Excess does not equal success – 

Have you ever had a peak experience? A peak experience is a moment accompanied by a euphoric mental state often achieved by self-actualizing individuals. The concept was originally developed by Abraham Maslow in 1964, who described peak experiences as “rare, exciting, oceanic, deeply moving, exhilarating, elevating experiences that generate an advanced form of perceiving reality, and are even mystic and magical in their effect upon the experimenter.” I have a peak experience almost every time I run. I call it “passing through the portal” and it usually happens at about mile 3 or 4.

This morning the portal appeared just as I was approaching Hoboken terminal, as I ran along the Hudson river.  The station was filled with commuters on their way into NYC for another day’s work. I was feeling so good and in tune with the universe that I smiled at the rush hour commuters as I approached them. That was the peak experience. I weaved my way through the busy station on my way to the bathroom to get a drink of water before heading up the Hudson for another 3 miles. 

The revelation that I had running through the terminal came when I looked up at the glorious stained glass ceiling designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany. It is truly amazing and literally takes my breath away every time I see it. This morning though, the terminal was filled with commuters shuffling along on their way to the PATH trains with their faces in their iPhones. Not one of them returned the smiles that I sent their way, not one was looking up at the beauty soaring above their heads. They were literally sleep-walking through life. Others, I perceived, were experiencing a sort of fashion nightmare – but, that’s another post for another day. I was struck by the state of our culture at the moment. We have been sucked into a digital-dumb-down that’s stealing the beauty of the world right from under our noses.

As I exited the station and glimpsed the empire state building winking at me from across the Hudson, the idea came to me that excess does not equal success.  The morning’s sleepwalkers had reminded me that the daily grind, or rat race if you will, does not necessarily deliver what it promises us. Sometimes, we need to step back from what society deems as successful and reevaluate what it means to be successful for us as individuals. For me, the fresh crisp fall air, the glistening waters of the Hudson, the stunning views of Manhattan and a 6.5 mile run before I start my day, are more than enough success for the entire day. Anything else that happens to me today is just gravy.  That’s my peak experience thought for the day. Enjoy the beauty that is contained in every moment. You may never experience it in quite the same way ever again.