I guess I should start this blog out by mentioning I typically am not a race enthusiast of any form. Although there was a particular summer vacation when we went to the Greyhound Races and I had a blast. My non-scientific approach to picking the dogs purely on “how cute they were” actually brought a take home of around a $100. Which for piddly $2 bets, I was pretty happy!  But, I digress.

We are in horse racing season – or so I hear – with the Triple Crown races on going currently. The Kentucky Derby, The Preakness and Belmont. As it turns out, this non-race watcher has enjoyed watching the two races so far. In an unlikely turn of events, a horse named I’ll Have Another has won both the Derby and Preakness so far. Why an unlikely turn of events?

He is a very young horse who has a young, new jockey and has not been favored at all to win the races. Also, in both races his biggest competition was Bodiemeister who runs ridiculously fast times. In both races, Bodiemeister led the entire race many lengths ahead of the other horses. In the Derby, I’ll Have Another pushed in the last stretch to win by a length and a half.

Watch what happened in the Preakness.  It is amazing! The video is the entire 2:05 race but it is worth every second you spend on it.

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I’ll Have Another wins by a neck as he pushes for the finish line to overcome the favored winner.

 I’ll Have Another (9), ridden by Mario Gutierrez, beats Bodemeister, ridden by Mike Smith, to the finish line to win the 137th Preakness Stakes horse race at Pimlico Race Course, Saturday, May 19, 2012, in Baltimore.(AP Photo/Matt Slocum) (AP2012)

So what does all of this have to do with Purpose? Everything in my opinion!

We all have a dream, a goal, a passion, a purpose that we want to see fulfilled. It may be something that is really more of a hobby than it is a “job”. It might be something that you put down a long time ago because you felt there were too many obstacles. It is time to take it off the shelf, dust it off and go for it NOW!

Take the story of  I’ll Have Another for a moment. He was considered an underdog going into these races. He was assessed and perceived as not being able to do something so crazy as win two races out of the Triple Crown and on his way to win the third. Which incidentally has not been done since 1978 and only by 12 horses ever in the history of this sport.

At the start it was the list of reasons why he couldn’t do it. He’s too young. He’s new. He hasn’t raced. His jockey, Mario, is an unknown. His trainer is “colorful” (that’s the word they keep using to describe him). His competition has great records of success. And on and on and on.

Is this a familiar litany of excuses in your own head? Can you relate?

If we are bold enough to get into the race, then you had better be bold enough to finish it and finish it well. Your race is your journey not anyone elses. Don’t even worry about them – they are in their own race. Your journey isn’t a competition against someone’s it is YOURS. Are you going to run it? Are you going to live it? Are you never going to give up?

Just like in the 2012 Preakness, you can push forward that last stretch towards a goal you have and win it by a neck. Nothing is impossible. Sure, you may have to course correct at times and the finish line may even look different by the time you get down to the last leg. But, did you pursue the goal with a heart of passion and never quit?

I encourage you to go for it today! Reignite a dream with new passion. You have my support and you’d be surprised about the support of others around you when you take a step of faith.

You have purpose. You have dreams. You have a passion inside of you. Take the journey to reconnect with it and discover how you will walk it out. You never know where it will lead. You could be in your own race for the Triple Crown in life.

Never Give Up!