Illimitable Determination

 

illimitable - adjective - without limits or an end (Google).

Every once in awhile, human nature will surprise me in a positive sense. Every once in a blue moon, I'll witness feats of true grit and resolution, and all of my doubts regarding the capabilities of my fellow beings will stand still, erect in salutation, recognizing the accomplishments as they parade before me. 

Yesterday, at the New York City Marathon, the 30,000 runners, (one of whom was my daughter) passing  in drips and drabs of motion whilst I observed, standing on the sidelines of First Avenue and later, Central Park, rendered me speechless. I had never before seen such illimitable determination and discipline in one comparatively small space. Along with his/her/their name and number, each one of the entrants wore courage, confidence, control and concentration even though by mile 23, most were in extreme pain, fighting with physical and emotional anguish, the desire to end it all and quit. Yet for most, giving up wasn't an option. My daughter kept up an impressive pace of 10.09 for the initial twenty and fell to 12.00 the last few thousand feet. After the race, she confided in me that during those final moments, it was excruciating for her to put one foot in front of the other, no less continue to trot in one direction. Pure adrenalin and an avowal that she had to finish what she had started catapulted her to the endpoint at Tavern on the Green. 

As my daughter's mother, I could not have been prouder that she had stuck it out and finished the race. However, at the end of the day, that sense of personal pride grew like a seed inside of me to include more abstract concepts, two of which were hope and optimism. If 30,000 people of all ages, colors, creeds, shapes, sizes, etc. could come together and do what most wouldn't–run, jog, or even walk 26 miles without respite–why can't we as a human race come together and achieve the impossible: solve our most pressing problems in an expedient manner? 

The potential of us human beings to achieve is illimitable. All we have to do is concentrate on finishing the uphill races that we have started. Anything is possible if we put our minds and bodies to accomplishing it. 

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