Have you ever been simply blown away by something someone did? So much so that it indirectly motivated you to do something you didn’t think you could do? A few years ago, a close friend of mine completed a bike race that sped over the course of more than two hundred miles. He finished in 9 hours and 11 minutes and his average pace was eleven mph. I don’t know much about biking (aside from indoor spinning), but my reaction was simply…WOW, WOW, WOW.

He prepped his body for months, shredding pounds, training, and making dietary changes to fuel his ride. His transformation both physically and mentally was truly inspirational. What’s more inspirational is his character and will to succeed. In the year prior to his ride, he lost a very close friend to a tragic accident and his father, who too died unexpectedly. I can only imagine the release he felt when he crossed that finish line. And I hope that biking can continue to be therapeutic for him. As I told him, “There are no limits to what he can do.”

We all have experienced tragedies in our life, surely that doesn’t mean we all need to ride a two-hundred-mile bike ride to start “mending our wounds,” but taking care of our minds and our bodies is crucial in the healing process and it’s never too late to start.

My friend’s ride motivated me to start running again. Running has always been cathartic to me. I love the runners high, and I do my best thinking when I run. In the past, I have told my husband, that when I run, I have created plans to “save the world and build businesses.” I haven’t done either yet, but I am working on it.

But running and my body don’t really mesh well anymore. I find that running makes me inflamed and affects my hips in ways it never did before. Yet, inspired by my friend, I was determined to get going. On a glorious sunny, spring day, I drove myself to Jones Beach State Park and ran the health loop – 2 miles there and two miles back. I sent my husband a text, “two plus two equals four.” It may not sound like much, especially to avid runners, but it was one of the best runs of my life. Sure, I ached from time to time, but my brain was clear and strong. It set the tone of my entire day.

After that run, I reached out to my friend and thanked him for indirectly motivating me to start running again. He said, “Awesome, go get-em.” He helped me without knowing he was helping me. We probably don’t realize it, but we are surrounded by indirect motivation every single day. I honestly believe that if you are open to it, you’ll find it. An experience or event may trigger an innate goal or feeling and for others it may be less obvious. I say, go out there and “Go Get-Em.”

Have you ever been indirectly motivated?