“That sore thumb is a sight
Visible to everyone all right
It may bleed and stain
Can’t touch so much pain…”
One of the most hard hitting statements I read in the recent times is, “Beware of the Marathon runner who smiles!”
This is because his or her smile is misleading!
Don’t let others rent space in your head by Gary Coxe made this statement in his very interesting novel and it is so true!
I have so many of my friends who do run marathons and this statement is not limited to only Marathon! It is about those who seem perfect! Those who now can do stuff which are really amazing! The consistency with which they perform feats which are amazing!
But when you see them smile or when you see the effortless way they do it, you may tend to get a false idea that the journey was easy! Their smile may hide their struggles and pain and more importantly their persistence!
You cannot make instant champions! You do hear news on how many beat the reigning champions and become grand masters or champions in their first top seed match! But you do not see the amount of practice it took for them to go on playing to reach the level of playing a top seed match!
In the same way, a marathon runner is not born overnight! You cannot get up one fine day and decide that you will run a marathon tomorrow!
It starts with 1k! Then 5 then 10 and then if you are good you may go for the half marathon! And only the best of the best go for the full marathon! And even after the completion of the marathon, the runner does not smile gracefully and make a speech! He or she would be gasping and panting and may even collapse! Every step is a battle won and the battle does leave scars! They get over the injury and pain and move on!
The smile comes only when they think about it! When the are resting after some time and only for a while!
This is also in context of the recent 70 or 90 hours week work! For most doctors it is a given thing! During residency, we are the cheapest labour with the highest degree of work and responsibility! And even in peak practice, an average doctor easily moves those hours! But for general work force, the work hours are for those who want to be the leaders or the future CEOs!
Because like it or not; no one has becomes a billionaire or come under the forbes 100 by having a salaried job with limited work and full work life balance! You will get what you choose and then do not complain about it!
If you want to be a marathon runner then you simply cannot smile! At least while running! Another not so easy thing is being an astronaut! I remember how when Rakesh Sharma went to space, each one of us wanted to grow up to be an astronaut! He really inspired many such kids! That is also a long marathon of sorts!
Plan your marathon and be prepared for the pain! Smile only when you rest!
Shubh ratri!
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