Rushing to the Finish Line: A Story Unlived

Have you ever read a book just to finish it? You flip through the pages, eyes darting across words that barely sink in, eager to get to the end, to check it off your list. “Done.” But in the rush to finish, the characters become hollow, the plot a blur, and in the end, what did you really gain? A sense of accomplishment perhaps—but hollow, devoid of meaning, depth, and value.

That’s been me. Not just with books, but with life. I’ve often found myself running toward the next goal, the next task, believing things would be better when I got there. But somewhere along the way, I realised I wasn’t really living the story, I was just ticking boxes. It wasn’t until recently that this pattern smacked me in the face, and of all things, it happened during my coaching journey.

You see, I was so laser-focused on my end goal—setting up my coaching business—that I lost sight of what was right in front of me. The richness of the coaching course, the growth that comes from the coaching experience, the connections, the learning moments—I skimmed through it all. I was so busy racing to the finish line that I wasn’t absorbing the journey. The irony of wanting to become a coach but not being fully present in my own coaching experience wasn’t lost on me.

Coaching, by its very nature, is about being present. It's about listening—truly listening—to what is being said, heard, felt, and seen. It requires you to be here, in the now, not sprinting toward a future that hasn't arrived yet. But there I was, rushing through my sessions, thinking, "What’s next?" instead of, "What’s here?"

This pattern of looking ahead, of believing things will be better when I get there, had been the story of my life. But what I realised is that if you don’t engage with the story as it’s unfolding, if you don't get to know the characters, embrace the highs and lows, and immerse yourself in the plot—then what’s the point of reaching the end? A tick on a list, but no substance.

It’s a lesson I’m learning—slowly and sometimes painfully. Life, like a good book, isn’t just about the final chapter. It’s about the story that unfolds, the characters you meet along the way, and the moments that make it worth reading in the first place.

So now, instead of rushing to finish, I’m pausing. I’m letting myself be in the moment, soaking in the experience, and allowing the journey to unfold. And in doing so, I’m finding more meaning, more value, and yes, more depth in the process.

Because if life is a story, it’s meant to be lived, not just finished.

A little food for thought: What about you? Is there something in your life you’re racing through, just to tick it off the list? Are you speeding past the moments that make it worth doing in the first place?

Maybe it’s time to pause for a moment. What’s here, right now, that’s worth noticing, enjoying, or learning from? We’ve all rushed through life at one point or another—whether it’s a project, a goal, or even a conversation—but in the end, what are we really gaining? Perhaps it's not about getting to the finish line, but about being present in the race.

And who knows? Maybe if you slow down just a little, you’ll discover something that makes the journey far more worthwhile.