“Forward isn’t always an option. Movement always is.”
Hey Rollers,
I’ve just finished a gym session, found myself a sunny corner and a strong coffee, and I keep coming back to the same questions:
Why do I start this newsletter with “Hey Rollers”? And why do I always sign off with “Keep rolling”? You’re all smart enough to have put 2 + 2 together but I realise I’ve never actually articulated it.
I’m not a jiu-jitsu guy (they roll on mats). I don’t roll smokes (I don’t even know what the cool kids call them anymore). And you won’t catch me doing roly-polies in the park (I get motion sickness).
So why Rollers?
Because it’s a reminder that when we choose to keep moving, eventually things happen. And I want things to happen for you, and me.
Notice I didn’t say moving forward. Sometimes forward isn’t possible, or smart. Sometimes you need to move sideways, or even take a step back. But the point is, you’re still moving. You’re still rolling.
It’s why I love the dung beetle as a symbol.
They take a ball of crap, bigger than themselves, and keep rolling it uphill, over obstacles, across impossible terrain. Forwards, sideways, backwards. They don’t get paralysed by the size of the task. They just keep rolling.
This week I got reminded of that in two ways:
1. Running again after shoulder surgery.
Nine weeks post-op, I’ve been cleared to run again. The moment my shoes hit the tar, my body reminded me of what I’ve built up over years, even if I’m not quite back there yet. The evidence is banked. The past nine weeks weren’t what I wanted to do, but I kept moving how I needed to. That’s what the bigger picture required.
2. Five green lights in a row.
On the way to the gym this morning I hit 5/5 green lights. That has literally never happened before. It’s such a tiny thing, but it struck me as the perfect metaphor. Sometimes life really is about momentum. You keep rolling through the reds long enough, eventually you catch a run of greens.
I’ve lived my life by the motto of keep rolling. Not blindly trudging forward but often moving on when I needed to. I’ve had my share of reds, but it feels like the greens are finally lining up, only because I’ve kept rolling.
Rolling is not rushing or always pushing. Sometimes it’s a pause, sometimes it’s a detour, sometimes it’s just surviving the day. It’s the art of patience coupled with intentional direction.
When you choose to pause, reflect, pick your line, and keep rolling, you stay in the game. And that’s everything.
Until next week, Rollers…
Keep rolling.
Justin 👊
Take Action in 3 Minutes: Roll in Three Directions
To keep rolling is to keep moving – forward, sideways, or even back.
- Forward: What’s one step that moves you closer to your goal?
- Sideways: Where do you need to try a different angle because the current approach isn’t working?
- Backward: What’s one thing you need to pause, stop, or step away from?
Pick one action in each direction and commit to it this week.
👉 Big or small doesn’t matter. Momentum > stuck.