Does Sustained Good Luck Constitute a Fresh Start?

Sometimes each of us is fortunate. I've had 10 days of that lately, and I'm very aware of how lucky that is. Good stuff keeps happening.

I'll offer some insights into why I say this - some long term efforts I've been working on have come to successful fruition - and that always feels good. It's a sense of accomplishment, and that (for me anyhow) is a wonderful thing. On top of that, my work's been recognized in a few different ways by others as being very positive. In a work-work sense, I seem to have made a positive difference for a customer, which is gratifying as that's what I'd aimed for; and on a personal level, the physical effort and level of perfectionism has been recognized in the marketplace, as my "creation" is being offered for more than I'd hoped. Both very gratifying results when others think highly of what you've done. The best perhaps though is the sense of pride I have experienced as a father as one of my kids has achieved her own dream, and been accepted at one of the finest institutions out there. I'm immensely happy for her, and pleased that I was able to help guide her in some small way.

With all this good stuff happening - including a potential new role that I know I'll enjoy and find stimulating, does this mean it's a fresh start ? Can we legitimately embrace the good fortune we experience and see it as a validation of the upside of hard work, focus and a desire to be our absolute best ? Or perhaps is it (only) a streak of good luck, and one that shouldn't be over-appreciated for what it might represent, and instead just enjoyed..?

This is a question of how we view the essence of things. I do believe it's a fundamental question and it goes beyond the simplistic glass half full or half empty level of analysis. Really what I'm asking here is whether or not mid-term rewards are enough to help us to keep moving in the correct albeit difficult-at-times direction, or whether we celebrate whatever 'win' we encounter by taking it easy.

Running is a good proxy for this kind of situation I always find - and I ran yesterday for the first time in a long while - I just felt the need to do it. While it felt good overall, there were a few moments that were harder, and some that were easier. The easier moments helped to motivate me that I was going to be able to accomplish my running goal, while the more difficult times required some discipline to keep moving one foot ahead of the other. The reason that running is such a good proxy for life is that when running, you can stop at any time - there's no penalty as such for doing so other than knowing you've let yourself down a little by giving into the pain, the fatigue and the voice inside your head that says "I WANT TO STOP". (sometimes that little voice isn't so little). By keeping going when it's difficult, your will perseveres and that drives out a sense of accomplishment. (See the connection yet ?) So getting a mid-run boost in the form of a second-wind, or a feeling of strength or even a power song on your iPod - it's huge as it tells you that you can do it, you can overcome the little voice that tells you this is painful.

I suppose in this discussion I've shown my cards a little already, insofar as to what I believe. But I think that knowing this about yourself - and deciding if its the way you want to behave is something tremendously valuable. I try not to espouse a judgment call if someone wants to act one way or another. I know how I want to be, and I'm very comfortable with that. If you elect do otherwise, that is your decision. But I do suggest its a conscious decision for yourself that you make.

So to answer my own question posed at the outset... does my recent trend of good fortune mean a fresh start ? The answer is not really for me - you see this is a marathon, and I've been lucky to get a second wind of late, telling me I can complete it and that I'm on the right track. I absolutely welcome that validation as another day soon, it'll be difficult again, and I'll wonder. I'll be able to look back on this period though to give me the strength to continue and do my best.