Next
I wrote on my new blog every day for thirty days straight. This is the thirtieth one.I’m sitting in an Embassy Suites in Palm Desert, CA finishing the last blog post of my 30-day challenge. Don’t worry. Nothing shady. I’m just here for work.As I’m starting, I feel like I owe something to the number 30. The thirtieth has to be the best, or the most wise, or the most…something. Maybe what I have to accept is that it’s just 30.
I remember when I first started working at Top to Top, the running store that gave me my first paying job in LA, and all of my co-workers were running marathons and half-marathons – I thought they were crazy. I didn’t like running and couldn’t see myself running past a couple of miles. But after some time getting used to the idea, I decided to run my first half-marathon. I trained for thirteen weeks and ran a successful 13.1 miles through Death Valley. I was very proud. Then I heard about ultra-marathons. I had no clue there were races longer than 26.2 miles. Yup. They’re called ultramarathons. One ultramarathon, the Marathon des Sables, is a six-day, 154-mile trek through the Sahara in southern Morocco. Three runners have died on the route. My half-marathon in Death Valley? 0 deaths.
I remember when I was talking to some friends who would regularly fast for 24 hours – I thought it was crazy. But as you maybe now have learned, I like to challenge myself and push my limits. I fasted a full 24 hours. I was very proud. Today, I was listening to the Tim Ferris Show podcast (seriously, listen to it.). He was interviewing a scientist who studied fasting and the ketogenic diet (basically a low-sugar/carb but high-fat diet). This special man fasted for seven days and then dead-lifted 500lbs ten times and then 580lbs once. He knew scientists who fasted for forty days. Forty. 4. 0. I fasted for one day. And then I proceeded immediately to the nearest Ralphs for three bags of chips which didn’t survive the night.
I think what I’m trying to get at is something that Casey Neistat, a famous filmmaker, recently said on the Tim Ferris Show podcast (get the idea?), and I’m paraphrasing here: “you’re never going to be the strongest, smartest, most beautiful or exciting person in the room. Just accept that. Be yourself. And be kind to each other.”I don’t see this as an accomplishment. It was an experiment. I think if I took time to make this 30th post more than it is, it would be defeating the point of the challenge entirely. I don’t want to make finishing the experiment the result that I’m looking for.What did I learn? I don’t know entirely yet. I do know I’ve brutally learned how to write better by punching the keyboard night after night. I forced writing into submission. I didn’t always care if it was good or clear. I cared about punching it out. I also know that I’ve enjoyed creating work and putting it out into the world. I wish it was easier for actors to do this. Maybe that’s why vlogging is calling my name for one of my next 30-day challenges. I see vlogging as a step towards acting. Actually, I really think I will do some sort of vlogging challenge in the near future. Maybe over the holiday break.
I’ve always loved the idea of being a man of action. The Sheriff Longmires, the Rocky Balboas, the Captain Kirks of the world. But to this day, I’ve always been more of a thinker than a doer. I think (get it?) this challenge was a way for me to start becoming more of a doer. I want to do. I don’t want to sit back and think about my dreams - I want to actively pursue them. So. This challenge is down. I've successfully scratched an itch I've had for a long time. And now I move on.Next.
I hope this blog was in some small way entertaining to a handful of people. I know that it was fun for me, and I grew a lot from it.
I do know what I learned from this whole process: it pays to just do something. Anything. It's better than just sitting around and wasting time away. Get out and chase what you want to do, the world's waiting for you. Don't get distracted. Do. Stop distracting yourself. Do. It's a lot easier that you think. Do.
