There’s a saying: if you make your garden pretty enough, the butterflies will come. I don’t think happiness is something you can chase or “complete.” I’ve run 2:09 for the marathon, 61:08 for the half, became an Olympian, stood on the Dublin Marathon podium—twice. If happiness were a finish line, surely that would’ve been it.

Balance isn’t autopilot

I’ve had very low points, and lately I’ve felt some wobble—less patience, overreacting to small things. So I’m speaking with a psychiatrist again, plus a new psychologist. These are telltale signs the balance is off. How do I get back in balance? You earn it. You can’t coast to peace; you work for it.

Earned moments of peace

Set goals—big or small—and move toward them. You do a long run, finish a hard interval set, hit a work deadline… and then there’s that feeling: “Nice. We did that.” That’s your moment. Even after something wild like 2:09, maybe you get two days of nice before it’s “what now?”

I’m not going to lie to myself: lately I haven’t been eating great, I’ve overworked, too much screen time. I’m not earning my peace. But I know it—and I’ll do the work. I hope you will too.

Rooting for you.

— Scully

Related videos

• Video from 2 years ago — hard to watch, but 5–6 weeks later I podiumed at Dublin. Life’s not easy; do your best.

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