We are often the last to notice the progress in our forward progress

​My buddy Greg ran his first 50 mile race at the Georgia Jewel last weekend. I was as proud of that guy's finish line picture as I was of my own. Maybe more.

After his race, Greg wrote a race recap. Here is a piece of what he wrote:
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I finished a 50 mile UltraHike-a-thon! Oops…I mean ultramarathon. This outcome was definitely not a foregone conclusion. I mostly avoided even telling people I was registered for the undertaking because my skepticism was sky high.

After nine months of training, my skepticism actually ROSE to galactic heights. After every weekend long run, I would tell my wife, “I don’t know how I’m going to do this.” And because my wife is the most wonderful human I know, she would tell me both that I COULD do it and also that it’s ok if I don’t. But the question remained…

HOW am I going to finish?

I honestly couldn’t even picture it. I would ask my buddy Keith, the main propagandist who fooled me into joining this ridiculous distance,

HOW am I going to finish?

“You just gotta keep moving,” Keith said.

Ok…but…like…HOW was I going to do that?

Well, I found out.

Contrary to my misconception, it had very little to do with ME, but a whole lot to do with the the ultra running community.

Ultra runners are the most ridiculously, persistently, unfailingly, wonderfully encouraging people I’ve ever been around.

“GOOD JOB!”

“LOOKING STRONG!”

“YOU’RE DOING GREAT!”

Um…what? You people don’t even know me! I put my underwear on backwards half the time. I spent the entire training block tipping over during single-leg deadlifts.

I’M IN LAST PLACE.

“YOU’RE CRUSHING IT, MAN!”
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The other day, I wrote this:

If you believe like I do that life is all about the idea that we are all works in progress, and that we should always be working toward 'forward' progress, then you'll understand why I believe we should always start with seeking fulfillment.

Fulfillment IS enjoying forward progress.

When I read Greg's words after I wrote mine, it struck me how we are often the very worst at recognizing the progress we're making in the middle of our work in progress. And how maybe, we often feel unfulfilled in life because we're doing life alone.

When we look in a mirror, we often see someone we think is stuck or moving backwards. But when we look into the eyes of our partners or friends or the communities in our life, we're much more likely to see and hear progress.

I think I'd amend - or at least add to - what I said the other day.

I do believe fulfillment IS enjoying forward progress.

But then I'd probably add, forward progress is easier to attain - it's easier to see - when we're doing life with others. Others who see us. See our progress.

So tell the people you're doing life with today you see their progress. Don't assume they see it. Because like you - and me - they may be the last to notice it.

We're not always great at noticing the progress in our work in progress.