What a difference

Motivation9 Comments

What a difference a year makes. What a difference courage makes. It was June of 2010 when my brother Jeff first used the word cancer in a phone call.  “I’ve got multiple myeloma and I have to start treatment immediately.” I responded with optimistic strength in my voice, encouraging him to beat it.  After we…

E-ticket to ride

Motivation8 Comments

Gather round young whippersnappers. In the old days, Disney theme parks used to sell paper tickets for rides throughout the Magic Kingdom.  When I was eleven years old, I remember my parents buying a pack for each of us, with tickets marked A through E. The E-tickets were for something really awesome like Space Mountain.…

Salute to those who serve

General3 Comments

I just love Scottish festivals – the wail of the bagpipes, the highland dancing, the heavy games, the sheep herding dogs and cold beer on a hot Labor Day weekend.  This year, there was one moment that stuck with me more than the rest, and it happened during the grandstand ceremony. For the first time,…

FIght, FLight or FRight

Motivation3 Comments

I learned this in 6th grade science class. When an animal in the wild is face to face with a predator about to eat him, one of two instincts will take over – fight or flight.  The animal will stand and fight, or take flight and escape (by running, flying, swimming, whatever.) Even curling up into…

Chase or be chased

Motivation11 Comments

I play mind games to motivate myself on long runs.  Coach Jeff Galloway encourages this practice to keep your right brain engaged and your left brain from talking you out of reaching your goal. When you hit mile 18 in a marathon, it can become all out war between the hemispheres. One of my favorite…