The reward

[hess42]

The reward for challenge met is not a life of leisure, a series of accolades, or an endless victory lap.

No, the reward for challenge met is more challenge.

Comments

[skywind8]

Clearly, more challenge -- and, likely, harder challenges - are always on the way. This year's trophy doesn't solve next year's challenge.

But... I think sometimes people move on so quickly that we can forget that this year's trophy does help give confidence to tackle the next challenge. And that life isn't a race to the top... resting supports endurance; life can't always be a sprint. The rush to get ahead and stay ahead can bring its own unique exhaustion.

I've been exploring the idea today of... What if the places I'm still struggling with, are unsolved not because I failed at it, but because they are very hard? What if the chasm I'm trying to cross is just BIG.

It should be pointed out that I take on BIG challenges. Seven years of full time caregiving. Five years of building a complex and powerful software system, plus supporting company and team process restructuring and organizational stuff. Eleven years of mastering photographic technique. And I did those three at the same time. I set a high bar, so breaking into

[firedancer_ny]

Thank you for this! Especially the reminder that the challenges can be hard and big -- they're *supposed* to take a long time! I really needed to hear that today.

And the reminder of rest. I wouldn't have said that that's hard for me, but it IS.

[clockwerkdragon]

The rock stands firm against the river, but the river always wins.

[langs_place]

They can keep that freaking reward, sometimes!