Follow The Ancient Paths

Follow the ancient paths.

While I was looking back through my photos from my trip to Colorado, I remembered a conversation I’d had with a local there. I was explaining to them how my heart leaps at the chance to connect with nature. I absolutely find my sweet spot in sitting among a scenery of trees, rivers and all the wildlife that comes to play in that environment. What he shared with me that day, I’ll never forget.

He explained to me how elk, mule deer and even bears follow paths carved out for thousands of years in order to learn how to cross the terrain. They wind like a train through sagebrushes, swim rivers and dart across roads to reach their destinations, never wavering from it. I could just imagine bear cubs putting their tiny paws in these ginormous almost petrified gigantic trails of paws left behind by their ancestors from long ago. These are the paths that have been tried. The paths that have been tested. The paths that are true. 

It brought to mind the scripture from Jeremiah 6:16 that says, “Thus says the Lord: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, “We will not walk in it.” Why sometimes do we want to reinvent the wheel? I believe Jesus is speaking of this scripture in Mathew 11:27 “All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

The Message version of the Bible, says it like this, “I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” 

Wow. Don’t you want that? Aren’t you tired of carving out your own path only to find out it leads to another obstacle or even a dead end? Here, we’re invited to learn from Jesus himself, He invites us to study His life, how He worked, how He walked. I wonder friends, especially this time of year, are you tired? Do you feel like your journey keeps taking you through places you’ve already been and have yet to find your destination? 

Look back at the ancient paths of the animals for a moment. It’s not described as comfortable. It’s a herd of them together, in community, winding through some serious terrain. They swim through rivers and even dash across roads to get to where they’re going, to join the rest of their family. Jesus doesn’t promise us an easy path, but He does tell us He will teach us. He does remind us He is gentle and He assures us rest for our souls. 

Thankful For The Harvest

Are you thankful for the harvest of your year? In many cultures, this is what "Thanksgiving" or a similar holiday represents. It's a time of reflection with a grateful heart for the preceding year, for all that was accomplished, for all the favor we've received. 

In fact, our first President of the United States, George Washington proclaimed the first nation-wide thanksgiving celebration in America marking November 26, 1789, "as a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favours of Almighty God".

Not sure when this started, but now we even publicly pardon a turkey, which spares the bird's life and ensures that it will spend the duration of its life roaming freely on farmland.

So, we've gone from being thankful for our harvest to ensuring a turkey's life on national television. Hmmmm...and we wonder about the evolution in society?

I don't know about you, but this is the time of year I am shocked by another year coming to a close. I'm in awe of the many events that have unfolded both nationally and personally. It gives me great pause to consider, did I do anything to influence the outcomes of what I'm reflecting upon?

If I'm thinking about my health, was I intentional about taking care of it? If I'm considering my family relations, did I do everything I could to impact them in a positive way? Do they know I would do anything for them and love them to the moon and back?

In my job, did I do everything I could to influence the outcome of our year? In my spirit, did I take time to rest and be present in the hurriedness of life? Daily, did I look for the gifts of the sunrises and sunsets? Did I remember to thank those in my path for just being there? 

When I contemplate these questions, the answers tell me what my harvest looks like. My hope is that yours is abundant and your cup is overflowing with gratitude. My heart is to see an evolution that moves forward from one year to the next.

So, from my table of harvest to all of yours, may your prayers be filled with thanks and your hearts be filled with love. 

Breathe Life Into Someone!

I’ve had a great response from you all about telling your story! Some of you I’ve had the pleasure of meeting personally. I know the impact you have on others, you will be getting an invitation via email to share your story with me. My goal is to highlight different people pursuing their passion each week to inspire us all!

Some of you have asked why I care so much. I grew up in a very challenging environment. I watched people around me become so overwhelmed by life, they either settled or gave up altogether. I remember even as a little girl standing there watching people (much as I do now) thinking “no, don’t give up, there’s more!” I’d silently cheer as I watched these souls day in and day out worn, weary and without hope. 

So, as far back as I can remember, I’ve been trying to encourage others. My passion is to inspire others to their greatness. Recently, I was in a craft store and stumbled upon a wooden plaque that has the word “inspire” and it’s definition. This is how it read, “Inspire- verb (1) to encourage somebody to greater effort, enthusiasm, or creativity (2) to awaken a particular feeling in somebody “ as I read further, there was the etymology of the word—it’s Latin from inspirare “to breathe”. 

When we take time to inspire someone, we are breathing life into them. I don’t know about you, but I’ve had many times in my life when at just the right time, someone shared something, encouraged me, a song on the radio or words in a book lifted my spirit…they breathed life into me. 

