24-077 Triumphant

The Mandala Lady, , , , , , , , , ,

Triumphant

”having achieved a great success”

The key to being triumphant is how you define success. One person’s failure is another person’s success. For instance, back in 1989 I ran the 4th Annual L.A. Marathon. And as it turns out today is the 39th running of the L.A. Marathon—the timing of this post was not planned.

How I determined my success with running that race would determine how I would feel at the end of the race. Some of my “success” options (realistic and unrealistic) could have been:

  • win the race
  • win it in my age bracket
  • run it at a 9-minute mile pace
  • run the entire race
  • walk the entire race
  • I showed up — didn’t necessarily finish
  • I at least finished it

Instead, a few days before the race I went with setting an intention with how I wanted to finish the race. I wanted to cross the finish line running, with a smile on my face. I also intended to have fun with it. I wore mickey mouse ears, I had a sign on my back the jokingly said “after this I’m going to Disneyland”, and I had a disposable camera to take pictures all along the route (this was pre-smartphones).

In the end I felt triumphant with the race I ran. I finished it— after 5 hours and 40 minutes (over 3,000 people crossed the finish line AFTER me). I had fun—yes it was grueling at times. People responded positively to what I was wearing. I had a smile on my face when I jogged across the finish line. I ran all but the 16th mile—I walked that one so as to regroup my energy.

I was triumphant. The key takeaway for all of us here is how we define success.

How about you? Is being triumphant a core value for you?

BTW…this is what it looked like before I started…

joyfully,

Maureen
The Mandala Lady

inspiring and encouraging creativity, curiosity, and play through the art of mandalas

About the 2024 Mandalas of the Day

Each day I will create and post a mandala inspired by one of 366 “value” words chosen randomly. The objective being to discover for myself which ones would best represent my core values…and by doing so, I hope it inspires you to determine your own.

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Published by The Mandala Lady

My Mission: connecting with our Inner Light in delightful, inspiring ways For me, creating mandalas is more than just coloring pretty patterns in a circle. I do it because my spiritual evolution and creativity require it of me. My mandala designs come about within an active meditative state, connected with my higher self, my spiritual guides and nature spirits. Together, we bring into form, mandala art the allows me to re-connect with my own inner peace and joy, letting me explore and expand my own creative spirit to however far and in whatever direction I want to take it. As part of my own spiritual journey, I encourage, and hopefully inspire, others to explore their own creativity, to help them re-connect with their own inner peace and joy. As a means to that end, I make all of my mandalas available for people to color. Why should I have all the fun?

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