Always Do Your Best

Do your best.  How can anyone complain if they’ve done their best?

While it is quite tempting to want to be the best, for many, simply doing your best is gold-medal worthy.

What could be a sad thing for many dreams, is that people sell themselves short because they think winning a medal is the only measure of greatness.

Twice yesterday, I witnessed two athletes finish dreadfully last in their preliminary heats.  They received more applause than the winners.

Why?

You tell me.

Perhaps, because deep down inside of each of us, is a desire to try as hard as that person, but we don’t have the courage to risk that kind of “embarrassment”.

When people aren’t concerned about what others think, they can do extraordinary things.

For an adult who’s never been able to read, and they work desperately hard to try to – then one day they are able to read a kindergarten book.

Gold medal.

Ya with me?  Please don’t sell yourself short.  Do your best, no matter what others think.  This is what I tell myself everyday.

Carpe diem, jeff noel 🙂

Race Day at Lane 8

Race day at Lane 8.

Men’s 400 meters, 50-54 age group.  Call time 2PM.  Heat time 3PM.

By the time my preliminary heat is over, most of you back in the United States will just be waking up.

I visualize myself running and feeling God’s pleasure.  Running effortlessly, not to compete, but running simply because I can.

I don’t know why I run sometimes, all I know is that I enjoy it, and cannot help myself.

There is a popular misconception that winning is everything.

May I antagonistically challenge that?

Winning isn’t everything, doing your best is everything.

Don’t sell yourself short.  Be as great as you can be.  Even if you finish last.  Even if you are not a runner.

Carpe diem, jeff noel 🙂

Lane 8 in Lahti, Finland?

Lane 8 in Lahti, Finland?  Yes.  Arrived yesterday, August 2.

Was a zombie, but my adrenaline hide that from me.  Only two other times in my entire life I can remember being that tired.

But today is a brand new day.  A day full of excitement, of possibilities, of opportunities.

A day filled with hope.

Wouldn’t it be great if we could start everyday like it’s the World Championships?

A day where we feel anything is possible.

A day where we are more than willing to give it our best.

A day where we willingly get to help others, and others get to willingly help us.

Why is this not possible each and every day?

Maybe it is possible. Today, I’m going to work at a world championship level to find out.

What are your plans today?  Cape diem, jeff noel 🙂

Lane 8 in Paris?

Lane 8 in Paris?

Only for 90 minutes.

My first overseas flight to Helsinki through Paris.

I fly frequently, so I’m good with all the logistics.

Except at Charles DeGaulle Airport in Paris this morning.

Wow.  I barely made it.  So glad I didn’t give up this morning.

Miraculously, made it by five minutes.

Actually, not giving up is what got me here in the first place.

Carpe diem, and tempt yourself to never give up.  Because if you’re not tempted to not give up, what are tempted by?

jeff noel, out in Lane 8 🙂