Balance

Try running with your arms crossed, or in some otherwise inflexible, unnatural position. Doesn't really work, does it? Everybody knows that, but you don't really think about what the rest of your body is doing above your waist when you run.

Finding balance in what you do does not mean standing still or steering as close to the perceived mainstream as possible. To me it means finding ways to achieve my goals that are fun, achievable, and sensible to me, and that have the most positive outcome short- and longterm for my family. One must always search for little ways to tweak habits and practices, and I take enormous pleasure in those eureka moments that result in great gains in whatever endeavour it may be. That's what makes my job so much fun.

Stupid and weakly considered criticisms should be dispensed with as quickly as possible. The people who propogate that kind of shit should be pushed to the periphery of your life at the very least, unless they're immediate family members, in which case intensive, relentless education must begin. Cultivate relationships with hardworking, energetic, good people, people who add value to your life in some way.

You have to consciously live the above mantra and avoid slipping into poor habits and unhelpful relationships. A running lifestyle puts that into focus; would you continue to spend time with a useless coach? Would you run with partners who drag you down, have no goals to work with, don't help you or refuse to be helped?

Exactly.