“If you want to go fast, go alone…
If you want to go far, go together.”
-African Proverb
The question is pretty simple…
Do you want to go alone and get from point A to point B as quickly as possible?
Or do you want to run through the entire alphabet with a team of people, stopping at each letter along the way accumulating shared experiences, while building mutually beneficial relationships that will last a lifetime?
The Problem:
We like going fast…
We as a type-A American society want it all and we want it NOW. We don’t necessarily like relying on other people because we don’t have control over other people. At times, we can get by going fast and we can get by going alone… but in the grand scheme of life, we NEED the love and support of others to survive.
My kids recently started using the word NEED way too much in their vocabulary…
This got me thinking about what we truly NEED in life…
- Air
- Food
- Water
- Love
I like to call these the Core 4 of life…
We cannot and will not survive without the 4.
Human Crash Test Dummy Solution:
If you race the 100-yard dash or happen to race Ironmans or ultra marathons, don’t worry, there is no need to slow down for your competition.
The African proverb is simply a metaphor for life and carries the message that if we want to go “fast” and race through life “alone,” short term gains and rewards may be there… Yet, if we want to go “far” and truly enjoy the fruits of life experiences and relationships, we must go “together.”
In order to go together, developing relationships with like minded people chasing the same sort of lifestyle and goals is ESSENTIAL.
Go Hard Task:
Find a wing dude. Seek somebody who is going to help facilitate where you want to go. Maybe it’s somebody at work you have been thinking of teaming up with or possibly a swim coach you have thought about hiring. Regardless, find someone who will improve your life and support your journey… Just remember to always give as much if not more than you get, as truly authentic relationships are mutually beneficial.
-EB