Mid Life Dating – Disney Employee Engagement Speaker

2009 World Championships

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.

No Expectations?

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?

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.

What Came First?

What came first?:

The chicken or the egg
The ostrich or the chicken
Stick your head in the sand
Chickensh!t

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

Same goes for life.

Guaranteed Instant Results

Guaranteed Instant Results. Get real.

Seriously. We all want them. We all chase them. There are even people who guarantee them.

But the craziest thing I’ve seen is that there are people who actually believe them.

Just yesterday, Labor Day, had a conversation with a friend and I told him I write these blogs for my son.

Yet perhaps, they are really written to myself. You probably don’t understand this, but the real audience is me.

I need daily reinforcement that common sense only works if I make it common practice. Period.

After writing for me and my son, these blogs are written for anyone else who wants to read. But please don’t expect guaranteed results.