Shine

 

There is a burning and bright light within you ready to explode for the world to see.  You may not see it now.... Its there.  Even if it seems a smothered amber you find in the morning from last night's bond fire.  That alone, may be more than those around you.  It can serve as hope when they feel their fire has burned out.  Blow the old ashes away.  Protect the amber.  Give it oxygen.  Feed it slowly with tender, then tiny twigs, then sticks, then LOGS.  Let it roar.

Others in the dark will see.  They may be drawn to the warmth and have the courage to build their own fire within.  Your light will not only help you to see, but give you purpose in giving it to those lost in the dark.  The more drawn to the flame, the brighter it will shine.  It all starts with you.  Dig deep.  If that amber has burned out,  it may be time to start rubbing some sticks together.  

Life is too short to be in the dark cold.  Find your light and let it shine.

Two Choices

Hi all,

There are simply TWO choices.  We all get to a crossroads every day.  Sometimes multiple times.  There is a road to to quit or keep going.  Visualize that on a trail.  You are tired, hurting, fighting many physical and mental obstacles/battles.  You know you need to keep moving while also wanting to quit and head back to the car.  Anxiety and indecision kicks in.  You get to the split in the trail.  One path leads back to the parking lot.  The other leads to a rocky climb with a breathtaking view at the top.  TWO choices.  At that moment you choose the pain over the regret of quitting.  Once you take that path, the door shuts on the other.  The decision is made and it gets much simpler from that moment on..  You are now dealing with ONE choice.  The anxiety and indecision leaves you.  Now you simply have to focus in a single direction.  The clouds part and you can become focused on the direction you are headed.  There is no grey area.  Its black and white.  The more you make the choice of growth, the easier it becomes.  The rewards and the views continue to get better, along with the fruits of the labor.

I have had several new members join the club due to some very stressful life situations bc it is a POSITIVE choice with POSITIVE results.  They could stay in bed all day, turn to a substance to bandaide pain or stress, OR choose something that is guarenteed and proven to propel them in a positive direction both mentally and physically.  I am so proud of and admire those that gain this realization and DO something about it.  Maybe they had the awareness early on, or maybe they hit rock bottom in an "Enough is Enough" state.  Either way.  Keep it simple.  There are TWO choices.  Either grow or die.

What choices will you make today?  Choose the BIG picture healthy choice and shut the door on anything that will not make you better today than you were yesterday.

Forward we go my friends!

Redemption

 Hi all,

I’ve got BIG news for 2024. I am not going to be the same that I was in 2023. After years of losing myself, I am slowly finding myself again. I would like you to join me in the journey. Let’s share the ups and downs. Let’s keep each other motivated, held accountable, and embrace each day that we act on the obsession to make it better than yesterday. One Body. One short life. Let’s show the world what we are choosing to do with ours!!  Don't you dare look back.  We've got no time for tripping by not focusing our attention on where we are going.  Forward my friends.

Happy to be back and hyper focused. We got this!

Wow, I almost forgot I had this "blog" site. ALOT has happened since my last post on here for sure. I came across this picture, and it struck me with a different meaning this time around. "Never stop exploring". Hmmmm. I think you all know where I stand on this one, but let me take it a little deeper. 

