This morning, at 4:50AM, while deciding what to write here at Lane 8, found a post I had started in August 2009, but had never finished, never posted.
In watching these two videos, it’s clear where my mind was. It was on motivation. Everyday our minds should be on motivation. Everyday.
Many of you will never be runners. That’s ok. Never want you to feel like you should be a runner. But I absolutely want you to feel you should do something. Walk, bike, dance, roll, swim, stairs, yoga, gym, ski…. it doesn’t matter, unless it matters to you.
“Everyday courage has few witnesses. But yours is no less noble because no drum beats for you, and no crowds shout your name.” — Robert Louis Stevenson
Maybe you believe in yourself, or maybe you don’t.
The more days that you go without quitting what you you really want to do, the stronger your belief will become.
There really is no other way to change.
You simply must have resolve. A goal is not enough.
You must want this for the rest of your life.
Remember, your everyday courage will have very few witnesses.
Wait. But first, let’s just make sure we’re all on the same page. Two days ago was the anniversary of John Lennon’s death, and the topic of yesterday’s post.
But today’s Lane 8 blog post is not about John Lennon, it’s about motivation.
It’s also about the number one most contagious thing (and greatest success factor) in the world when it comes to motivation.
Are you ready?
Okay, back to the drumroll. Drumroll please…..
The number one most contagious thing in the world is…….ENTHUSIASM!!!!!
Can you hear the echos of some people saying, “That’s it? That’s all you got? You’re wasting my time!”
And others, “Yes, that’s exactly it. Try to do anything well without a mountain of enthusiasm. Seriously, go ahead and try.”
Well, we ignore it until we start to here from it. Aches and pains. Wake up calls.
We can be fairly certain that these will afflict us all. The question is, it seems, “Can we slow down, minimize, or stop altogether, these physical challenges”?
At 50, even though I’ve seen a lot, there is much that hasn’t been seen. What I do know, is that trying is better than worrying. At least if we get ailments, and wake up calls, we can live with the Peace that we did our best.
Lane 8 at 2009 World Championships in Lahti, Finland.
That’s “Jack”, my son’s Teddy Bear. He has three exactly alike. He got them as gifts years ago. The collar is actually inscribed “Jack”.
Our son was born in August 2000. My Dad, Jack Noel, passed on, April 2001.
My Father, and our son, never met. We were two months away from our trip to Pennsylvania when the phone call came, “They’re giving your dad three days”.
So, “Jack” the bear, has traveled extensively. He’s the one with two torn ears. The other “Jacks” are in near perfect condition. Our son was gracious enough to let the “tug-o-war with our yellow Lab” Jack travel.
Find a million ways, gimmicks, tricks – whatever it takes – to stay motivated. Jack is simply one of them.
On the drive to Victory Martial Arts “Safety Demonstration” (recruiting) yesterday, I reminded our son there was no expectation that he enroll and take lessons.
All the children participated, even the first timers. Our son eagerly lined up. Surprisingly, two of his friends are members there and graciously welcomed him into the atmosphere.
Off to a great start and then somewhere in the middle it got more intense and he felt uncomfortable with his skill level, and returned to the audience with me.
I could not have been more proud. He tried something. He did his best. I didn’t push him, even though I could have. He’s nine. How hard do you push yourself? He’ll get were he needs to go. Will you?
Maybe today is the day our son finds a physical activity that interests him. He is great on exercising his Mind. Great with his Spirit. Decent on Money.
Body? Well, he has a keen understanding of nutrition for a nine-year old. Much better than most adults.
Yesterday, after we pulled away from Twistee Treat, he asked me to call a number. He said the first ten callers get a free t-shirt.
He passed the flyer up to me in the driver’s seat. At the stoplight I quickly scanned it.
We were the fourth caller. So today we go to Victory Martial Arts for a children’s safety demonstration, a t-shirt, and maybe something else.
Where Were You When The World Stopped Turning? Although it may not seem so, it might be a good idea to watch this. If you don’t have five minutes to spare on a day like today, maybe your life is too complicated. Alan Jackson sings his beautiful tribute song:
This is why I pray without ceasing that someday soon, we can all live in Peace.
