SHAUN WILLSON
  • Academia
  • Advocacy Work
Below are the material rewards of running twelve races in twelve weeks, a project to test what someone with my history can physically accomplish.  What I learned:  1. We are more than a set of daunting circumstances.  2. With eight age-division places or wins and one third place men's overall, success is often a matter of just one thing:  Showing up.  3. Active giving to charity is far better than writing a check.  4. Hard things are easier with a purpose.  5. Running without ambition is much more fun.   6. This is how civil societies do good things.

Of these, the most dramatic lesson was relentlessly showing up. This was the strategy that may have saved my life when all seemed lost. To all those facing the seemingly impossible, just show up this hour and make it the best - without the angst of perfection - and then show up for the next, and the next.  After a while you can look back as I can, and realize you have climbed a mountain.

  • Academia
  • Advocacy Work