Achieving the Impossible

In May 2002, I turned 40 and my partner gave me a metal desk plaque that said "What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?" I thought that I would do so many things. I never had the courage, determination or persistence to do all the things I dreamed of doing. Last year around this time, I thought about the four 5K running races I had done and thought "If I had the right training, I could do a marathon?" Maybe the Chicago Marathon. Well, I am not a good runner and continuously injured myself. I started doing triathlons, which are difficult, but still easier for me because I am a better swimmer and cyclist. I was so happy to do the Chicago Triathlon in August 2009. But then, this fall I started to run again. First another 10k, then another 10K, then a 15K on Thanksgiving and then a Half Marathon on December 5, 2009. Then a friend decided not to run the Disney Marathon, so I agreed to run in his place. Today, the weather in Orlando, Florida set record cold temperatures, I but did it. I doubled the farthest distance I ever had run because I applied principles of recovery, I prayed, and I did not really know if I could, but I believed I would...I am just so grateful.

Lonely in a Crowd

I feel sorry for normal people who don't have easy access to unlimited numbers of people just waiting to welcome them. I am amazed how so many of us spend so much time in loneliness and isolation and our remedy consists so much of being around people just like us! Some of my best memories are of going into meetings all over the world where I confront total strangers and leave with new friends!!!

Miracles

They say that coincidences are God's way of remaining anonymous. I believe that miracles happen every day all around us and we cannot see them. However, we do see them most in moments of pain and struggle, so while I do not wish for misfortune or pain and struggle, I try to remember it is a time of fertile grounds for miracles. God has me best when he has me at his mercy.

Pushing Beyond the Comfort Zome

There are days when I wonder what I am doing, when I think that I do not have the energy or the angst to put forth a full effort. Then, if I am lucky, I am reminded to push myself to reach for the ring. The thing is that to me, sobriety means pushing beyond our comfort zone to a zone of true comfort. But perhaps it is not really a "comfort zone" but rather a zone of "familiar pain" that we don't want to leave. In either case, I don't want life the way it is, but the way it could be, and today I am willing to do what it takes to get me closer.

Working on a Dream

"While they were saying among themselves it cannot be done, it was done." - Helen Keller. Today, I am working on a dream. It is easy if we ignore all the nay sayers; however, sometimes the hardest part of accomplishing anything is the voices around us saying we can't or shouldn't or do something fun instead. The worst part is when the voice is in my own head. Focus, Steve! What is really important? Do it!

Today I plan to run toward my roar. When lions hunt their prey, the females circle the herd of prey on three sides while the males sit on the fourth and, crouching down in the bush, they ROAR!! The prey will the run away into the mouths of the female huntress'. Lesson - Run toward your roar!!! aka "face your fear" That's my plan!!!

First Day of the Year - 2010

The first day of 2010!! I love new beginnings and fresh starts. I have so many goals, dreams and plans. Still, I recognize that the best things in my life have usually happened by accident or by "coincedent" and it is said that coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous. I remember that the best way to make God laugh is to tell Him my plans. So, I need to remember to get out of the way of Life's plans for me.