Dancing on the Edge
Can a genius be satisfied with the mundane and the status quo? I was watching a documentary on movie producer and director Sam Peckinpah. His approach made me thing about this. He was always dancing on the edge, pushing the envelope on what could be done in film. It got me thinking that this was also true in human athletic performance. To be the absolute best, you have to push the envelope; you must dance on the edge. The difference between highest level athlete performance and sickness and injury are balancing on a razor edge. It is almost like you have to be a gunfighter; you must be on the edge, living with the constant realization that there is always someone out there who could be faster. I am convinced that is why so many athletes will not retire and when they do they have a tough transition to normal life. High level competition and training is an almost constant rush, an adrenaline high necessary to get to the top and stay there.
