# The Quiet Victory of Showing Up: Why ItS Okay to Be ‘Not That Good’
A growing movement encourages individuals to embrace passions and pursuits simply for the joy they bring, even without striving for constant improvement. This viewpoint challenges the cultural emphasis on relentless self-optimization and offers a powerful message of self-acceptance.
One runner’s decades-long journey illustrates this point beautifully.She first completed a half marathon at age 27, finishing near the back of the pack wiht a pace just over twelve minutes per mile. Thirty years and countless races later, she recently ran the same distance in 1:38, maintaining a pace of 12:06/mile. “I haven’t gotten any faster,” she admits, “But you know what? I haven’t gotten any slower either.”
This consistency, she jokes, might even lead to qualifying for the Boston Marathon by age 80 – a surprisingly realistic goal, given the qualifying time for that age group is 5 hours and 20 minutes. But the pursuit isn’t about the finish time; it’s about the act of participation.”Slow, steady, and stubborn-that’s me.”
The core insight, she argues, is that life, much like a marathon, isn’t always about accelerating progress or achieving victory. It’s about showing up, staying present, and savoring the experience – even if that means enjoying the scenery and conversation with fellow participants at the back of the pack.
did you know? – The Boston Marathon’s qualifying times vary by age and gender. Older runners generally have more lenient qualifying standards, reflecting the natural slowing of pace with age.
our culture often equates worth with constant improvement. We are bombarded with messages urging us to be more – faster, wealthier, smarter. While excellence is valuable, the runner believes it’s equally important to simply enjoy activities, even if we lack natural talent. “I love running. And I love dancing.And I’m not especially brilliant at either of those activities,” she says. “but if I can keep them up and continue to enjoy them injury-free,I’m going to count that as a win.”
This principle extends far beyond athletics. Hobbies, creative endeavors, and even self-care routines benefit from consistent engagement, nonetheless of measurable progress. Sadly, many abandon passions because they don’t achieve a desired level of proficiency. The runner, who also works as a coach, recounts a recent client who left a fulfilling job because it didn’t align with his perceived professional status. “He’s not happy in the new job-which has a fancy title, but a boring job description,” she laments.
Pro tip: – Focus on the process, not just the outcome. Setting small, achievable goals centered around consistent participation can foster enjoyment and prevent burnout.
The pressure to constantly improve can be stifling. The runner offers a simple reminder,”You don’t have to get better for that thing you love to matter to you and for it to be worth your time and commitment. You just have to keep going.” it’s a call to prioritize joy – whether it arrives quickly or slow
reader question: – Do you find societal expectations hinder your ability to pursue hobbies simply for enjoyment? what steps can be taken to resist this pressure?