We all get exploration in a "road trip" kind of way. Or, maybe even a move to another part of the country or job change. How about we never stop exploring the growth that can happen within. I did a devotion this morning for some middle schoolers. The verse was 1 Cor. 9:24. You know the part, "...........run in such a way as to get the prize".   I believe THAT part could equate to a variety actions or inactions. Go ALL OUT, run with perseverance, tenacity, or patience etc.  Today, it struck me that maybe "exploring" internally, externally, and spiritually, may be the perks of simply seeking, always moving, and faithfully taking more and more steps. Ahhhh, (faith) to confidently and without abandon take each step. Regardless of obstacles, pain, or thirst. I've been in my own little journey since I broke my neck (c2 snapped in 4 places)!  I thought my journey would be physical. NOPE. It is all mental. It's been 3 months since my new hardware was forever placed under my skull. Before my spill down the stairs, I was MISERABLE with the mundaneness, unfairness, and difficulty of life. NEGATIVE cancer had crept into my Psyche and I couldn't shake it. And....it's ME, the most positive, energetic, motivating, cock eyed optimist most of you know. The long story of domino effect life events that led to the dark place will not be discussed here. The key, was that I firmly believe God allowed me to snap my neck in order for me to take a breather and hit the "reset" button. I was excited to see what would be revealed. God showed me that I am even more impatient than I once believed. I walked 3 miles with a Halo screwed into my skull and attempted push-ups the first day I was out of  the hospital. WHY!?  What did I need to prove?  Was it to prove something? I still don't know. Am I supposed to patiently wait on God to reveal what will be new around the next bend on this exploratory journey? What does that look like?  I don't know that either, but I have a feeling it all comes right back to that word (FAITH). As long as I continue to seek, as long as I continue to trust, as long as I look for the good in the journey and give thanks for each step.....I may be moving in the right direction. God has something GREAT for me just over the next hill.....The key is to keep believing, keep forward progression, keep seeking HIS purpose. Who knows what you'll find waiting for you...  Who knows what you'll discover about yourself. Keep moving and KNOW the answers WILL come. Look for the beauty in the journey. It's THERE!  Happy exploring to you....

Redemption

WOW!  Its been a while since I've posted.......The fact is that I let life run me for a few years until I could MAKE some changes (set the sails) in order to press forward again.  Ive made a gazillion excuses, but the fact is that I allowed it to happen.  As a "good" trainer, your life is essentially dedicated to giving all of yourself to better those around you.  You sacrifice your own time, energy, and goals in order to help others' accomplish theirs.  I have always had a problem with saying "NO" to others and before you know it, you're headed toward burnout and life balance is gone.  Selfless, giving, kind, and loving people WANT to make an impact and positive influence.  Its HARD to do anything but give ALL that you have to the betterment of others for fear that personal goals may appear "selfish".

The people that I respect the most have a balance and have drawn a line in the sand that will never be compromised in order to keep their lives in check.  God created each individual with unique passions and personalities in order to place you in a position to glorify him in ALL that you do and in the exact place you are in at that moment.  If we continue to seek him in those places, we are blessed with life lessons and "wisdom".  It is up to us and OUR free choice to MAKE set the sails of life's storms to redirect our paths.  Some of us are too stubborn and self reliant to do so UNTIL it all starts to unravel.  We, as rebels, have to get to a point of being sick and tired of being sick and tired.  We hit our breaking point and finally choose to let go, give it to God, and have faith in him.  When we do, and MAKE the HARD decisions to DO what we know we should, the weight lifts from our shoulders, and we are finally free.  Peace replaces regret.  Hope replaces anxiety.  We stop trying to force pieces of a puzzle into place that don't belong with a hammer and simply trust in him.

