Category: Dear Son

From the ashes, beauty will rise

Shot putter's dirty tee shirt
Typical outcome for a right handed shot putter.

 

Ran four miles to meet the High School Coach. Then ran four miles home.

Mile seven came in at 7:15, a miracle considering how shaky the right calf felt.

i swear after two miles of slow running, i had to slow it down even more. Felt like something bad (like a small muscle pull or tear) was imminent.

But the real beauty was having Coach understand that our Son was on the Track & Field team by default. Coach Williams is an encourager.

 

__________

 

On April Fool’s Day 2009, jeff noel began writing five daily, differently-themed blogs (on five different sites). It was to be a 100-day self-imposed “writer’s bootcamp”, in preparation for writing his first book. He hasn’t missed a single day since.

This website is about our physical health. To easily and safely leave this site to read today’s post on jeff’s spiritual health website, click here.

 

Life without a clear, concise, compelling goal

Shot putter's dirty t-shirt
Why is one side dirty while the other isn’t? Because he was practicing the Shot Put.

 

Every teen (even us back in the day) has the opportunity to discover small seeds of possibility within themselves…

He didn’t want to miss Track & Field practice yesterday, a Saturday.

It was only his third practice with the team that has been practicing for two months already.

This is a first on so many levels.

  • He’s never done sports
  • Never expressed interest in sports
  • Never felt confident enough to consider sports

He (independently) coordinated and followed up (and followed through) with Coach Williams.

And i have this vision that in the future he will recall this experience and it will give him what he needs to overcome fear, uncertainty, and doubt.

 

__________

 

On April Fool’s Day 2009, jeff noel began writing five daily, differently-themed blogs (on five different sites). It was to be a 100-day self-imposed “writer’s bootcamp”, in preparation for writing his first book. He hasn’t missed a single day since.

This website is about our physical health. To easily and safely leave this site to read today’s post on jeff’s spiritual health website, click here.

 

Good workout yesterday and he was slow

Disney Leadership expert speaker
There is a steady and willing crowd at the feet of the master…Disney.

 

A 25-mile roundtrip bike ride, plus an intentionally short (and easy) 30-minute gym workout at the bike midway point. Slept 7.5 hours again.

But that’s not the good news…

Our Son’s high school personal fitness class of 13 students all ran two laps (800 meters). i’ve been encouraging him to run slower on the first lap and faster on the second.

He finally tried it.

And here’s what he discovered for the first time:

  • What it’s like to pass someone who is slowing down because you are speeding up.
  • He had never passed anyone before.
  • He had never finished ahead of others before.

This is a big deal.

 

__________

 

On April Fool’s Day 2009, jeff noel began writing five daily, differently-themed blogs (on five different sites). It was to be a 100-day self-imposed “writer’s bootcamp”, in preparation for writing his first book. He hasn’t missed a single day since.

This website is about our physical health. To easily and safely leave this site to read today’s post on jeff’s spiritual health website, click here.

 

First day of Track & Field practice

Orange County televised public meetings
Coinciding with his first practice, was a critical school rezoning request meeting.

 

First day of Track & Field practice for our Son (15) was yesterday. The current season began in January, but for a variety of reasons, including:

  • The head Track coach is also the assistant Varsity basketball coach and basketball season was extended far beyond normal because our team won States.
  • There are no other throwers (Shot Put & Discus) on the team.

Our Son said not much happened at practice, which i think was a good way to ease into it.

This will be fun, and interesting, to see it unfold.

i’ve not been involved other than to push our Son to work this out with the Coach.

PS. The initial team meeting was on our calendar for our Son to attend, but got rescheduled without notice while we were out of town. This was fairly significant. In the days and weeks to follow, our Son took steps to interact with a busy Coach; none of which resulted in any action. And it’s critical to remember that this teen is timid.

One of the best ways to create opportunities is to create opportunities.

PS. Now, today, 100 days later, he is much less timid. Plus, he recently joined the Windermere Running Club.

 

__________

 

On April Fool’s Day 2009, jeff noel began writing five daily, differently-themed blogs (on five different sites). It was to be a 100-day self-imposed “writer’s bootcamp”, in preparation for writing his first book. He hasn’t missed a single day since.

This website is about our physical health. To easily and safely leave this site to read today’s post on jeff’s spiritual health website, click here.

 

In a world where you can be anything

 

 

In a world where you can be anything…

Be well.

 

__________

 

On April Fool’s Day 2009, jeff noel began writing five daily, differently-themed blogs (on five different sites). It was to be a 100-day self-imposed “writer’s bootcamp”, in preparation for writing his first book. He hasn’t missed a single day since.

This website is about our physical health. To easily and safely leave this site to read today’s post on jeff’s spiritual health website, click here.