My Heartfelt Journey: How Ambitions Empower My Life
kevinrunsblog.com– My Heartfelt Journey: How Ambitions Empower My Life. For some inexplicable reason, I get Frankie Goes To Hollywood, which gives my inner ear a tick when I hear the word personal ambition and goals. “Whaaaat is it useful for…?” Well…
A cursory glance at a dictionary (or indeed, Dr. Google) finds definitions such as “a strong desire to do or achieve something” and “desire and determination to achieve success.”
And dotted around this piece, you’ll see a selection of quotes from friends and allies. I used that social media to ask, “What does ambition mean to you, in one sentence?”
So, where am I with the word?
Understanding Personal Ambition: A Journey Back to Childhood
As is so often the case with my navel-gazing, soul-searching inner dialogue, it seems to go back to my childhood. It’s almost nauseating how corny that sounds, but that genuinely is where my thoughts arrive from.
Yup.
Understanding personal ambition is a journey back to childhood for me. I was afforded a traditional upbringing—stable home, stable schooling. Ironically, my first memory of ‘running away’ involved protesting overly ambitious Santa letters.
The Influence of a Stable Upbringing on Ambition
Stability was seen as the goal—yet, my ambitions were shaped more by creative desires. From writing and music to love, defining success has always been a fluid concept. There’s no end game, just enjoying the process.
Sadly (or not, actually), I was more interested in hearing what John Peel had to offer me when I was a teenager. Sampling local cider and mastering rolling a fag while cycling were my ambition’s limits.
The Clash of Cultures: Traditional Ambitions vs. Creative Desires
There was always going to be a clash of cultures…
But honestly, as an adult, what have my ambitions been?
I never thought I’d find true love for a start, so that was never an ambition. But what do you know, ta daaaaaa, here I am!
Without realizing it, I think my main ambition was to never have a proper career. TICK.
But I have always wanted to be a writer, a musician, an artist, or a poet. I suppose I formed my personal ambitions and goals based on anything that has a genuine impact on me. Words and music, words and music.
Defining Success: Achievements in Music, Writing, and Love
As it turns out, we can add love to the list.
Does this make my ambition “words, music, and love”?
Sort of, but that’s not really the story here. Take love out of the equation—even though I wake up every single day and pinch myself that I get to share another day with the most wonderful human being I’ve ever met. No, love was never an ‘ambition;’ it was more like winning the lottery with a ticket I hadn’t realized I’d bought.
Music and words. Are they ‘ambitions’ though? Not really. I achieved things I never thought I would: played in a band, played my own songs in a band, heard other people sing my songs, I’ve written for magazines (and even started one back in the day), I’ve written for various fanzines (football and music), and I had a piece published by Metal Hammer magazine once.
And in more recent times, there’s been so much happening with my writing that I’m extremely proud of. But what makes me really proud? I can’t measure this success; there’s no end game. I can’t see there being any “right, now I’ve achieved that, there’s nothing else to work towards” moments. Because I don’t set any goals. So maybe I don’t have ambition at all. I simply enjoy the process, as one popular running podcast puts it.
Running Ambitions: The Endless Pursuit of Personal Goals
Ah yes, running. But how about running? Surely I’ve got running ambitions?
Well yes, for a while back there, I was setting myself goals (ambitions?) to run a certain distance in a certain time or finish in a particular position in a race or beat this or that person. And when I achieved any of this, was I satisfied? Of course not; there’s always a different time to beat, a new distance to run, and a new person to chase.
There is a scene in the film Chariots of Fire where Harold Abrahams has won his gold medal and sits, almost forlorn, in the locker room. When the team quizzes each other, they conclude that “he’s won” was the best explanation. His whole ambition had been to win that medal. Having achieved it, the journey was over, finished. What would he do the next day?
Setting Goals for 2024: A Personal Manifesto
Ambition is different for everyone. People are more ambitious or less ambitious. They might be ambitious in some areas of life but not in others. We’re all different, and that’s what makes life so interesting.
I decided to have some checklists for myself this year, so I guess that qualifies as ambitions? Simply a set of ways I’d like to live my life, something to hold myself to account with. Have a gander.
Writing and Creativity: Staying on Track with Literary Submissions
I started the year making a series of pledges to myself. Not a New Year resolution, more of a map of where I’d like to be heading. I made my manifesto public, and now I’m holding myself to account.
