Don't Look Back - Boston

Lyric - A new day is breakin'…

Now, in this time of uncertainty and change it's only too easy to join the masses and panic. Doom, gloom and uncertainty is rife in the news and panic buying photos and self-isolation messages dominate our social media.

If you are of the mindset that this is a ‘temporary situation’ - then don't be - as 'a new day is definitely breakin' andthings will never, ever be the same again. Our world is changing. Changing faster than it ever has before. Forget the Industrial Revolution or the invention of the Internet, this is happening right in front of our eyes - in just a matter of days.

How we adapt to that change, is how well we’ll cope with the whole Covid-19 Crisis and possibly formulate how we go on to lead our lives in the future. Having been through the loop once already with my own battle with Guillian-Barre Syndrome in 2016 - I know from my own personal experience how much life can change in a moment. Foreverin fact. I had to learn how to adapt to a new life which bore little similarity to the old one and set new challenges and life goals based on a fresh ability rather than ambition to give my life purpose. It worked too.

You see, in recent times we’ve become extremely comfortable with our surroundings, with our health and with our lifestyle. You see, it’s only too easy to go with the flow when everything is going along nicely and when health related issues are on a personal level – it’s a sporadic and often carefree existence for most, stuff happens but in general we get through. The problem we now have to contend with is that the world has entered a full eclipse of darkness - together. A darkness we can share but one that we will have to deal with on a personal level. You will need all the strength you can muster and more in the next few weeks and months. Make some time to make it personal.

I found a more healthy approach to my Guillian-Barre Syndrome when I made it personal. Sure I listened to all the medical advice I was given and read everything I could find online but I reached my own conclusion on how to approach and overcome my single biggest lifetime challenge and got through. At first I was in complete denial and very gung-ho, I thought it would simply go away and everything would return to normal (sounds familiar?). But it didn’t. I didn’t want to change and couldn’t see change. Funnily enough things only got worse.

It was only when I changed my outlook, that things started to happen and there was light at the end of a very dark tunnel.

My mindset changed, dramatically over the five-month period. My open mindset got me through and it will get you through the Covid-19 Crisis too if you let it. Where we’ll be in five months’ time from now? No-one knows. But it won’t be where we are now all I do know from my experience is that things will be different and that you’ll be different too.

Stay healthy - Keep Safe - Amen.

1,052 Marathons - 255 Ultras - 9 Guinness World Records - 15 Marathon des Sables

Keep Talking - The Pink Floyd

I love this 1994 Pink Floyd track, that samples the electronic voice of Stephen Hawking. According to Wiki it was taken from a BT television advertisement that David Gilmour chose to use, after it made him cry. He described it as the most powerful piece of television advertising that he’d ever seen in his life. 

Powerful indeed, and it got me thinking as if I'm honest, it's been a powerful kinda week where simple communication could have saved a whole lot of trouble and heartache for most of the people I know – me included.

'For millions of years mankind lived just like the animals, then something happened which unleashed the power of our imagination - We learned to talk'...

Only we don’t talk do we, instead we surmise, interpret or simply try and guess wtf is going on. Funnily enough, the answer is often just a simple question away… if only we asked it. Instead, we let silence prevail in the hope that things will work out for the best.

A best that never really happens in my experience. 

‘There's a silence surrounding me, I can't seem to think straight’…

Of course, we need time to consider our thoughts and options but not saying anything – that’s worse. In fact, I believe that ‘Silence’ is a ‘Silent Killer’… You see, we need to hear, be heard and to be listened to, as it helps usnot only to feel valued but also make sense of our environment and the people that experience that environment with us.

‘I think I should speak now, I can't seem to speak now’…

Knowing what to say can be very hard. How to say it, even harder and knowing when to say it – can be downright impossible. How many times have you thought, ‘I wish I’d said something’ and not – simply to avoid confrontation? We’ve all had situations where we’ve swallowed our words rather than voiced our thoughts, opinions and challenges.

‘My words won't come out right, I feel like I'm drowning’…

To get the words to ‘come out right’, takes experience. Experience gained from getting the words out more wrong than right. It’s a tough learning curve and one that can make you feel like you are indeed drowning, especially if you find it hard to express your inner thoughts and concerns.

‘I'm feeling weak now, but I can't show my weakness’…

In the past, admitting weakness was a complete no-no, especially for us chaps. But in recent times it’s changed - I believe it takes great strength to admit weakness. And once out in the open, folk are only too glad to help, especially when you have complete weakness such as the weakness, I suffered with Guillain–Barré syndrome.  Being that weak – leaves you with no option but to talk - my key message today. 

You see, there’s always a few minutes of extra-time in any situation to conjure a fresh solution. A chance to find reverse gear, accept, compromise and vocalise a clear vision of where things are heading.

‘I sometimes wonder, where do we go from here’…

Where? Well, somewhere is all I can tell you. You might find out a few things about yourself on your journey. It could be a journey of discovery where you’ll find that money is immaterial to your mental wealth and that the spoken word can move mountains if the right questions are asked with the right tone. And, if you have finished the week in uncertainty or are in conflict or in downright rage – Stop. Reach out. And ‘talk’ and then ‘keep on talking’, as you’ll be in a better place and a better person for it.

1,051 Marathons - 255 Ultras - 9 Guinness World Records - 15 Marathon des Sables

26 Years's Dry