Lifelong Companion

"I have always completely understood that the one person with whom you will live every second of the rest of your life with, is yourself. Therefore, you better be happy with who you are and be proud of who you are so that you can look yourself in the mirror everyday and like what you see and be happy that you are your own lifelong companion." - Siri Lindley reflecting back on her life during the height of her triathlon career. She failed to make the 2000 Olympic team, but went on to win two World Cups and an ITU World Championship. In doing so she became the #1 ranked triathlete in 2001 and 2002.

The actor Brad Pitt also discussed the importance of loving yourself. “Man, I know all these things are supposed to seem important to us - the car, the condo, our version of success - but if that's the case, why is the general feeling out there reflecting more impotence and isolation and desperation and loneliness? The emphasis now is on success and personal gain. I'm sitting in it, and I'm telling you, that's not it. I'm the guy who's got everything. I know. But I'm telling you, once you've got everything, then you're just left with yourself. I've said it before and I'll say it again: it doesn't help you sleep any better, and you don't wake up any better because of it.”

Siri and Brad are both highly successful people who came to the same conclusion that there is more to life than awards. We are neither heroes nor failures because of our results. Things will neither add or subtract from our intrinsic value. Let go of the search for happiness and just live. Challenge yourself and explore, then at the end of the day give yourself grace knowing that you did the best you could under the circumstances. Once we love ourselves, success will be inevitable.