“All world's a stage, and all men and women merely players…”

The world as stage is a useful metaphor because world offers many stages, just as actors can perform in a local amateur production or on Broadway or in a blockbuster movie.

We perform on a stage of appropriate size and character.

The stage upon which we feel at home represents a kind of uppermost limit to our achievements.

Call this one’s comfort zone or level of incompetence, stage sets our scope and boundaries.

If you aspire to do bigger and better things, you have to get used to bigger and better stages.

If you want to surpass yourself, regardless of issue, you have to get accustomed to a new and more expansive stage.

This may take some mental adjusting.

Genshin Fujinami, 44, recently finished a bit of exercise.

Over 7 years, he covered 24,800 miles.

A Buddhist priest of Tendai sect in Japan, “the Marathon Monk” is only 46th monk since 1885 to complete this ancient running ritual through Hiei Mountains, a range of 5 peaks that rise above Kyoto.

The ritual dates to 8th century and is considered a path to enlightenment.

In each of first 3 years, pilgrim rises at midnight for 100 consecutive days, prays, and runs 18 miles, stopping along way for more prayer 250 times.

In next 2 years, he extends this regimen to 200 days.

In winter, aspirant gets a break.