I’m going to submit a minimum of one piece of writing to a literary journal every single week during 2021.
Technically I’ve fallen short, but I have submitted a total of 5 pieces during January, so my average is still good. Amazingly, Unpublishable Zine has already accepted one poem, and they are going to feature a reading of it on an upcoming podcast. I have another poem and a piece of creative nonfiction that I’m building up the courage to submit, so February is already looking strong.
Balancing Ambition and Progress: The Evolution of a Novel
What about my novel? My goal is to write 2,500 words per week on the first draft. By the end of 2021, the draft should be comfortably complete.
I’m behind with this, I can’t lie. Although I have put plenty of work into the plot and the characters. My previously written chapters have been scrapped as I’ve decided to change the narrator. I’ve written about 7,000 words of the reworkings of those chapters and have the basis of the plot and timeline coming together nicely.
My running buddy, my inspiration, my first reader, and my complete world. (The lady in yellow is pretty special too!)
I’ve also met with my first reader, editorial advisor, and plothole filler, who just happens to be my rather gorgeous wife. I say meeting; she patiently listened to me reeling off my ideas for the direction of the book on one of our long dog walks. This was such a valuable exercise, and the change of narrator came from this brainstorming session.
So no, I haven’t written 2,500 words a week, but I have moved the project on dramatically. I’m actually using some of the free resources from the excellent Writers HQ to help me with the plot and characters. I’ve also got a fantastic book, The Creative Writing Course Book, which I picked up the last time we went to an actual bookshop nearly a year ago.
Trail Running and Blogging: Combining Passions for Growth
And As For The Blog I made quite a pledge for this:
I’m going to email at least one ‘trail running character’ every 14 days to see if they fancy being featured. I’m going to add new content to the blog. Every single week,. I’m going to review at least one book a month.
So, my series about trail-running characters was always going to be a long-term project. I emailed three people who wanted to participate and will respond when time permits. I’ve also had somebody decline the invitation!
I’ve written two book reviews and published them during January, for a total of 5 new posts. This included a personal piece about how much Nicky and I love a book or ten.
Daily Journaling: Capturing Ideas for Future Success
The journal (and other scribblings) I shall write in my journal. Every single day, just thoughts. Observations. Even a note to say nothing of note. Never dismiss a thought; it will end up being used somewhere.
In conclusion, This is all over. Every day, I keep a complete record of my writing, reading, and submitting progress. As I do with my running and anything else I feel is noteworthy. This is already paying off—a major’scene’ in the book came from taking the time to write some detail down before I forgot it. I have quite a few ideas while driving the van. I do wonder what customers think I’m scribbling when I’m sitting outside their houses. Without the journal, I’m absolutely sure these thoughts would have been lost to an unreliable memory.
Expanding Horizons: Engaging with the Writing Community
In Other News I’ve upped the game with my Instagram presence. Why? Well, through Twitter, I became friends with a guy who just published his debut novel. He invited me to be part of the ‘blog tour’ that will accompany the launch of the paperback version of Let In The Light. So I was lucky to receive an advance copy of the book. I’m so pleased because I couldn’t put it down; it really is excellent. As I sit here typing, Nicky is already halfway through the book herself. I can’t wait to write a full review.
I would really like to get involved with more book reviewing, and not just in the ad hoc manner I currently am.
The Importance of Continuous Reading for Personal Development
What About My Reading? You should ask, “Funny.” I’m reading Stacey Hall’s The Familiars and Komal Kapoor’s Unfollowing You. As well as dipping into The Creative Writing Course Book. I’ve also got a whole list of podcasts that I listen to in the van (after Ken Bruce, of course). So, no time for news; it’s too miserable anyway.
Engaging with Authors: Insights from Literary Events and Book Reviews
And Finally… I got involved with a Zoom event with Seven Fables, one of my favorite independent bookshops, which was an audience with the writer, Raynor Winn. You know, the Salt Path lady. I bought the book for my mom for Christmas, but obviously bought a copy for myself too.
Raynor was an inspiring speaker, and he was brilliant at answering questions from the audience. There were people from all over the world on the Zoom, including some really quite famous folks from the world of outdoor literature. Just the kind of people I’d love to have on my blog for the Trail Running Characters series!