Running has always been my time with God.  Its been my medicine for clarity, and each run eventually ends with the answers and decisions I know I SHOULD make.  Yesterday's run was another example.  I have a LONG day and my drive is not a short one.  I am absolutely TOAST at the end of my day and always on my feet going wide open.  I reconnected with a friend I went to college with that lives in Due West.  I travel through Due West on my way home at 7pm.  We made a commitment to each other to run at 7pm.  We've been at this for 5 weeks now.  (Redemption has to have a starting point).  I do NOT "feel" like going for a run at 7pm at the end of my work day and at the tail end of a 2 hour drive.  Yet, I drag my tired bones out of the car, lace my shoes, and hit the road.  If I didn't have Friedrich, I am almost certain I wouldn't, but we count on and believe in bettering each other.  I chose a 7.5 mile loop for us yesterday.  I don't know why, but I always choose a tougher option on the days I don't "feel" like it.  I think I do this because I know after a few miles and hills, the "hunger" comes back and I'm ready to GO!  After years of being a competitive runner, I know enough to not do too much too soon.  I was reminded of this yesterday.  Around the half way point, there is a mile long up hill grind......I checked my pace and got ANGRY!  2 years ago I averaged 6:00 per mile for 26.2 miles and I couldn't hit close to that for a 7 mile run.  I pushed with everything I had and my last mile clocked in at 6:37.....WHY would I get angry?  WHY would I crank it out in an attempt to be where I was 2 years ago after 5 weeks back to running after a 2 year layoff?  I know better than that!  The fact is most of us are impatient and fail to be reminded of the BIG picture.  I know it will take a year of training SMART to get back to where I want to be.  So.......,why risk sabotaging the BIG picture goal with a temper tantrum and frustration because I want it NOW?  God reminded me that we do that WAY too much with LIFE.  We miss his BIG picture blessings because of our rebellious, selfish, and impatient nature.  Stay the course.  Be patient.  The time WILL come.  Its our job sometimes to hold our own shirt tails, take deep breaths, and simply keep placing one foot in front of the other with the BIG picture in mind.  Slow progression is still PROGRESSION.  Don't derail progress toward the ultimate goal with reckless efforts to satisfy short term battles.  Lets press on consistently pursuing the victory of the war!

USMC

Pride, , create new ones and TAKE action. Life is simply too short to not , create

Hi all,

I just witnessed the USMC Boot Camp graduation of my nephew Preston Silcox.  Quite a day with mixed emotions.  Personally, I couldn't help but think back many years ago when I was a week away from swearing into the Army and aspirations of Ranger school.  Life had a different course for me with the news that Tammi was pregnant with Parker.  I realize it's a bit selfish, but I regret not following through with that course of action. I have been a bit lost ever since trying to rediscover that purpose and passion I felt so strongly.  Lack of purpose, direction, and goals makes life tormented.  I can't allow myself to regret for long because I realize it's all about choices I can make today and the adventure I can tackle today to make my tomorrow more purposeful.  So I cut out my own internal pity party while on Parris Island and soaked up all that my senses could sponge.  One observation was the eyes and expressions of my oldest son.  He's 11, but would go to Boot Camp tomorrow if he could.  He was in awe of it all and looked at Parris Island like a big playground.  I "get it".  I know everyone is not like that, but I sure am glad there are other people out there that want that life like their next breath for the sake of our freedom and all that makes America what it is.

One of the most impactful observations made was the character change in those young men.  There was an unspoken pride, contentment, peace, and deep purpose.  Those men are forever in a family, a brotherhood, and that will never be taken from them.  There was a smile that could not be wiped away on the faces of each new Marine that graduated that day.  Not a bad start to life after high school!  My family and I are fans of The Walking Dead and can't wait to watch it on Sundays.  As I go through life, 1 can't help but see the majority of the public as The Walking Dead.  They go through life with no clear purpose, direction, or burning inner desire to be a true impact on the world.  They watch people on TV having adventures, but are not living their own.  What a tragedy and sad reality of the walking dead around us.  My respect goes to those hungry for the adventure,  regardless of your life direction, you have the option to make it an adventure.  You can stop surviving and start thriving.  You can stop merely existing and start LIVING.  It's never too late to be who you might have been.  It's time to dust off those old dreams, create new ones, and LIVE the adventure that life can be.  Life is simply far too short to  merely exist.  Today is the day to set that ridiculously scary goal on your calendar and TRAIN in order to be ready to soak as much out the experience as you can.  The journey are the grounds that change you mentally and physically.  Your character is changed through ACTION.  Sooooo..I want to hear back from each of you...I want to know your next adventure, the date, and it better be something you think is impossible.  It's time to push the limits and soak in the adventure of life like never before.  It all starts TODAY.  This is the first day of the rest of your life.  Congratulations U.S. Marine Preston Silcox.  Your adventure is just beginning!