I congratulate and applaud all those who challenge themselves in various physical ways to find out what they are made of. Taking on personal quests such as walking the Appalachian Trail or participating in strenuous endurance events provides both an opportunity to test limits and experience new possibilities. These pursuits teach us about ourselves and lead to increased self-confidence and self-esteem. They can also prepare us for the ultimate challenge.

That challenge is finding the difference we were born to make and a purpose worth the rest of our days. That purpose may be found on the side of a steep mountain or along a wilderness bike trail. But, for those who have run their personal marathons, it is more often found in their own life story and narrative. It arrives in the form of a question, one they truly do not know the answer to, but one that will integrate everything they are and can be. It arrives with proof, a visceral rush that cracks open what needs to be cracked open.