Doing the Impossible

What's your ceiling?

Impossible.

Such an ugly word, but it's all too common in my life. There are just so many things I can't imagine myself doing.

Not because I don't want to. I really wish I could do some of these things. The problem is…

I can't.

The first time I heard Uncle Jonathan talk about running, I sat listening to him with a calm face, but my mind was spinning.

A marathon during inter house sports in secondary school was 1,600 meters. That was reserved for the strongest runners in school. I never made any of the running teams, talk way less of the marathon.

But this man was talking about kilometers. And not single digit kilometers, mind you.

My first thought was…

Wow. That's cool he can run that far, but count me out. I can't do it. I'd die along the way for absolutely sure.

10 kilometers? That's insane.

More than that? That's impossible.

One day, I made a mistake. After sitting next to Uncle Jonathan for a few weeks, I started thinking about it.

I play football. I'm a sportsman. Surely I can run 5km at least?

And that, my friend, was how I agreed to follow him to the run club one Saturday in August.

When I got there, the minimum distance was 10km. Run out 5km and back to make the full distance. In the words of my wife, you guys!!!!

I know I could've stuck to my guns and insisted on running 5km, but…

Damn you, peer pressure.

So I laced my shoes and set out with the pack. Now for a bit of honesty…

I almost died, guy.

You know that trend where someone tries to do something, succeeds, then turns back to see their body on the floor? That was me, man. Every single organ in my body made sure I knew what a foolish decision I had made.

I ran, walked, ran again, walked again. Gave up, kept going because I had no choice. Somehow, I made it to the end.

Once at the end, everything changed.

Uncle Jonathan’s excitement was so electric it could power a small city. Everyone around was congratulating me on finishing my first run. In between the high fives and smiles, I couldn't stop thinking.

I had just done the impossible!

It's been about a year since that. Now when I talk about a 10km run, I'm tempted to say just.

Oh the audacity of man. Just a 10K?

One year ago it was impossible. Now, it's just a 10K.

It's magical when you see your body doing something you never thought possible.

Jonathan Hussaini

Doing the impossible is an incredible feeling. At that point, the world is at your feet. It doesn't matter that other people have done it better.

It only matters that you've done it.

And the thing about doing the impossible is that the ceiling has been shattered. In that moment of triumph especially, the word impossible does not exist.

And while you believe everything is possible, there’s hardly anything you can't do.

It's easy to say all things are possible. Even easier to say with God, all things are possible.

Following through is a different matter.

If you truly believe it's possible to achieve your wildest dreams, I mean really believe, you would lock right in.

So we may say it, but we don't really believe it. And I don't blame any of us. It's really not our fault. This is how we're wired.

To always see the ceiling.

Don't be frustrated. It happens.

But once you actually take a step and do the impossible, everything changes. Now you start to question other things you thought were impossible.

I’m sure I can't do this, but I was also convinced beyond doubt that I couldn't run 10km.

So what if I actually can?

It's not always immediate. Sometimes we have to do the impossible a few times to start questioning things.

After I finished the 10km run, I still thought 15km would be too far. Then I did it. And I thought 21km would be too far. Then I did that too.

Yesterday, I earned my first 30km medal.

Trust me. I almost died on the way. I questioned myself. I swore at myself. But I did it.

I did the impossible.

And if I can run impossible distances, is there a chance I can do other impossible things too?

Remember. This has nothing to do with what others are doing. It's all about what I believe I can do.

The aim is not to prove I'm better than someone else. What is the aim?

I never thought I could do that, but I've done it.

It's such an empowering and liberating experience. At least it has been for me. It means there's a chance.

Today is my birthday, and as I reflect on the handful of years I've been around, this one thought helps me to keep going even though I'm not sure what lies ahead.

I've done a few impossible things. To all the things that seem impossible right now…

I'm coming.