Run With Us

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

“Today we fight. Tomorrow we fight. The day after, we fight. And if this disease plans on whipping us, it better bring a lunch, 'cause it's gonna have a long day doing it.” ― Jim Beaver

Every year my wife and I find inspiration from one source or another to run in the world's largest 10K called The Peachtree Road Race. Each year over 60,000 people from nine to ninety-five take the 6.2 mile trek down Peachtree Street in Atlanta. It is a gathering for sport but it is a gathering of friends and fun on July 4th.

This year the inspiration for us touches my wife and I very close.

Just over a year ago our good friend Belinda passed away from a brain tumor. She battled strong and hard to beat the odds and lived longer than most doctors expected. Her husband Mark devoted everything to her and lovingly held her as she faded to a more glorious existence.

Fast forward nearly a year to the day, her husband Mark was diagnosed with stage 4 stomach cancer. My friend so close that I call him a brother. Cancer came out of nowhere and places him in that all too familiar battle many face when it comes to cancer.

Yet as he began his fight, another good friend in our circle named Bill was diagnosed with leukemia. More battles, more belief in knowing that there are great doctors out there helping these two men run the type of race they never expected to run.

Both Mark and Bill are avid runners of the Peachtree 10K Road Race and this year they are unable to run.

So this year, we run for them.

- We run for all those battling cancer.
- We run for those who have won or lost to cancer.
- We run for Mark and Bill

Will you run with us!

Stay inspired my friends!

Welcome Dear Child

“A baby is God's opinion that the world should go on.” ― Carl Sandburg

The world is waking this morning to another child, another chance of beauty and the wonders that life has to offer.

The world can be a cruel and ugly place if one wishes to view it that way. One can argue and believe their country or values are worse today then yesterday.

We can choose to believe that.

Or we can choose to believe otherwise.

We can choose to believe life is full of goodness and greater possibility each and every day. A budding flower in spring, fruit growing upon the vine, a child being born all offer proof that life continually offers hope and goodness.

I see hope and greatness in all of my children.

I see hope and greatness in all of my grandchildren.

I see as well that the world should go on.

And for our newest granddaughter Madilyn Rose, a rose from the south. May you dance and laugh and sing and love as your great grandmother Rose Marie did. As we all should.


Stay inspired my friends.

Overcome Your Barriers

"Do not allow the problem to choke and destroy your vision." ~ Joseph Primm

Overcoming barriers to success in your life is about looking beyond those barriers. You need then build your life regardless of those same barriers and continue on with that life after the barrier is overcome. Life is going to place circumstances in front of you all along the way.

That is just the way life is.

It doesn't seem fair, it doesn't seem to be justified when life hits you upside the head. None of those things are under your control, life is just happening. What you are in control of is you. You control how you react, how you respond, and how you deal with the barriers will determine the outcome.

Your vision belongs to you and no one else.

Once you give up, the barrier has won the battle for your life. The barrier will now own your vision and not you. The barrier will have choked the vision from you and determined your life for you. The barricade to success, the locks and chains that keep you from living a great life will all grasp a little tighter.

Do not allow these barriers to choke and destroy your vision.

Take hold of your vision and overcome the barriers standing in your way. Reach beyond your current situation and see what life holds for you. Own your vision and realize it.

If you think your barriers, your obstacles, your "lot in life" are too much to overcome? Then watch this video and remember to always stay inspired my friends.

Your Example

"Example isn't another way to teach, it is the only way to teach." - Albert Einstein

There is an age old saying which says, "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." It could be easy for us to simply put this off and tell someone to learn it on their own. the reason is that there is quite a bit one can learn by reading and absorbing the content of many good books, blogs and other resources.

But to show someone, to teach them by example goes much further.

This is not simply in the educational realm of teaching. The way you live your life, the way you conduct yourself has a huge influence on those around you. Your kids may hear you say, "pick up your clothes" but if you leave your clothes laying around, the net result is they will leave theirs laying around.

Living by example is much more powerful.

It impacts others in ways you may not have ever considered. I am not perfect in this but I do try to conduct myself to set a good example. I try to be aware that what I do is watched and learned by other. We are each human and that implies we are fallible.

It is in striving to teach others by example that sets the stage for everyone to grow to a greater life. Show others by example and impact their life. In turn your own life will grow in ways you never thought possible.

Stay inspired my friends!