Goal Setting

Every writer encounters those daunting moments, sometimes multiple times a day, when the words won’t flow onto the page. The novel, begun with enthusiasm five years ago, now looms ominously overhead, much like the fabled sword of Damocles. The story, once eagerly promised to the writers’ group, remains frustratingly elusive.

We share a common struggle as we stand together in this familiar terrain of creative blockades. I, too, have faced the silent mockery of the page, the story that resists completion despite years of nurturing. In these challenging times, what tools do you turn to? What strategies do you employ to coax the words from the recesses of your imagination?

Now, let’s shift our focus from the solitary struggle of the writer to an inspiring narrative of athletic determination that has inspired me. For the past three years, I’ve been following the progress of a confident young man — a sprinter on his high school track team. Annually, he has secured his spot at the state championships in the 100-meter. Despite commendable performances, the finals eluded him — until this year. This season, he not only clinched a medal, placing 7th statewide in his classification with a blistering 10.88 seconds, but expanded his repertoire, qualifying in the 200-meter dash, the 4 x 200-meter relay, and the 4 x 100-meter relay. His relentless pursuit led to a new school record in the 100-meter dash, clocking in at 10.79 seconds, shattering a decade-old record. Moreover, his 200-meter relay team repeatedly broke and re-established the school record.