What I Learned Counting to 1,000
Sometimes Sundays role around and I think, “Crap, I haven’t written a blog yet.” So, I peak at my list of blog ideas and see what calls to me. Today the one that jumped out was NOT what I was hoping for.
My note simply said, “Count to 1,000.”
When I was a kid playing hide and seek, we’d always count to 100. Which, in child years, felt like an eternity. So, needless to say, the idea of counting to 1,000 did not excite me.
So how did this whole idea come about? I’m glad you asked.
Generally speaking, my girlfriend and I try and hit the sack at a reasonable hour (especially now given my new 5:30am routine). Usually we’re tired and ready to sleep, but sometimes she’ll get a second wind that has her bouncing on the bed like a toddler. It’s adorable…and annoying, LOL. One time, she just started counting. I laughed so hard at that random decision, but she kept going. She got all the way to 513. It took a while… but not THAT long. Which got me thinking… what would it be like to count to 1,000?
So, tonight I did it. I sat down on the couch in my office and counted out loud to 1,000. It took me 13 minutes and 14 seconds. During that time, I noticed a specific (and familiar) emotional arc.
I started out clumsy, trying to find a rhythm. Then I got into a groove. But once I hit 120, I had to change up that groove. The previous groove didn’t jive anymore. After finding a new groove, I got to 333 before starting to really question my decision. At this point, the remaining 667 numbers felt daunting. I pushed on. Around 420 I could feel the midpoint coming… I got a burst of motivation to get there. Then I hit 500 and experienced both a “PHEW!” as well as an “UGGH.” I was only halfway done, and it already seemed like forever.
At about 640, the whole thing felt like drudgery. The end wasn’t exactly near, but I was too far in to turn back now. Then came 711. I got giddy and laughed at the not-funny joke of saying “7-11” out loud. Yikes. At 768 I started to forget where I was at and had to slow down to not mess up the numbers. It wasn’t until 800 that I started to perk up. At that point, I knew I was gonna make it. At 900, I was un-phased. Confident about these final 100 numbers. By 995 I was smiling, slowing down, and savoring each final count until I reached my goal of 1,000.
During this 13 minute and 14 second exercise, I experienced (on a micro level) the same emotional cycle I’ve felt in every major goal I’ve taken on in life. Out of the gate you’re fueled by newbie ignorance. A third of the way in you realize just how daunting the task is you just took on. Half way through you seriously consider quitting, it’s not fun anymore. Two thirds of the way in you start to lose your mind a bit, but keep going just cause you’re a masochist. It’s not until you’re 80% of the way in that you really get the hang of it. The work doesn’t bother you anymore, and the end is in sight. Then you hit those last few steps before reaching your goal. Those last few steps feel even better than reaching your goal. You’re unshakable in those last few steps.
Any big hairy goal in life requires work we don’t want to do. I certainly didn’t want to count to 1,000. But, I wanted to write this blog.
Sometimes knowing what the path to your goal looks like is all you need to stay the course, fight the good fight, and make it to the other side.
