Living in a world of instant gratification can be challenging for young people, especially when the things they want to happen just don't seem to happen when they should. 'Lord, give me patience and give it to me now!" could very well be theirs, and our, mantra.
Watching the success of Cadel Evans in the Tour de France puts that all in balance. On the podium in Paris he completed a journey that started some 20 years ago, but perhaps in a more focussed sense, after his failure at the Sydney Olympics.
This is no overnight success. It took a long time, it required great commitment and deep self-belief, especially when he came so close a couple of times and suffered injury and disappointment over and over again.
Yet he did not give up. He recognised that life, like grand tour racing is about the journey, not the destination. In this case 21 stages and 3,430.5 kilometres. In his case 20 years of training, training and more training; of falling off and getting back on; of being let down by others and just falling short.
Interesting to note that it was a busted shoulder before the Sydney Olympics which resulted in him turning from mountain biking to road racing. He is now the most complete rider of the modern era having won both the world championships and the most prestigious grand tour.
It is about the journey and about perserverence. Achieving your best will always require hardwork and time. Lfe is indeed a journey, not a destination.
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