In the Arena

The upward aiming, forward oriented challenge awaits us - but perhaps not for the reasons we think?

Special announcement: 18 months ago, a small group of men began gathering at our home to discuss life’s second half journey. As it has grown in size/scope, I felt a tug to create a similar group available to men outside of Fort Collins, CO…

Result? The men’s Second Wind Collective, with just a few spots available for the beta group launching Jan 14th. If you’re looking to move past the status quo and curiously explore the possibilities within and through life’s second half, it might be worth a look. Details avail here.

“The credit belongs to the one who is actually in the arena...who strives valiantly; who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming; who knows great enthusiasms, great devotions; who gives themself to a worthy cause; who, at best, knows - in the end - the triumph of high achievement, and who, at worst, if they fail, at least they fail while daring greatly, unlike those timid souls who knew neither victory or defeat.”

Teddy Roosevelt, 1910 (paraphrased)

Am I willing to step into the arena?

It’s a question that invites a far more profound reflection than may appear at first glance. This is especially true throughout life’s 2nd half, because it is so much easier to simply avoid the arena altogether! Now we can watch the action - of others - from our comfortable suite or catch the highlights on ESPN (Evade Struggle/Passively Nod). The arena? Yeah yeah - I did all that stuff earlier in life. But now...

But now... what? Has such passivity become our default setting? Are we content living in the past or pretending the flat screen doesn’t lead to flat-lining? The arena still calls, my friends. The arena still calls. It’s up to us to answer that call.

Wait a minute. What if I put all that work into a project or pursuit and it never comes to fruition... or what if I fail altogether? OK - what if you do? So what? Sure - it makes sense not to put all our chips on red 7 and roll the dice, but that’s not what we’re talking about. This is about stepping into the arena, stretching ourselves, giving our full selves in pursuit of a new adventure. And if we fail? We did so while fully living!

Like usual, I’m writing as a reminder to myself as much as anyone else as these thoughts have dominated my mind the past 24 hours. There are a trio of pursuits I’ve considered stepping into over the coming year. All three are accompanied by long odds and it’s quite possible (likely?) all my proverbial blood, sweat and tears invested could end in a trio of flop, fizzle and face plant. And frankly - potentially similar to you and your awaiting arenas - my life is already pretty doggone good. None of these three will notably impact life’s traditional measurables of network (relationships), net worth (finances), or net wellth (health/wellbeing). So why proceed in the first place?

First - because life compounds. Ah yes, we’re well aware of the rule of 72, where our money doubles with every multiple of 72 (e.g., 8% return doubles $$ over 9 years). Life’s compounding makes the financial rule of 72 look like child’s play. When we step into the arena in one area of life, we come alive in others. When we retreat into passivity, that mindset spreads just as easily. I may fall flat across all three awaiting arenas but the elevated engagement in life (if I don’t elevate such pursuits to idol status) will likely lead to enhanced wellbeing, improved relationships, and a plethora of bolstered decisions stemming from my broader engagement in life.

And second? Because it is our calling! We’re not here to simply exist, to passively sit in our safe little corner holding our basket of goodies as the world passes us by. We crave being fully alive! FULLY alive - and that involves stepping into the unknown and exploring the possibilities, knowing in advance they may end in what others could rationally view as defeat.

But we know the secret. We understand the only true defeat is never stepping to the line. We feel the difference from the moment our feet hit the floor in the morning. Whether concluding in externally judged success or failure, we inherently know the very act of stepping into the arena is victory. We see the alternative all around us: march-step box-checking, minimization of effort, and status quo contentment. Not us, my friends. We’re not satisfied knowing our hearts are simply still beating. Instead, we crave the spark found in the upward aiming, forward movement of the awaiting challenge. That challenge - win or lose - is found not on the comfortable sidelines, but in the arena.

Care to join me?