author runs
author is hurt all the time
author is too stubborn to take medical advice (kudos to him)
author searches for enlightenment about his quandary
author ends up in a lost part of Mexico, searching for a guy that may or may not exist.
author finds the guy
guy introduces author to tribe of indians who run like its their job
author learns about their culture in totality
author gains a great amount of knowledge and understanding and runs like crazy and without injury to this day.
got it? good. wanna know what the indians big secret was? ...a smile. They smile when they run, and not only because they're having fun, but because they believe they do it for everyone they love. The whole village seems to revolve around running. one quote from a later chapter in the book stood out to me:
"It's easy to get outside yourself when you're thinking about someone else."
He's right. Have you ever been motivated to do something hard because of someone else's need? Heard about 100 lb women lifting cars off of babies? These guys (and all of us, the author argues) are capable of running down wild animals to kill them with their bare hands... they are all so physically fit that they could have one heck of a brawl and everyone would be dead in a minute, but instead, they have more compassion than most of us imagine possible.
Here's a question: I'm not sure what it would take, but let's say you make me so mad that I'm ready to beat you to a bloody pulp. Just before I lay into you, something gets my attention and I decide to let your trespasses slide. You may or may not be amazingly grateful for my decision, depending on how intimidating you find me...which is prolly not very... i'm 5'9" and 160 soaking wet. Now play out the same scenario in your mind, but put Mike Tyson in my place. Yeah,... you just became a fountain of gratefulness.
Here's my point. To me, one of the biggest reasons to take care of yourself, to sharpen your skills, to become the most powerful version of yourself is this. Compassion is at its finest when it comes from the most unexpected places. In the same way that a bridle and bit can keep a clydesdale in line, so should we be able to control our wraths and mercies. Don't get me wrong, these are great traits for anyone to display, but if you really want to amaze people, spend your whole life getting strong enough to crush anyone or anything that crosses your path and then softly wipe the fearful tears from the eyes of the very people, of whom, everyone expects you to make an example.
PS., Just for fun, I included a video of the author discussing some of his learning while on his "running journey." It's pretty amazing stuff. Enjoy.
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