“Monday 5 Things” ….. Life From the Rolex 24 …..
The Ferris wheel at the International Carousel at the Rolex 24, Photo D. Paul Graham / imageGRAHAM, LLC
Another Rolex 24 is in the books, and as always it’s been a weekend of catching up with friends, sleepless nights, roaring engines, madly processing images, and soul-stirring moments under the lights at Daytona International Speedway. Somewhere between the driver changes, the pit stops, and that 3 a.m. fog when time feels like a construct invented to keep us sane, I couldn’t help but see life reflected in the race. This morning’s M5T looks at some metaphors for life I considered as I chased images through my lens this weekend.
1. LIFE IS AN ENDURANCE RACE, NOT A SPRINT. The Rolex 24 isn’t about the fastest lap—it’s about surviving the grind. Just like life, it’s the steady, consistent effort that gets you to the finish line. There will be moments when you’re flying down the straights at 200 mph, and moments when you’re limping into the pits with a flat tire. The key? Keep going. Patch what’s broken, refuel your tank, and get back out there. The Rolex 24 is a marathon for machines, drivers, and teams alike. Cars that go flat-out every lap without managing fuel, tires, or the engine never make it to the end. Life works the same way—you can’t just live in fifth gear, redlining all the time. Pace matters. You’ll have moments of acceleration, but you’ll also need to downshift, catch your breath, and play the long game. Success isn’t about burning bright and burning out; it’s about finding a rhythm that allows you to sustain your drive through life’s challenges and changes.
2. YOU’VE GOT TO TRUST YOUR CREW. In racing, a driver’s job is to focus on the road ahead. The crew? They’re the ones who manage the strategy, keep the car running, and make adjustments on the fly. In life, your pit crew is your family, your friends, your mentors. You can’t win this race alone. Find people you trust, lean on them, and let them keep you grounded when the chaos of the track gets overwhelming. Even the most talented driver can’t win a 24-hour race alone. A team of engineers, strategists, and mechanics is constantly working in the background to keep everything running smoothly. In life, your pit crew are the people who have your back: your family, friends, colleagues, or mentors. They see things you can’t from inside the cockpit. Maybe they notice you’re pushing too hard, or they spot an opportunity you’re too focused to catch. Trusting others is hard but letting them help you steer through life’s tight corners can make all the difference between crashing and crossing the finish line.
3. NIGHTFALL ISN’T THE END—IT’S JUST ANOTHER PHASE. When darkness falls at Daytona, the race doesn’t stop. It transforms. Visibility shrinks, and the stakes feel higher, but the drivers adapt. Life’s dark moments aren’t the end of the road—they’re a chance to recalibrate and rely on the skills you’ve honed in the daylight. Embrace the darkness. It’s part of the race. At Daytona, the nighttime hours are legendary. The track transforms into something almost surreal, lit by headlights and glowing brake rotors. The darkness demands more focus, adaptability, and confidence in your instincts. Life’s metaphorical nightfall—those times when things feel uncertain or overwhelming—requires the same approach. You might not see the whole road ahead, but you can navigate step by step. It’s also in these moments that your preparation and resilience show their worth. Remember, the sun always rises. The darkness is temporary, and it often brings clarity and strength you didn’t know you had.
4. YELLOW FLAGS HAPPEN—SLOW DOWN, REGROUP, AND RESTART. In racing, a yellow flag brings everyone to a slower pace. It’s not a punishment; it’s a reset. Life throws its own caution flags—burnout, setbacks, mistakes. These moments aren’t failures—they’re opportunities to assess, breathe, and come back stronger. Don’t see them as a loss of time; see them as a chance to prepare for the next green flag. When a crash or hazard brings out the yellow flag in racing, everyone slows down and regroups. It’s a pause, not an end to the race. Life’s setbacks can feel like you’re losing momentum, but they’re just yellow flags—a chance to reevaluate, reset, and come back smarter. Maybe it’s a career detour, a relationship stumble, or a moment of self-doubt. The key is to recognize that these pauses are not failures but opportunities to strategize and prepare for the next green flag. Sometimes the best thing you can do is take your foot off the throttle, catch your breath, and wait for the right moment to accelerate again.
5. CELEBRATE THE SMALL VICTORIES. At the Rolex 24, even a clean driver change, or a well-executed pit stop gets a cheer from the team. Why? Because every small win contributes to the bigger picture. Life works the same way. Don’t wait until the checkered flag to celebrate—acknowledge the little triumphs along the way. They’re the fuel that keeps you going. Races are won lap by lap, not in one single moment. Every successful pit stop, clean overtake, or lap completed without mechanical issues is cause for celebration. Similarly, in life, the big milestones are rare—the championship wins, the career breakthroughs—but the small victories are everywhere. Did you finish that project you were dreading? Did you show up for a friend when they needed you? Did you get through a tough week? Celebrate those. They’re the building blocks of a fulfilling life. The more you notice and appreciate the small wins, the more motivated you’ll be to tackle the bigger challenges ahead.
As the sun rose over Daytona on Sunday morning, I found myself smiling, not just because the light was finally back with warmer temperatures (and I could actually feel my shutter finger again), but because it all felt so much like life. Chaotic, unpredictable, exhausting, and absolutely beautiful.
Here’s to a week of navigating twists and turns, finding moments of exhilaration and reflection, trusting your team, and above all, enjoying the ride.
For over 13 years, D. Paul Graham has published “Monday 5 Things” ™, also known to readers as M5T™. He continues to love hanging out at race tracks.
© 2025 D. Paul Graham
M5T is now on South Magazine Digital ..… Read it here ….. At https://www.southmag.com/category/health-and-wellness/
Subscribe to “Monday 5 Things” by clicking here: www.Monday5Things.com
You can reach Paul by email at dpg@imagegraham.com
“Monday 5 Things” ™ and M5T™ are trademarks of D. Paul Graham
Monday 5 Things, Monday Five Things, M5T, D. Paul Graham
Ever curious and always amused by the quirks of life, join D. Paul Graham each Monday for more M5T pondering.