It’s my humble opinion, that anyone with a pulse and a mind that is capable of making decisions can alter the course of their life. We have to decide we want it. We must be willing to go through the journey for it. Most of all, we have to believe it is a possibility for our lives. Our great Creator gave us all unique gifts and talents, are you using yours? If life doesn’t look like what you hoped it would be at this point, write down the behaviors you want to cease, write down the ones you want to adopt and believe this is for you! Finally, when you get the chance, inspire someone else. You never know when you might be giving them one more breath to believe. 

I Want To Hear From You!

If we ever have the opportunity to meet, you will find I ask many questions. I am fascinated by people and their stories. We all have different perspectives, different paths, different passions. People who live from their heart, who know who they are, who use their gifts and talents to impact communities—moves me! I am challenged to ask more questions. I want to know why certain people plot a map of reaching their destinations and goals and get there. I want to know what triggered your passion. I want to know how you take what you know and use it to inspire others.

So, I want to hear from you! I am in the process of compiling these pursuits of passion. If you have a great story to tell or know someone who does, please email or call me! Nora@garrisongc.com or 210-517-3286.

Know Thyself

Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.

-Steve Jobs

Most of my life, I’ve felt different. I was the kid at 5 on her first day of kindergarten walked into the classroom and upon meeting the teacher, advised her I was sick and was on antibiotics. I explained to her she needed to remember to give it to me twice during the day and that it needed to be refrigerated. Always an odd child. I also remember at the age of 8 writing a letter to my brother away at college that all I wanted was for us to have a closer relationship. I was concerned over these things at as a young child. I remember gathering children on the playground (when I was a child myself) and trying to inspire them to not follow the bullies! They could play whatever they wanted for crying out loud and did not have to succumb to the strong personalities that lingered on the monkey bars. 

As a young adult in the workplace, I remember finding myself in the office of the vice president or higher discussing the inefficiencies I saw on the workflow and how things could be much improved. I always enjoyed problem solving. I wasn’t the most popular or go to fun person but I was very efficient and created visions and goals expecting others to follow behind me as we charged toward success. 

I’ve always had a passion for pushing others beyond their comfort zones. When I look at others, I see more. Sometimes more than they’ve ever dreamed of seeing in themselves. When I’m placed in situations, I search for the efficient way, the best way, yielding the best results—how we get there makes no difference to me as long as it happens. 

I’ve been in a reflective mode lately. I realized that my personality is hard. My personality is not for the faint of heart and my personality struggles to get out of go mode. Go mode is fun for me. So, naturally, I wanted to learn more. I love learning and being challenged intellectually. As I dug further into my reading, I came across one of those personality tests. Very thorough, very lengthy and very pricey! But, I wanted to know. Out of the Meyers Briggs 16 personality types, I am an ENTJ. ENTJ’s only make up 3% of the entire population and women less than 1.5% of the population. I am a rare bird! 

As I read the description, I let out a huge sigh. It was spot on. My ENTJ counterparts and I are the commanders of the personality world. We want to reach our goals, cast the vision and bring others along to reach our pinnacle. We tend to forget that not everyone wants to come along and certainly not at our pace. ENTJ’s love debate, intellectual stimulation and will size you up based on how well you engage in this arena with us. 

We are doers and love the challenge of an obstacle in our way. We are problem solvers and can communicate solutions quite effectively. Though we have a number of wonderful qualities, we also have a down side. We are not the most thoughtful people. In fact, it’s quite easy for us to detach emotionally especially when we’re trying to get things done. Where other types might be hurt in debate or confrontation, ENTJ’s thrive in it. Personally, I feel it’s how progress is made. It’s dialogue. You must be courageously vulnerable to wage a discussion because we love to ask deep meaningful questions. Often times we are introspective, but not everyone appreciates having a mirror held up in front of them. 

As I considered all I had learned about myself through this research. It gave me great pause. It helped me to understand the hows and whys of who I am but also gave me an awareness of others that didn’t exist before. I don’t want to make others uncomfortable with my curiosity and goal seeking. I want others to be just as comfortable in their skin as I am in mine. I suppose the most comforting thing is knowing this is who I am. So often, people would tell me to “lighten up” and “don’t take things so seriously”. Turns out this is me. The good, the bad and the ugly. I am a leader. I am goal oriented. I seek to make things better. I seek to make others better. I believe in being the best version of ourselves that we can be. So, while it might serve me well to take a course in patience, while I might learn to not count on being the most popular in the office, while I may be considered least loving, I will sacrifice all I can for my team to succeed. I will strive everyday for us to be successful. I will see the best in you and tell you what I see. I will know myself. 

I Walk The Line

Would you walk across a tight rope about the width of a penny strung 630 ft. above the ground in Downtown Chicago, the “windy city”? How about blind folded? Nik Wallenda accomplished this very feat just a few days ago. Were any of my Chicago friends there? If you were in Chicago and had the chance would you have gone to watch? In an age and culture where the only things we watch live anymore are sporting events or concerts and plays, what an opportunity! 

