The Real Thing - Faith No More

Are you?

I know the feeling, it is the real thing - The essence of the soul…

If you ever find ‘The Real Thing’, you’ll appreciate what I’m writing about in today’s blog. The ‘Coca-Cola’ strapline is not only a very bold statement, but a very familiar one to all of us as it’s been used since 1969. Whether it’s ‘Coca-Cola’ protecting their recipe and their trademark - well I’ll leave that for you to decide - what resonates with me is whether you consider yourself to be ‘The Real Thing’ - ‘The Real You’ - ‘The Real Deal’ or whether you ‘Project’ a different identity? One that isn’t the ‘Real Thing’. One that’s counter-productive to your own happiness and satisfaction.

The perfect moment, that golden moment - I know you feel it too…

If you have yet to find the ‘Real Thing’ and the ‘Perfect Moment’ - don’t worry, they’re out there waiting for you to experience. Notice I say ‘Waiting’ as you’ll need to go searching, work your butt off and be very focussed. When it happens, well it’s sweet and more satisfying than you’ll ever imagine. You just have to be patient. I know - I’m a very patient person with a really strong belief principle - I’ve experienced all the above - more times than I can remember.

I know the feeling, it is the real thing - You can't refuse the embrace…

I mean how can you refuse such a sweet embrace? Yet so many do simply that and miss out on the experience by waiting for the ultimate 100% embrace to come along and be dished up on a plate. You get out what you put in I’ve found and the things I’ve strived and worked hard for have always materialised. They will for you too.

It's like the pattern beneath the skin - You gotta reach out and pull it all in…

And as soon as you manage it once - you’ll do it again and again and again as you get used to seeing the signs of greatness coming your way. I believe life definitely follows a rhythm and a pattern. Right now, Cardiff is awakening to Spring. The Daffodils are shining a pure bright yellow and the weekend temperatures look like hitting a national record for February of 20c. Definitely ‘The Real Thing’ and ‘The Right Time’ to get out there and grab Spring by the balls and wring out every last drop of life-experience you can get.

Cherish the certainly of now, it kills you a bit at a time - Cradle the inspiration…

Otherwise you never will. The lyrics are so right, the only thing we can be sure of is the ‘Now’. The past soon becomes twisted and forgotten - the future increasingly uncertain. Being able to cherish the moment and create a more positive future with brighter horizons is the key I believe. Cradling life like a small child is definitely the way ahead.

And what you are, there is nothing else - You're growing a life within a life…

Of course, don’t try to become what you’re not. Try and nurture and replicate what you’ve already achieved. Do more of what you are good at, only do it better, and with extra pride.

The lips of wonder kiss you inside, feel the blood - Pump through your veins…

And feel the warmth of success. Not from what folk might say but from what you KNOW about YOU - become The Real YOU - become ‘The Real Thing’.

Like the echoes of your childhood laughter, ever after - Like the first-time love urged you to take its guidance…

Why not give it a go and see what happens? You’ve got nothing to lose. View the future with the enthusiasm and innocence of a wide-eyed eighteen-year-old again but with a number of years’ experience. I’m going to give it a go as 1980 was a good year in so many ways.

1,029 Lifetime Marathons, 250 ULTRA-marathons, 9 Guinness World Records, 15 Marathon des Sables & 25 Years' Dry

Mistaken Identity - Kim Carnes

‘Must be a case of mistaken identity’… 

On hearing this track taken from the 1981 Kim Carnes, album of the same name, it got me thinking about how folk aren’t always ‘What it says on the tin’. What we project about ourselves and what we actually are, can be in fact be two polar opposites.

From an early age, I believe both sexes are mis-programmed. Men, championed to be, well a Champions – Heroes - Winners. Women - Overpowered – Crushed – Suppressed. Sure, there’s sexual equality in many areas of our society, but how many proud all singing, all dancing ‘Alpha-Males’ that you know actually do what they say they are going to do and live up to the dream they project? Not many I’ve found…

How many Women, for that matter, do you know that are stand-out Champions, Heroines or Winners? They all are when they’ve been empowered, given belief and encouragement in my experience. As for Men, well in general they are on a hiding to nothing as anything less than 100% is perceived as failure, especially by their peer group - namely other ‘Alpha-Projecting Males’.

It doesn’t have to be this way though. If ability matched ambition, then the world would be a far happier and more successful place. Luckily, self-projection is like a fine wine and improves with age and life-experience. It’s a thought I’m going to take with me as I head into my 57^th year tomorrow and will continue to deliver to those that reach out to me. Their transformation for me is one of the most inspiring aspects of my life right now.

Perhaps now is a good time to consider your own ‘identity’ – what do you project about yourself? Is what you project, the real you? Are you struggling to keep up the façade? Do you want to change? Would you like the opportunity to show people what you are made of?

It’s worth a thought and please let me know your findings – rory@rorycoleman.co.uk

1,029 Lifetime Marathons, 250 ULTRA-marathons, 9 Guinness World Records, 15 Marathon des Sables & 25 Years' Dry