Overcoming Challenges

"Life's challenges are not supposed to paralyze you, they are supposed to help you discover who you are." - Bernice Johnson Reagon

This year's Atlanta Peachtree 10K Roadrace is over and 55,000 runners gave it their all. From highly trained athletes to the casual walker, each one faced and overcame the challenge of completing this 6.1 mile course on a warm July 4th morning.

For me, the challenge was to volunteer for this great event. Even with the training I had taken to run this event again, it was the spirit of volunteering that moved me. The ability to see some great runners finish and the excellent wheelchair athletes were fantastic. And then there were the thousands upon thousands of individual runners I was able to cheer and congratulate at the finish line.

With these challenges behind all of us, a new one comes before me. The Atlanta Thanksgiving Day Half Marathon. A 13.1 mile excursion down Peachtree Street the morning of Thanksgiving ending at the home stadium of the Atlanta Braves. So it will be a big challenge for both myself and my wife.

For each of us, challenges occur not only in the running or sports world, but they occur in our everyday lives. Each day, a new challenge can present itself to us. The idea is to tell ourselves that we can accomplish the task. To overcome the challenge and find new opportunity beyond it.

Are you defeating yourself before the start by not believing in yourself? Or are you starting with the belief that you can overcome anything? Phrases such as 'going the distance' and 'finishing strong' are words that you tell yourself. But you have to believe in them as well.

Believing in oneself is the first major step in overcoming any type of challenge, the rest is just hard work. Overcome your fear of failure, believe in your ability to overcome any challenge in life.
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Fill In The Gaps

"Our relationships with others is a means to fill in the gaps of each one's life." -Joe Primm

As we go about trying to live our life, we find that we have gaps in what we are and what we can do. It may be a lack of knowledge in something such as how to cook a meal or balance a check book. Maybe it is trouble finding a job or trying to overcome the emotion of losing that job.

Our life also has exactly that just mentioned, a gap in understanding of certain emotions we encounter. How should one feel when something quite exciting or suddenly sad occurs. It seems to be a never ending struggle to fill those various types of gaps in our life.

This is where each of us can allow our relationship with others to take each of us to greater levels. Collectively we can help fill some of those gaps in someones life. In return, others can fill the gaps in your life as well. It is these 'inter-connections' that can make all of the difference in the world to another person.

A close friend that provides you with support when things are going rough is a gap filled. A spouse there to lift you after a tough few days of work is a gap filled. Anything missing in one's life can be a gap filled.

When I think of my spouse, there are so many parts of me that I could not fill on my own. She has qualities that bring fullness to my life as a person. It is a well worn and some say 'corny' line from a movie, but "she completes me." The gaps in my life are filled by all that I am not, by all that she is.

We can chose in our life to help fill a gap in someone else's life. To care for another person by being a friend, a mentor or something much deeper is a gap filled. Our relationships with others is a means to fill in the gaps of each one's life. Do not be the type of person that enlarges that gap in their life. Be the type of person that fills the gap.
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Birthday Wish

“Reach high, for stars lie hidden in your soul. Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal.” - Pamela Vaull Starr

The youngest of the eight turns 19 today, the last teen of so many children we have raised. My four boys and my wife's four girls, one final year with a teenager in the house. So let me get this out of the way first;

"Happy Birthday To You !!"
"Happy Birthday To You !!"
"Happy Birthday Dear Jake-man !!"
"Happy Birthday To You !!"

Sounds better in written format and it will not chase off readers of this article. But as any parent, we are proud of all our children and their individual talents. On his birthday though we turn attention to the youngest. Surely his brothers harass him on being the 'baby' of the family, but he stands on his own.

His musical talent, song writing skills and guitar playing amaze me immensely. The band he co-founded called Electric Eel House Surprize (EEHS for short) is getting close to releasing their first CD. They have had a very successful first live appearance at a local night club where many bands get their start.

Of course, the parent in me wants him to get that college degree to 'safe guard' him against the cruel statistics of the music business. If anything, the knowledge can help guard him against the cruelty of the business itself. But my greater want is for him to reach for his dreams, to be successful and share his talent with the world.

It is anything that any parent would want for their own child. We simply want it for all eight of our children. But again, today it is Steve's birthday and our wish is for him to have success. He will work for it, he will earn it, he will enjoy that success.

Be a cheer leader for yourself, but be a cheer leader for your children. Lift them and if need be, lift them up and past you. There is no feeling like it in this world. And should they fall, you will be there to catch them; to help dust them off; to help push them back up again. Your life will be rewarded far beyond imagine.

So happy birthday Steve, happy birthday everyone!
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Tomorrow

Birthday Wish message for my son and for the child of anyone .... tomorrow !
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