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.
Does it even matter? It does if you want to be an example instead of a warning.
“I don’t want to run unless I know I’ve done my best. And the only way I know how to do that is to run flat out until I have nothing left. Running any other way is Chickenshit”! — Steve Prefontaine
A friend told me he recently ran a 5k, and broke the 10-minute per mile barrier for the first time ever. How cool is that?!
He started “running” a year ago by walking his first 5k. Eventually, he was able to run short parts of his 5k’s. Now he runs the entire distance without stopping.
The key for him? He started slow. He made progress gradually. He never stopped.
Now his next challenge is to do it for another year, and another year, and another……
But anyway, what about you? What’s your story?
Whether you know it or not, you’re telling it to everyone you know.
PS. Dream big. Get there. Stay there. Carpe diem, jeff noel
It’s getting dark earlier and getting light later.
Autumn is coming and Winter after that. Shorter daylight hours.
If you said, “Jeff, what’s your favorite time to run”? I’d tell you humid mornings, just before sunrise, when there is no need for even a t-shirt to stay warm.
Plus, I get to watch the sun rise. And on a day like that, I’ll be soaked with sweat. That’s the favorite.
Even though they last from March through September, those days are quickly fading. So what?
It’s a constant and significant reminder that motivation is the key.
Cold, dark mornings with oncoming cars, headlights blaring, racing 60-65 mph to get to work. Who needs that? Who wants that?
Not me.
Actually, I do need it. Without exercise, there’s too much at risk.
It’s been a productive week. Have poured myself out particularly hard this week. Burning the candle at both ends, so to speak, and therefor, adequate sleep is one of the sacrifices.
Because the world championships are over, there is not a compelling goal in front of me, to make the tough choices easy.
Well, actually, there is a compelling goal. I pick him up at school everyday.
Until you grasp this concept of “purpose” you will remain stuck, and your health goals will only be “resolutions” after a night of drinking too much, eating too much, or sitting around too much.
Remember, from one push up a day to World Championships. All so I can see our son graduate from High School in ten years.
There are two types of goals, basically. Got 30 seconds? Listen as I explain them here:
What made and continues to make, Nike brilliant is their slogan, “Just Do It”!
Someday, we will live with peace or we will live with regret. That’s enough to get me off my butt. What’s it gonna take for you? If not today, when? Carpe diem, jeff noel
