Rules of the good ship lollipop

One destination with many vehicles.

My destination shows up with all manner of candy coatings camouflaging it's nougat center. I hear them labelled "being at the top of my career field", "being a gold medal athlete", or "making a great living as an artist". But that tasty shell is not the truth - it's not the real destination. This has lead me into all manner of chasing the outsides (or at least the outsides that we think someone else has) and missing the real treat at the heart. Every destination is the same as if i were picking from a variety box of chocolates to find them all filled with cherries. The aim is to create, express and experience Who I Really Am and to allow the universe to shout through me that unique tune only my one voice can carry into a sour world.

There are abundant vehicles to that destination. 12 steps; 140.6 miles; 70 years; good ship lollipop; pick one - or all. The important thing is to get on and hang on.

• Don't let go when it dips through dark valleys - it may be time to rest.  
• Don't hop off in frustration if the ride seems to have slowwed down. Take in the scenery. 
• DO NOT KICK OTHER PASSENGERS OFF THE VEHICLE! When it's their time to leave they will be happy to go. 
• Don't hop off because it seems to travel through strange and smelly country. There are friends I haven't met yet living there. 
• Most especially - do not hop off the vehicle and look for an express line- all the while being convinced that there must be one because that person over there looks like they found it. All of the express trains in life only run backwards!

I say this because I look at the goal for this year and feel truly terrified and still excited by it. I know I won't win. I might not finish. The ironman race isn't the destination. It's a vehicle.