Marathon race.....

As happens in all development activities, we have been joined by a new friend Mr. Ravi  Ramkrishnan who has long experience in writing on a variety of topics. He has a very good grip, and power of expression.

Today onward, his posts will be shared here. These posts were originally posted in a WhatsApp Group sometimes ago, but to make a larger audience reach/read good English, they are being reposted here-

Reposting Date 17th April 2022  

Good Morning, 

Trust you are fresh as mint, after a good night's sleep. 

"Marathon" is not an unfamiliar word. We keep using it, often casually. "It was a Marathon session",  "I have had Marathon preparations", " He speaks in a Marathon manner", and "The batsman played a Marathon inning" are common expressions. 

However, "Marathon" has a historical origin, which is part of the rich Greek history. The "Marathon run" is accredited to the  Greek runner Phidippides, who ran an amazing distance of 26 miles 385 yards nonstop, to convey an important and urgent message from his country to the neighboring one, to seek help, in the event of an invasion. He reached his destination as planned, and had enough strength to convey the message before giving up his life, out of extreme fatigue. A classic example of martyrdom. Since then, in commemoration of this historic run, the Marathon run has become an important event of the Olympics, which again has its origin in Greece. 

All this is common knowledge.

 I seek your attention to the word "Marathon". What thoughts get generated upon coming across the word? What does "Marathon" connote? Do the likes of Usain Bolt, PT Usha, Milkha Singh, represent the understanding of "Marathon"? Or, to go back to " Hare and Tortoise story in the Aesop's Fables, who depicts the "Marathon runner" more precisely, the hare or the tortoise?

Is being "Slow & Steady" more apt as a requirement for the "Marathon" run or being "Speed & Superfast" better suited? 

Some thoughts to ponder over. Whatever might be your thinking, it is certain that running the "Marathon" is not everyone's cup of tea, both physically and metaphorically. 

Yet, those blessed, chosen few who do take part in the "Marathon" run of the worldly existence and life are storehouses of virtues like faith and confidence (both in self and in the higher power), patience, determination, hope, zeal, a strong sense of commitment, perseverance and endurance. The "Never Say Die" spirit is the driving force. The Marathoners are never over-ambitious, nor are people with short-term objectives. Neither are the people who like to cut corners, adopting "smart" techniques to attain their goals, while quality and purity take a back seat, becoming compromised in the process. The Marathoner is not swayed by the cheers and boos of the bystanders and the watchers, nor is he/she affected by the bouquets and the brickbats that get showered. "Arise, awake, and stop not till the goal is reached" is the mantra of the Marathoner. The humble tortoise is an apt personification of the Marathoner, not the overconfident hare. 

So, the bottom line is to be "Steady and Stable in whatever you do, instead of being hurried and harried in the long run. That's how the Marathon should be run. 

Like the post? Totally? To some extent? Too dry and sterile? 

Just let me know. 

Have a fun-filled day and a fabulous week. 

Ravi Ramakrishna, 

Member, Team Write Better.