Buon giorno to you all.
It's 6:38am right now, and I'm sat out on the delightful little balcony outside my bedroom window, overlooking the picturesque mix of mountains, sun, sea and sand that belongs to Sardinia, an island just off the Italian coast.
It's a beautiful place.
Only eight days separated this family holiday to Sardinia and my three-week interrailing trip around Europe with my friends
.
And yes, I do realise how lucky and privileged I am to have the opportunity to travel to so many places and see so many things.
I've never travelled this much in my life, which is why I never take any of it for granted, and why I try to make the most of every second.
That’s why I woke up at 6am this morning.
It’s why, despite several physical ailments, I jumped at the chance to go on a seven-hour gorge walk with my family a few days ago.
A splitting headache, neck pain and a sore back have all been my faithful travelling companions from the start of this trip.
But, to me, to say no to the gorge walk would have been selfish, spoilt and self-centered.
I want to see as much of Sardinia as possible (and of any place I get to visit).
So do my family.
How on earth can I prevent us all from getting to do so?
So I did the walk anyway.
After descending from the mountains for a couple of hours, we clambered over boulders in the Canyon Gorropu (below) before a nasty three-hour uphill climb.
This was all in the sizzling sun of Sardinian summer.
I can’t lie, it was tough.
It probably didn’t help my headache.
But was it worth it?
Absolutely.
I got to see some breathtaking beauty in a part of the world I’d never visited before, and might never visit again.
(Check out our Something Extra at the end to see exactly what I mean).
So maybe it’s because of the scorching heat, or the cumulative effect of exams and lots of travelling, but over the past few days my body has felt as though it’s been grinding to a halt.
This has resulted in me lacking motivation.
“Motivation for what?” you might ask. “You’re on holiday.”
Let me explain.
This is about motivation to not waste time oversleeping, to exercise, and - primarily - to ensure I make the most of every second I get to spend with my family.
But motivation is not enough.
Motivation will eventually let you down.
Did you read that?
It’s crucial.
I nearly made it the heading of this blog post:
Motivation will eventually let you down.
It’s only temporary.
Short-lived.
It isn't sustainable.
It’s the quick buzz you get from watching a motivational speaker or video.
On the days when you really, really don’t feel like doing what you must – Test Days – it won’t be enough.
When you would rather do anything in the world but go for a run, or send another email, or make another call, that’s a Test Day.
Andy Frisella's concept of Test Days is something we all have to go through, and more often than we'd like.
We just have to accept them, embrace them, and conquer them.
So, going back to Canyon Gorropu, I realised that I was indeed experiencing a Test Day.
I did not want to trek up and down a gorge in the baking Sardinian heat, no matter how pretty the view.
But I got up and did it anyway.
With my headache and other ailments, both the day of the gorge walk and the subsequent days were tough.
My body was crying out for recovery.
And I did give myself time to rest.
But not at the cost of anything else important.
I still had plenty of time for my family, but made sure I got enough high quality sleep for a few nights.
And, funnily enough, I now feel close to fully recovered and raring to go again.
Overcoming Test Days are one of the biggest keys to success.
And the thing that gets you through it, is not motivation.
It’s inspiration.
“Come on now”, I hear you scoff, “That’s just a synonym for motivation.”
No. It. Isn't.
Your inspiration is the biggest, largest, hugest driving factor in everything you do.
It gets you to persevere towards a dream when all motivation has disappeared.
Motivation is Temporary: Inspiration is Permanent.
Remember that.
Motivation is easy to come by, and it runs out fast.
Inspiration, true inspiration, can be hard to find.
But once you have it, it sticks and it will completely fuel you.
For me, making it to New York City with my fellow Aspirer is my biggest inspiration.
Once you have that inspiration (you can have several, for different goals in different areas of life), it’s easier to overcome the Test Days.
It helps you get moving, as once you break through that feeling of inertia, momentum will shift and you will instantly feel better.
That will move you onto the next thing you need to get done, then the next, and before you know it you’ve turned a day of seemingly insurmountable tasks and chores into a success.
THIS GIVES YOU MASSIVE CONFIDENCE.
Overcoming a Test Day is an incredibly rewarding experience.
Probably more so than crushing a day when you feel on form.
That’s easy.
Anyone can do well when they are feeling good.
It’s those who can do it when they don’t feel good that truly succeed.
Because they learn how to do it anyway.
In the inspiration vs motivation contest, there’s only one winner…
The Test Day Formula = Inspiration > Motivation.
Adopt it, reap the reward, and remember that You’ll Never Walk Alone.
Until the next time…
Alex (N.Y.A.)
P.S. - I am writing this now while in Sardinia, but due to poor WiFi I will have to wait until I'm back in England to post it.
Something Extra
This time, I simply want to bring the sheer beauty of Sardinia alive.
Just for you.
As a fairly large island just off Italy’s west coast, Sardinia is often said to have its own culture, quite separate from mainland Italy.
It has it’s own unique flag, landscape and gastronomy, much to the pride of the locals.
From this balcony I'm on right now in the small town of Porto Ottiolu (below), I can see the varied scenery that personifies Sardinia...
The perfectly clear, smooth sea glistens invitingly in the sun; the waves lapping gently at the pristine white sand that runs along the cove. There's an appeasing mix of luscious green trees and quaint russet houses that populate most of the area. The marina contains of boats of all sizes - from grand and impressive house boats to smaller, nippier yachts - and it snakes its way through the town, predominant everywhere; here, the waterfront is the town centre. The enticing scent of cooking seafood, pasta and pizza wafts up to my nostrils, no doubt coming from one of the numerous (and excellent) waterside restaurants. Maybe there's even a hint of wild boar, a local speciality. A gentle sea breeze tickles my face, offering a brief respite from the ever-present heat. I can hear live music; the light hum of boat engines; the gentle splash of soft waves; the talk and laughter of happy people.
The town is touristy, but so far I’ve heard and seen very few Brits; it seems to be more Italians from the mainland coming out here for their own summer holiday.
I like this, as it means that almost all that my family and I are hearing is Italian.
None of us are fluent, but this good exposure means that we can try to pick up bits and pieces of the language here and there.
It all adds up.
Hard work is always necessary, but it’s important to enjoy yourself and relax as well.
And to never take anything good for granted.
That said, it’s time to put down my laptop and get back in the sea.
It won’t be long before I’m back home in cloudy England.
I need to make the most of now.
So, until then, I'll leave you with a sublime Sardinian sunrise ... and me.
