Day 143: Taboo Tuesday: Crying

Crying.

Do you remember the scene in A League of Their Own where Tom Hanks paces in the dugout trying to console a crying baseball player?

“There is no crying in baseball”

At times, I have wanted to say the same thing while running. Deep with emotion, there are times where some runners have wanted to cry. I am not talking about crossing the finish line and crying with the emotion of a completed race. There are a few occasions where in the middle of a tough run, emotion bubbles.

Maybe it’s when you are fighting a running cut off time? Maybe it is when you are cramping and your shins are throbbing, yet you have realized you still have another 50k (or 5k) to go.

Maybe there is no identifiable reason…you just want to cry.

Often running peels the calloused veneer off our hearts and digs deep into the emotional vat. As we are running, we are stripped of our names, associations, and identities. The truest version of who we are in that moment emerges. We feel vulnerable, exposed, or even abandoned. In those moments, embrace who you are and keep moving forward and know that ‘this to shall pass.’

Pressing Through the Tears
1. Don’t Stop.
To stop to embrace your tears will only cause more to go. Continuing to move forward expends energy which help divert the emotion from the tears.

2. Turn the Music Off.
Music enhances every emotion. Sometimes the tears keep flowing because Journey is playing on the ipod. Eliminate the music and get down to the core of the crying. Embrace the fullness of it.

3. Identify the Root.
Look around and identify the conditions you are in. Maybe its rain and you feel exposed and vulnerable which is mirroring your soul. Maybe they are breaking down the finish line and you feel abandoned. Maybe people are passing you and this causes you to feel weak.

It is in these emotion that we are all stripped of image management and we earn a PHD in Mental Sharpness. Understand, rarely are these race emotions real. You are not weak, you are strong. You are competing only against yourself. Know one is looking down on you for your placement in the race. In fact most on lookers or even those passing you are celebrating your courage to toe the starting line. Keep moving forward.

Racing against yourself will give you the greatest competition of your life. Don’t back down. Peel away the insecurities and let the best version of you emerge.

Sometimes, forward is fast.

JAS

Day 135: Hero Up

In today's culture its hard to find a hero. I find myself more drawn to the story of common people doing uncommon things. At races, I find myself more drawn the plodder who presses through and finishes last than the Super Elite who finishes first without breaking a sweat. This weekend four heroes emerged in my life. Ive known each of them for some time, but occasionally you get a deeper look and become even more amazed by who they are.

HEROES

Meredith Maher and Hayley Padua Dean
These two will change the world. Last year I met them while speaking at Oak Ridge High School. They organized a prom that help fund the Be Change initiatives in Oak Park. But this last week, they both were host dates at the Evening of Dreams prom. Together, on each side they escorted a young man to the prom and assured that on this night, he was King of the World. I want my daughter to grow and mirror the heart of these two world changers.

Nick O'Sullivan
He crushes people on the football field. He just runs over the opponent. As Del Oro superstar, I met Nick last year speaking at the Del Oro Eagles Thursday night team dinners. On Friday nights, I cheered as he dominated. But this past weekend along side of Hayley and Meredith and 150 other student athletes and leaders, Nick dominated again. On this night, with kindness and humility. Nick hosted as well, and offered a shoulders that we placed huge expectations on. And he delivered. He always does.

Malcolm Kennedy
MK is a fireman. His life is given to saving lives. When he heard that one young ladies dream was to go to prom with a fireman, Malcolm got permission to where his fire fighting attire and escort a young lady down the Yellow Brick Road and into her Enchanted Forest. As he pushed her wheel chair down the aisle, the crowd cheered and I cried.





Today, be a hero to someone.

Day 132: Saint Snowflake

It has been a tough two weeks. Since Character Combine, the team has been maintaining full throttle as we head feet first into Evening of Dreams. Michelle Purcell and team have pulled off a series of miracles to make the evening incredible.

Tomorrow night, nearly 700 people will gather in Capital Christian High School's Performing Arts Building. Special Needs Students will hit the red carpet (or since we are doing a Wizard of Oz theme a Yellow Brick Road) and lock arms with their date. The 150+ dates are made up of couragous student athletes who set the standard for leadership. These athletes from across the city are excited to Be the Change!

Two hundred volunteers, nearly 100 VIP Community Leaders and close to two hundred parents of the guest round out the evening.

Its said that in order to become a Saint, you have to complete three miracles. Michelle, Abbie, Travis, and Sherene, you are all Saints.

Michelle, you are Saint Snowflake.

Peace.

JAS

Day 132: Saint Snowflake

It has been a tough two weeks. Since Character Combine, the team has been maintaining full throttle as we head feet first into Evening of Dreams. Michelle Purcell and team have pulled off a series of miracles to make the evening incredible.

Tomorrow night, nearly 700 people will gather in Capital Christian High School's Performing Arts Building. Special Needs Students will hit the red carpet (or since we are doing a Wizard of Oz theme a Yellow Brick Road) and lock arms with their date. The 150+ dates are made up of couragous student athletes who set the standard for leadership. These athletes from across the city are excited to Be the Change!

Two hundred volunteers, nearly 100 VIP Community Leaders and close to two hundred parents of the guest round out the evening.

Its said that in order to become a Saint, you have to complete three miracles. Michelle, Abbie, Travis, and Sherene, you are all Saints.

Michelle, you are Saint Snowflake.

Peace.

JAS