Just show up

Show up, show up, show up, and after a while, the muse shows up, too. Isabel Allende
This is a great quote and one that is important for those who want to achieve in life. When I was younger, I was a middle-distance runner, I was good, but my younger brother was better, in fact at one point he was a Canadian champion. I did not come to running easily, I had to work hard. I remember that every day except on the coldest days, I would just show up. I would run between 35 and 50 miles a month. I did not have a coach until I was well into my adventure. Running was the thing that I showed up to every day, and eventually, it paid off, but I could never beat that one man. I think we all have that one person we would love to beat, but life goes on.

A Facebook friend said this, “I wish to be winning the Gold again sprinting at the BC Senior Games in track, but I can never beat that one man; only if he doesn't attend. I'm hardly running in the same race with him, but I just about caught him in the 50m—exciting, then I wake up.”

Just show up and do whatever it is you showed up to do, and soon you will be rewarded by achieving your goal. Isabel Allende in her quote is talking about showing up and writing. For those not familiar with Allende, she is a Chilean author who has written more than 20 books translated into dozens of languages and has earned several awards including the Presidential Medal of Freedom. She began her career as a journalist, turning to write novels after she fled Chile’s political upheaval in the 1970s; her work is known for its emphasis on Latin American myths, politics, and cultural dynamics. Allende is also famously disciplined: She writes daily, and always begins a new novel on January 8, rain or shine. Her commitment to her art reminds us that most good ideas rarely come from thin air. Consistency and steady effort make up the path to our best work.