the Penang Bridge International Marathon tomorrow morning! Congratulations to those who completed the Oxfam Trailwalker Hong Kong, too! More importantly, thanks to the latter they raised funds for a worthy cause.

Amateur sports can be competitive, however it need not be unduly serious. Most of the time, participants train seriously for their races aiming to complete or compete. It does not make a finisher any less worthy when they choose to aim for a completion certificate, finisher medal, and post-achievement jubilation. If you make time from your routine to train, you have demonstrated your personal leadership for being ready, able and willing!

My friend, Marathon Mohan has completed in excess of 130 marathons; completing them is a foregone conclusion. Instead, he elects to be the unofficial Cheerleader – encouraging new runners to complete their first race. Another friend, Ai Lin has done about 80 marathons over the years and continues to race for the sheer joy of it. Others race because they wish to raise funds for a charity cause. Yet, others participate to show their personal support for something they truly believe in, be it for cancer research, health or for survivors.

Last week, my swim-mate Dennis and many others raced and raised funds for the Wheelathon 360. The goal was to raise funds for physically-challenged athletes to participate in overseas competition. In spite of the rain, it was a successful event that saw a very supportive community.

I have decided to assist the Cystic Fibrosis for Children of New Zealand raise funds again for Ironman New Zealand 2012. Why? Because I enjoyed the last time I engaged in this process. Fund-raisers were invited to meet the children and their parents, and celebrate in their progress. Exercise was a key intervention for keeping these children active and alive.

To each his/her own – and may you still enjoy your sense of purpose!

Leadership Lessons: Run, walk or crawl – just finish what you started. You can, occasionally, race by feeling instead of timing. Enhance and expand on your experience.

You Can’t Please Them All!

John Cook is raising funds through his Ironman Lanzarote; his cause of choice is for those with physical disability. I think that this is a noble gesture, so please support him. I have made my preliminary pledge already. As able-bodied, amateur athletes we have the privilege to test our biological machines constantly. We have more opportunities for employment and enjoy preferential treatment, whereas they may not.

I appreciate those people who are helpful. I believe that everyone has a concept of care, and will render assistance when they can. Few will say ‘no’. Some of my friends – like Koh Boon Pin – assist visually-challenged or wheelchair-assisted athletes to their sporting goals like marathons. I am thankful we have athletes who hold back their personal interests in favour of others’.

In professions of extreme generosity, holding back would be contradicting. It is like saying a teacher is allowed to hold back their teaching; keep some for them self. If this happens, then the teacher is shortchanging the student. If you must, teach them a lesson. Teach from your heart, and of your heart. Even if the student does not know how to appreciate it.

Life presents us with myriad of opportunities. We would like to please, as many as we can yet this would be impossible at times. People make choices, although not the best choices at some times. The belief that they know it all is a potential flaw in their thinking. We only know what we think we know, and much is to be discovered. A closed mind learns very little. An open mind offers more possibilities, options and choices. Sometimes, you please others and other times, you should please yourself.