Daily Gratitude: I’ve talked about this before. It took me a long time to learn and understand but once I did, it taught me to laugh at myself when I realize I have once again picked up the “saber” of control. Then I try to let go of it and remind myself of all the times when I did let go and how great things turned out when I did just that. You have to have faith and you have to have courage. Examine your past life and come up with times when it turned out better if you allowed the universe to have its way. Find even just one situation and hang on to that. Use it the next time you feel yourself grasping for that elusive devil (control).

Daily Gratitude: The media is good but it’s also not so good. In the media we see people made out to be heroes (unfortunately that word is so overused that it no longer has much meaning). And then we do the inevitable- we compare ourselves to those “others”. The result – we don’t measure up and we feel yucky. Anything we had in mind to work on no longer seems important in the grand scheme of things. So, our project goes back on the shelf. We’re all ordinary. We can do extraordinary things if we have enough of a desire. Break that word down. It’s just extra and ordinary put together. It’s not so insurmountable if you look at it that way. You just have to know what it what you want. You can do anything!

Daily Gratitude: Before you shake your head at this one and scroll on by…..it’s essential that you know this quote is for YOU…each and every one of you. “What? I’m never going to be a champion. I’m too old. I’m too…whatever.” This is your first turning point. Definitions are key here. YOU define these words: challenge, surrender, and champion. The only stickler is that you have to define them (for yourself) before you begin any endeavor. It’s “cheating” to want to stop when something gets rough so then you come up with your definitions to suit the circumstances. However, you certainly can and should define them at the beginning of such an undertaking. Example could be my Tennessee race in July – you know, the 314 mile one i have to do in 10 days. For me the challenge starts way back several months when i decide it’s time to start training. That challenge includes the training and the event no matter how hard it gets and how bad it seems. Champion to me is my finishing the race within the allotted time. Surrender is defined by absolutely not being able to continue due to illness or significant injury (not just “it hurts so bad”). Along with that surrender must not be done until I have had rest. I am not allowed to call the meat wagon for anything other than an illness or injury until after i get some sleep. When I do the fixed time races, my definitions change because the characteristics of the race changes. See, you do not have to be, nor should you be, locked into one set of definitions for everything you do. Take some time right now to find an upcoming scenario and come up with your definitions.