Then I got to thinking, what an incredible event to witness! There are no nets, no safety measures, nothing like that. Only his passion and countless hours of practicing along with a family legacy passed down through 7 generations. In fact, Nik’s great-grandfather died trying to cross a wire between two towers in Puerto Rico on a windy day thirty six years ago. I love that they kept following their craft. Despite even experiencing loss at the hand of the very thing they love, they still chose to cross the wire. 

At least 65,000 people came out to watch. When he began to cross, everyone was cheering like Rome in the coliseum. Nik is very open about his faith. He prays the entire time he is walking the line. When asked if his faith is what gets him across the line, I love his response. Nik said, “The only thing faith assures me is where I’m going if I were to fall off that wire,” he continued “I don’t believe in any way that my faith holds me on that wire, or gets me across that wire.” Nik told the reporters, “I believe that God provides a peace that passes all understanding. And that’s why I can stay calm and cool leading up to these walks. But my faith plays a role in all aspects of my life, not just on the wire.”

You see, Nik still has to believe in himself. He still has to muster up the courage it takes anytime we decide to live from our hearts and follow our passion. It takes fight to be able to look others in the eye that question why we don’t just deal with what’s right in front of us instead of pursuing our big picture goals. It takes self motivation to keep pounding the rock even when we can’t see a dent in it yet. It takes will to continue moving forward even when things seem out of reach.

For me, this is a very personal platform. It is so important. 65,000 people didn’t come out to see if Nik would make it or not. They came out to witness something incredible, something audacious, something only a small percentage of people would do. But, they came because his extreme story inspires them somehow. It encourages them to take the next step on their “wire”. For most of us, it isn’t a matter of life or death…physically anyway. It is a matter of life or death as to whether we truly “live” or not. What will your legacy be? The reality is we all have an expiration date, what is it that you’ve spent your time here doing? Will your story live on long after you have passed? 

There are so many cultures that pass down stories and legacies from generation to generation. There’s an old Native American belief that a person isn’t considered truly dead until the last person who knew a story about them dies as well. Does your life speak to others? Do you pursue your heart with a reckless abandon like Nik? Will your story live on long after you do?

Adversity Is The Greatest Teacher

There was a time in my life, I was in between jobs. I was young. I was a single mother and I was doing the best I could. Things were challenging to say the least. Sometimes we ate cereal for breakfast, lunch and dinner. For a time, we went without running water. We counted change for gas and food. Often times it was a good day if I had enough change left over to get a happy meal for my sweet boy.

In my opinion, it was one of the best times in our life. Yes, you read that correctly, it was one of the best times in our life. 

There’s an old proverb that says, “When fate throws a dagger at you, there’s two ways to catch it by the blade or by the handle.” Enduring hard paths in our life prepares you in a way that is priceless. Better than any seminar, more productively than any book, you become a survivor. You learn to thrive no matter the situation presented. Adversity trains you like a special ops soldier for the battles of life. 

As you begin your training, adversity will tell you you’re defeated. You got nothing. Best you can do is learn to survive. This is where your will, your mind and your faith must show up. This is where you choose to make something out of nothing. This is where you absolutely see what you’re made of. You choose to catch the dagger of fate by the blade or by the handle. 

My son and I made it through that rough period. We learned a lot about ourselves and each other. I learned whatever would be thrown my way, I would do my very best to rise to the occasion. I realized I possessed another gear. I came to understand we can fully be present in every circumstance, whether good or bad. I learned that no one is in charge of making life happen for me, but I must be the one to go out and make life. 

One of the most valuable lessons adversity taught me is to focus. It’s easy to focus when things are going well. Clarity and perseverance is achieved when you learn to keep your focus even when things are not going well. You can only focus on what will happen next. Don’t look back. Don’t complain. Keep your eyes on where you’re headed not on where you’ve been. 

Serving Those Who Serve Us

I have an either really amazing or super annoying habit of talking to random people…a lot. I might go out for lunch and as the waiter or waitress comes over to let me know they’ll be waiting on me, I’ll ask them their name. Then they might come to get my order and I’ll ask where they’re from. Then when they come back to check on me, I might ask what they’re doing there? This usually stops them in their tracks like a deer in headlights. I don’t do it because I want them to feel uncomfortable. I do it because I want to make them a little uncomfortable. I want them to consider their lives. I want them to know they matter. 

Selfishly, I have to admit, I enjoy hearing their stories. Stories that have brought me sadness that’ll break your heart for them, but also stories of hope, stories of promise, stories of life. When some answer “I don’t know…I just sort of ended up working here.” I remind them they had to decide to work there, they had to agree to work there, they had to feel like this was the best place for them at that particular time. They may all be correct. But, what gets their hearts churning is for me to ask, “Don’t you wonder if there’s more?” 80% of the time, they’ll answer with a sometimes very quiet yes or at the least a nod of their head. 

