Race to Finish

      Imagine us the humans, any one person let's say me running a race. This thought, right here actually ,it might give you a kick in your head as to why stop at anything. So here's the scene its 1000 m race in a packed stadium I am a contestant. Everyone's there in stadium my family, my friends almost everyone. I am suppose to start my run with -the third gunshot!. I wait wait wait n then begin my attempt, feeling nervous but pumped up at the same time to perform. It was only few early minutes as I crossed 10 m I notice something off track .A curator jumps on the track, while I am running. I am thinking hmm.. Now that’s weird, what’s he doing and why is he running towards me like a bull. Is he trying to stop me? Why would he do that? His work is to supervise the competition, not to hold back the participant right. I say, lets slow down and ask if there is any emergency.

 While I maintain the slow pace, he is coming with an innocent face towards me also I had no ill will against him, I don't know him personally I gave benefit of doubt to his situation and believed that he  should be a good guy. Who would interrupt a race in between though. As soon as he is close enough  I am getting anxious too and I am around at 50 m from the start. That man tries to grab my hand and  tries to stop me saying nothing, speaking nothing out of the blue this man is stopping me !!.Shocked,  he tumbles, gets back up and tries to do the same again, I somehow manage to escape and run  even faster now. I look back and think -" What a weirdo!, was trying to stop me crook ,moron.

Now I have to double my pace because that man slowed me up.Then, after few meters of focused running I see my one of my not so close friend came running towards me I still believe him.But he tries to do the same

I resisted fought and kept running. Now I am thinking- What's wrong with these people. Why are they not letting me run. Then I focus back, oh I got so much to finish this one. I better concentrate.

The first 700 m were tough.People tried to grip me, push me.But not once, I stood there and asked a question - "hey what is happening ? why you don't want me to win this one or at least finish this one.I feel dejected.

Barely having the strength to complete last 300 m.Only thinking why is world against me,no one wants me to finish.

Then all of a sudden I come across the stand where my well wishers are sitting. Is this a moment of rejuvenation? Surprising. This gave me confidence. I got some energy finished 800 m mark

Then I saw my fellow friend lying down bleeding, saying as I approach him-"

Don't stop!! Keep running. Don’t wry about me. I will see you at Finnish line"

Of all people I wanted to stop for him. He was my best friend all this life. But he wanted me to finish.

So I believe him. Irony, there were people back there to stop me when I started and I believed them without knowing them I slowed myself for them and now here my friend whom I have trusted for life he  had to console me to believe him.

 Nevertheless , I kept going and in the last 100 m saw my family and my girl waiting for me at the finish line eagerly while I see behind, hundreds of people chasing me,with an aim to not let me finish the race ,my friend who is knocking these people down but there are so many of them. Had I stopped and thought why on earth people don't want to see me or us finish.Have you ever had a queer notion as why people or anything tries to bother you at first place.What good has it done to them anyway. But coming back to my statement -Had I stopped for any of those, I would have lost then and there.

But there is no time for that in life,right ? Is there any fellow runners I ask you ? Picture yourself going through this for a min .Close your eyes what's going on in your head right now.Agitated ,irritated or simply puzzled.Bamboozled with yet another lesson of life.

I finished my race finally and met my family, completed somehow with mixed thoughts and emotions. I didn't had the best time.My leg hurts. Disappointed in short. Still someone comes with a medal.

And I am shocked,because hello I wanted to ask "were you not watching the race I totally goofed up back there, why a medal??  I had the worst timing in the whole world.But when I gave a closer look at the medal,it read-

 "For the one who raced to Finish".

 I realized it was not the race to come 1st  ,2nd  or 3rd. It was about I still finish in-spite of everyone stopping me Or us or like the Rocky says "you me or anybody" .

Its true it ain't about how hard you get hit, its about how hard you get hit and keep moving forward.How much you can take and keeping moving forward, that’s how winning is done won't be this or that because of him or her or anybody, cowards do that as Balboa rightly says,"and that ain't you, you are better than that...."

Never let anyone hold you , stick a finger at your face and say you can’t. Or tell you to stop.

Keep running folks.

Remember your family is at the beginning.

In-between the race cheering.

And at the finish line.

To Pat your back and your efforts and your loved one to hug, they appreciate your run ,they are not going anywhere. And will always be there to take you away from everyone who tried to stop you.

Believe

Thank you.

R N Clouds