Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.

– 1 Corinthians 9:24

The primary barrier preventing me from competing in the Olympics has been their over emphasis on sports. The games dogmatically exclude everyone who isn’t a world class athlete. Thankfully, that has changed.

This time around, the most important Olympic event is not a sport. The world is not celebrating victory in gymnastics, cycling, sprinting, archery, swimming, or any other display of athletic skill. This year, the Olympics are dominated by the champions of self-care.

I can absolutely compete in this arena. I’ve been in training my whole life! When the rules of the game are dropping out of the game, I can bring home the gold. I am an expert at throwing in the towel.

However, I don’t think the Olympics would be the best use of my time. My “always say never” attitude will help me succeed in anything I decide to quit doing. I’ve got so much to withhold from the world. The hard part will be deciding which promises to break!

I could be a brain surgeon who postpones surgery after the patient is prepped. I could be a fireman who watches buildings burn while I deal with my issues. I could be a trucker who collapses from the fatigue of long distance driving. I could be a crab fisherman who fears the water. I could open a restaurant that doesn’t serve food because cooking is stressful. Or, I could adjust my comedy act so that instead of going on stage when I’m introduced, I leave the building for the sake of my mental health. (Audiences are judgmental.)

There are literally thousands of things I could not quite accomplish. It’s an exciting time to be alive! The stigma surrounding quitters is gone. Victory belongs to those who don’t finish. Scorn is heaped only on those who suggest that resignation is the same as defeat. If love and support are the reward for breaking down, sign me up!

Here are three of the main benefits to not finishing what you start: