Simple Runner wrote:
What if the truth about us humans is that we only do what we're capable of doing — you included. Physically, emotionally, socially, etc. I'm sure you've done some pretty shitty things in your life, too, but everyone else's shit smells worse, right. Lindgren did what he did. It wasn't commendable, wasn't pretty, and had far-reaching consequences for his family ... all this is true. But to say "he could've done better but chose not to" or "I could've done better" is just one of those fictions we live in. I say you do what you're actually capable of, and the proof of what you were ACTUALLY capable of is in what you ACTUALLY did. That speaks louder than 1,000 imaginative fictions that we use to trash other people (and ourselves.). And it's not at all productive to either party - the blamer or the one being blamed — to take the latter route. The blamer (you, in this case) just gets further entrenched in priggishness and self-righteousness; the blamee gets reminded of something (s)he can never ever undo. No that's productive!
We are mostly blind to who other people are, what makes them tick, and what they're backstory is. It would be good for you to keep this in mind as you go through life.
We are, of course, learning animals, and there's always the possibility of better choices in the future, but we especially need good people around us to do that, not people who shit on us for shitting on others. Encouragement.
Most of Gerry's points on the 2-mile record are actually good, and if some hero of yours said them, you'd be singing a different tune:
- my record should never have lasted this long
- we run to race, not to pace
- 1 bold, courageous runner inspires 10 others, who each inspire 10 others
Let me know if I got this right... its ok to publicly call out a high school kid for not racing like you think he should, but calling out a grown man for abandoning his family is a bridge too far?