A 10-Kilometer Epiphany
I learned exactly what was holding me back in life by running my first 10-kilometer race.
Running a 10K race is no big deal to most people. Even a kid could do it. But I was unhealthy, weak, and going nowhere in life. That run tested my mediocre limits. It revealed self-limiting habits that messed up my goals and life decisions. This sobering self-awareness showed me exactly what I needed to change to live better.
A self-limiting pattern
During the race, my run went this way: I would run or jog until I couldn’t run anymore, stop, then switch to a comfortable, walking pace. I’d catch my breath and recover enough strength to run again — but I didn’t. I continued walking, even when I was no longer tired.
That’s pretty much how I approached life: Pursue, surrender to a comfortable (and wickedly slow) pace, then maybe pursue a bit again.
Back in 2015, when I first worked on independent films, my goal was to create a feature for a major film festival within four years. I aimed to create two short films within two years. I figured those shorts would prepare the experience, network, and portfolio I needed for a feature-length project.
