Friday, November 8, 2024

I Do Not Need Kudos In This Life

I’m just a few months away from reaching age 60 and wanted to make a social media post simply to state that I do not need "kudos" in any aspect of my life. For those unfamiliar with the term 'kudos,' it is praise and honor received for an achievement.

I have raised many children and have several grandchildren. I have held some quality professional positions over the past 40 years, and have accomplished numerous running endeavors. I have done countless speaking engagements in the United States and Europe, and have been fortunate enough to have experienced being a sponsored athlete. I attribute my accomplishments and successes in life to a strong work ethic that was instilled into me at a young age during the 1970s and early 80s.

Any task that I undertake, whether it be professional or personal, is simply for satisfaction of knowing that I am using my God-given gifts to the best of my ability. No, I do not need kudos. Occasionally, I do appreciate encouragement. There is a significant difference between kudos and encouragement.

When I ran solo across the United States for 108 days to keep a promise I had made to a group of school children, I did not receive "kudos" during any of those 3,260 miles. However, I did receive much needed "encouragement" here and there as God orchestrated. Believe me, if I was one to seek kudos, I would have never ran over 500 miles solo across the barren Mojave Desert, turning down an offer that was made before the run for a documentary crew to film it.

In my opinion, doing anything for kudos is quite shallow. Doing things out of passion and tenacity for joy and satisfaction -- and to make a positive impact -- means far more. Please do not interpret anything that I post on social media, or that I do in my professional and personal life, to be a desire to obtain kudos or approval from anyone other than my Creator. One day, I hope to hear God say "Well done, my good and faithful servant."

Gotta Roll,

Paul J. Staso

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Visit my YouTube channel -- https://www.youtube.com/user/pacetrek

Click on any of the links below to see some of my adventure photos: