Until The Race Is Run Don Martinez

Success-simply defined as "the accomplishment of an aim or target; the achievement of popularity or profit".  For many of us, especially the Type A's of the world (such as myself), the quest for success is a driving force.  We construct our lives around the concept.  My career, my lifestyle, my education are all focused around this nebulous "prize" that I wanted to achieve.  How many times have I deconstructed and reconstructed my life in order to achieve "a dream"?   Somehow, I have often found myself feeling as though my dream never measured up.  Despite all that I have earned and worked for, it just wasn't enough.  Oddly, I realized I was never asking myself the right question.  Who defines my success?
Reflecting on life, I realize that what I once used to drive my success is no longer what I see my success as.  As I have gotten older, I realize that I am successful, but on my terms, and not those that other place on me.  In this episode, I explore the concept of success and how while it can be a motivator-it can also become a noose.  It started with a simple Facebook post, that really got me thinking. Hopefully, it will also encourage you to think about success and decide what truly matters most in YOUR life, on YOUR terms.
Thank you for continuing to listen.  Look for new episodes on the 1st and 15th of each month!  Please like, share, comment as you see fit.  Be sure to subscribe to the podcast and leave a review if you feel up to it!

Welcome back to the podcast!
After 2 years, I am pleased to share the newest episode of Until the Race Is Run.  It has been a long time coming, and I am thrilled to be back at it!  In this episode, I reflect back on the times I have felt uncomfortable in my own skin.  I explore my feelings and the reasons why I was so uncomfortable.  Ultimately, I have come to realize that often the times I have felt the most uncomfortable were the times I have seen sides of myself that I do not like.
Further, I look at how being uncomfortable has kept me from many different things in life, including possible friendships and opportunities.  More importantly, I look how some of this translates into my current life. I have struggled to learn to navigate those who have significantly different beliefs than I do.  Ultimately, I am learning how to navigate those differences and embrace them.
Thank you for being a part of the ride and I hope you enjoy this latest episode!

Exciting update to share regarding the podcast and its return!  Mark your calendars for February 15th, when the first episode of Season 2 drops..."In My Skin".  Until then, take a quick listen to see where I have been and what's coming up!

As  2018 dawns in front of us, let's dive in together and start the year off on a strong note!  Today, I dive into the concept and topic of "approval".  It is a mystical topic that many of us spend our lives chasing, but often times, come up short.  We spend our lives chasing the approval of others, in the end, forgetting to live for ourselves.  Our constant need for validation moves us away from being our true selves. As I reflect on my life, I know this has been a topic I have always struggled with.  Today, I share with you a time that I learned a very difficult lesson about approval.  At the time, it was mind-blowing, I actually got a "C" on an assignment in school!  Looking back, I realize that in reality there were much bigger lessons to be learned.  As we grow older, and our interpersonal relationships change, its not the grades that matter, but rather our own relationships. Need for approval and validation can shift the balance of power in a relationship.  Consequently, a relationship built on mutual love and respect is now a power struggle when approval is involved.  As a result, the relationship is no longer on equal ground, one person is always trying to appease the other. Over time, this leads to resentment and outright hostility. As always, thank you for joining me!  I look forward to meeting you back for Episode 29 on January 15th!

 Inspiration is all around us.  Often, we can find inspiration in the simplest of things.   A warm sunset, a baby's laugh, even the opening of a flower can inspire us.  Really, we can find inspiration in just about anything, depending upon how deep we are willing to look.  However, how many of us really stop to realize that maybe the greatest inspiration in life are those around us?  Do we move through life taking those around us for granted?  Never recognizing how they can inspire us to achieve. As I reflect back on the last two years in my life, I realize I have been to many great places.  I have achieved goals and dreams that I never thought possible.  I have seen personal growth and development in ways that I never would have envisioned.  However, as I look back, I realize that none of this is happening in a vacuum.  Sure, it has been my vision, my goals, my dreams that I have worked on.  My will power and my determinations have pushed me to these new places.  Additionally, I realize there was another strong element that helped me succeed and grow, and that was the people around me.  So many people have inspired and encouraged me along the way, Today, I share with you what all of these people have meant to me.  I share how I have been able to grow because I surround myself with like minded people.  More and more I realize how important it is to surround myself with people who inspire me and encourage me to be my best ever. I also recognize how important  it is to help other people achieve their hopes and dreams as well.  When it comes down to it, we are all a global community and our greatest asset in life is each other! Thanks for being a part of the journey and I will see you on December 1st with the next episode!

Transformation-that mystical process in life where we move from one state to the other.  Over and over, I talk about change as part of life, a necessary part of our existence.  Change can be good, or bad, but it always happens.  Today I share with you the time I made a leap and set my life on a new path.  Two years ago, frustrated with being fat and tired, I got up, walked into a gym. Glad to say, I haven't stopped moving since.  I still can't believe how long it took me to become active! I share with you my thoughts and fears as I started this process.  Reflecting, I realize that so many other times in my life fear and uncertainty have bled into my life choices and made me pull away from what I really wanted.  Time and again, I let the voice inside slow me down or take me away from what I truly wanted.  Consequently, I have learned to realize that the only barrier in achieving any goal I have wanted has truly been my own voice.  So often, the limits we have are the limits we set for ourselves.  Limiting ourselves keeps us safe, keeps us comfortable.  Adjusting to new ways of living is often frightening and daunting, keeping us from growing. Now, I celebrate and embrace change.  Embracing transformation has helped me grow in all areas of my life.  I invite you to join me as I talk about  my own transformation.  Share with me my story, as you begin to write your own!  Finally, live your life the way you want to, with no limitations! Thanks for being a part of the journey, and I look forward to sharing the next episode with you on November 15th! One Small Step-One Year Later: Blog entry I wrote last year reflecting my journey