Stardate 12.23.2025
Is the pursuit of your goals more like a sprint… or a marathon?
Pause for a moment and look back over the last twelve months. If you’re genuinely at peace with the progress you’ve made, there’s a good chance you’ve been playing the long game. Most of us, though, begin with strong intentions and plenty of enthusiasm, only to slow down when motivation fades. For me, the marathon never really ends—especially when it comes to goals worth keeping.
Here’s a helpful question to sit with today:
What would it look like to shift more of my goals into the long game so I don’t quit too soon?
One way I stay grounded is by attaching a clear why to each goal. Let me share an example close to my heart.
My 86-year-old mother is about to begin what some might call an impossible journey for someone her age. But she’s already farther along than many people ever get—because she’s broken through the biggest obstacle of all: self-limiting beliefs. If you believe something is impossible, it becomes impossible. The race ends before it ever begins.
The next decision she’s facing is simple, but powerful:
Is this a sprint or a marathon?
Right behind it comes another honest question:
How much skin is in the game?
Think about a month-to-month gym membership versus prepaying for a year. Which one is easier to walk away from? If you’re anything like me—and you don’t enjoy wasting hard-earned pesos—you choose the option that turns the goal into a commitment. When it costs something to quit, you’re far more likely to stay.
My mother loves to travel. What’s held her back recently are a few ailments and a lack of physical strength—both of which I truly believe can be improved with a steady, consistent workout plan. This isn’t about quick results. It’s about endurance.
Her why is clear: traveling to new places she’s never seen, alongside her family. She knows those adventures involve plenty of walking. That’s her marathon. And she’s choosing the long game.
Even better, she won’t be running it alone. Our family will be with her every step of the way.
She’s agreed to share monthly progress updates here, and I’m grateful for her willingness to do that. I believe her journey will encourage others to stay the course with their own goals. If this resonates with you as you look toward 2026, I invite you to check in regularly.
One quick disclaimer: I’m still learning the art of video interviews, so the early ones may not be polished. That’s my marathon. I’ll keep recording until I get vlogging right—one percent better each time.
Thank you for encouraging my family as we prepare for the road ahead. I hope today finds you steady, hopeful, and willing to play the long game.
🖖 Captain’s Addendum
Bones: “Michael, this sounds like a lifetime commitment. Humans weren’t built for marathons.”
Spock: “On the contrary, Doctor. Logic suggests humans are uniquely designed for endurance when purpose is present.”
Bones: “So you’re saying belief keeps the legs moving?”
Spock: “Belief, Doctor—paired with consistency—extends capability beyond assumed limits.”
Michael’s Reflection:
That’s the truth, isn’t it? Purpose keeps us moving long after motivation fades. When belief and consistency work together, even the most daunting journeys become possible—one faithful step at a time.
📖 Scripture for the Journey
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
— Galatians 6:9
🙏 Quiet Gratitude
Thank you for walking alongside me today. May you carry this thought into prayer or stillness:
You don’t have to finish today—only to keep going.
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