how do you find the time

I’ve never disappointed more people than I have by answering this question:
“how do you find the time to do all of this?”

(and that’s with stiff competition mind you, I’m gay, my sole existence disappoints a lot of people, most of whom I don’t even know #irony)

the answer to how I have the time is… discipline.

I’m sorry I can’t romanticize or sugar coat it, I suppose as a marketer, I could probably try to, but even I’m not able to make discipline look sexy.

I have the Ciucaș X3 Race this weekend, the Vietnam Jungle (half) Marathon and Fansipan Mountain Hike coming up next month, the Phu Quoc (team) Ironman in November, and maybe the Cambodian Angwor Wat Half Marathon in December.

(I promise running is not my only personality trait, I just do a lot of running tourism)

the only way for me to support these extracurricular activities is through, say it with me, discipline.

running through rice fields and bamboo forests sure sounds incredible, but the path between me deciding I want to do the thing, and me actually waiting in front of that start line is hella long.

translation, transportation, accommodation,
back and forth emails, visa, registration,
more translation, more transportation, more accommodation,
scheduling, working and finally, physical training.

why put myself through all of this?
because it’s fun 🙂

for whatever reason we seem to believe that discipline and fun can’t coexist,
we believe that, for something to be fun, it must come easy, or natural. I disagree.

you could have so much fun doing things you haven’t even tried yet, out of a misplaced animosity towards discipline.

“I couldn’t do what you do.”
I couldn’t do what I do either, not haphazardly.

but I set aside time each day to build my life,
I’m seeking and running at the same time.
much like yourself, I have different interests pulling me in different directions,
and realistically I know that the only way for me to balance my own needs and my personal and professional responsibilities, is through discipline.

that is how I optimize my energy levels,
that is how I find make the time,
that is how I feel whole.

how do you find the time?

I’ll see you tomorrow.

today is day 251 of the year, there are 114 days remaining of 2022