What Do The Medals Mean?

Today I realised I had started to accumulate a bunch of medals and brightly coloured swimming caps and I wondered what they meant and why?  

Today I completed in my first open water swimming event, it was part of the Humanrace event program. Their tag line is ‘Humanrace Crossing The Finish Line Together.’ 

I started small, completing the 750 mtr event and I was ragged and thrilled at the end of it. Meanwhile, others were competing at the 1500, 3000, 5000 and 10,000 mtr, yes you did read correct Ten Thousand Metres!

As I stumbled out of the water exhilarated and weak, there was a guy waiting for me with a medal and some enthusiastic words of praise “Well done you made it, now you can relax.” as I stumbled he said “Not that relaxed.”

It struck me afterwards that as I get more and more into this weird passion I have found in my middle age years, I am starting a little collection of medals and swimming caps and I wondered what they meant. What they meant to me and others who got them? What did it say about me to other people? But most of all, how did it make me feel about who I have become. The answer to that question, like so many others that have to do with matters of the heart must start with a question; WHY? Why do we do what we do.

Several years ago at my previous place of work, there was a young guy who was a Triathlete. After much pondering and asking why and many questions, I came to the conclusion that there were two hopes of me doing a Triathlon, No Hope and Bob Hope and Bob Hope is dead. In 2013 in my current place of work I stumbled across our in house fitness program and there it was, a 5K race. In a moment of madness I signed up, I was putting on a little middle age spread and the training would be good for me. Then by osmoses I blundered into the Triathlon taking 7 of my colleagues with me. (They felt sorry for me) The following year it was 17 and this year we are up to 36. I know why they do it, they do it for themselves. It’s a statement of achievement and personal accomplishment. We do it because deep down inside there is a desire to try and be better than we see ourselves, better than other peoples doubts and societies limitations. I do it so that others might follow in the wake of their self doubt. It’s my way of leading, it’s a way of confirming my humanity and those who chose to challenge themselves and follow.

There is no right way to to this. Some strive to be better Teachers and Nurses, some want to be the best Parents and Partners others want to be amazing Carpenters and Waiters. The list is as endless as the imagination will allow. The point is, is it not about athletic prowess, it is about being the best, what ever thing it is that makes you smile and come alive, find that and you will find your happiness, take some people with you and allow them to be happy too, you have that power.

It's not about the medal it's about the person you become who receives the medal.

The Human Race, Crossing The Finish Line Together.