50 Days to My 50th Birthday

Today marks 50 days to my 50th birthday. I’m trying not to feel like it’s the beginning of the end or that I’m too old to keep reaching for my dreams and goals. So I’ve decided to make the next 50 days about changing what’s held me back in the past and to prove to myself what I can achieve if I apply myself and live up to my potential.

I’ve had a couple of people tell me, as well as the voice inside my head, that I’m not working to my potential. It’s just one of the many regrets in my life. I try telling myself I don’t have regrets because everything has brought me to where I am today, but when I’m not happy with where that is, I’m not very convincing. The truth is, I regret the things I ​HAVEN'T ​done... not taking advantage of opportunities due to laziness or inconvenience; not going after my dreams due to fear of failing, fear of judgement, or doubt - mine and others’; not being disciplined enough to get things done; not working harder to do better; not being persistent... I could go on but you get the drift. In the end, it all amounts to not reaching for my potential.

That's not to say I haven't accomplished anything in my life. I have a beautiful family, I was a smart and great employee, I've completed a full marathon on a challenging course, I've completed a sprint triathlon, and many other things. But I've never put all of myself into doing these things and I feel I could have done a better job at all of them.

And that’s what the next 50 days are about - incorporating better habits, applying myself and working harder, being persistent and consistent, and not letting fear of other people’s opinions stop me. All in all, I’m going to do what I should have been doing the past few decades, so that I can live up to my potential for the NEXT few decades. So join me on my journey to 50 and beyond. And along the way, I hope I can inspire you to live up to ​YOUR ​own potential.

(Originally posted to Facebook on October 6, 2019 - actual 50 days before my birthday.)