Consider what the typical life of a waiter/waitress is. Most I can tell you from my experience are in school. Many of them are single parents. Most will admit they can make more money doing that than working in many other professions. Please don’t misunderstand me, being a waiter or waitress is not some horrible job I’m trying to rescue them from. It is hard work. You’re on your feet all day. You deal with some very sweet people and some very not so sweet people. It’s taxing and challenging. When I ask "don’t you wonder if there’s more?", it’s not necessarily dealing with their profession—it’s dealing with life. 

You see, I don’t just randomly consider a place to eat. For me, it becomes almost a secondary job, one that I hold very dear to my heart. I go to two places consistently. I get to know the waiters/waitresses that serve me. My questions and speaking into their life, that’s me having the privilege of serving them. Once they understand I’m genuinely interested in them, their walls begin to come down and I am humbled to be asked into their world. 

How about you, do you see the people around you? Do you notice those that serve you everyday? Do you look at them as people with circumstances that might be similar to yours? Do you see yourself in them? Maybe that’s how you put yourself through school and now it’s time to give back. 

My hope is to meet enough waiters/waitresses that I can gather them in community. Perhaps offer them a poolside bar-b-que with all the fixings and I’d have the honor of serving them the way they serve us every day. 

All Beginnings Are Difficult

I recently found the most beautiful Hebrew saying, "Kol Hatchalot Kashot": All beginnings are difficult.

“All beginnings are difficult.” Just writing that sentence carries so much weight. It’s intense. It’s got meat to it. It’s well…difficult. It’s deep and yet simple all at once. 

A beginning means that something has ended. A beginning signifies change. A beginning means you must start. Webster defines beginning as “the action or start of bringing or bringing into being”. It’s something different, something new. Whether it’s the beginning of a new life process- the beginning of a new marriage, the beginning of a new birth, the beginning of widowhood. Or maybe it’s the beginning of the path to climbing a mountain, the beginning to grad school, the beginning of a new process at work. Perhaps it’s even the beginning of a new painting on a canvas, a new book you wish to write, a new hair style?

Recently, I’ve had the opportunity to witness firsthand a beginning that’s inspired me. Two of the men in our office, Darryl and Brian, have decided to run the San Antonio Rock and Roll Half Marathon. No easy feat considering in January of this year Darryl weighed at least 50 pounds more than he does now and the half was not even on Brian’s radar. Their beginning was difficult to say the least. Mindsets had to change, perspectives had to change, decisions had to change and change can be difficult. 

Think about going to the eye doctor. He sits you in the chair and flashes lenses in front of you. 1 or 2. 3 or 4. Now is 1 better or worse than 3? Imagine if we could tie attitudes to those numbers. 1 is Negative Attitude. 2 is Just Ok. 3 is It’s hard but I’m willing. 4 is I’m committed. Which lens do you prefer to navigate change to your new beginning? 

I believe we must walk ourselves from 1 - 4 if we are going to be on board with our beginnings AND for the benefit of those around us so that we’re not miserable to be around. Remember, it takes a village…

So, Brian and Darryl are now up to running an hour or more on their training schedule. So proud of them! They are getting leaner, stronger and guess what by default their mindsets are also changing. When we take on, commit to and act on physical change, changing our mental attitude is a byproduct. It happens naturally. No longer are we resistive to change but we actually relish the challenge of a difficult beginning. We know what we are made of. We know we can handle it. We look forward to that first step of transition. 

Biblically, think of how many times God asked His people to trust Him for new beginnings. You and I are proof He still does. Quite often when we want our beginning to be cozy and comfortable, usually He has other plans. You see friends, when we're a little stretched and a little uncertain that's when we get to see how big He is. That's when we get to realize apart from Him that new beginning would be even more difficult. Often times we dictate the degree of difficulty. 

Remember, “all beginnings are difficult”, you and your mindset determine just how difficult that beginning will be. 

It Takes A Village...

I meet with so many people who feel as though when they get to work, they check their identity at the door. They either put on a mask they were never meant to wear or they become invisible—just put your head down, do your job and leave at the end of the day. What their companies miss is the chance to celebrate the community of people that work for them. We are not clones. We do not live in a “1984” society. We are all individuals with beautiful gifts and strengths to share that make up our work place. 

We all bring with us different paths that have led us here. We all have different reasons why we are employed here. We all have different perspectives from which we view the events that happen daily. We all hear the words that are spoken in our own ears. We all filter the actions of others in our own ways. Ultimately though, we all should know we matter. 

We should all remember to make room for each others hearts. We should all remember to honor one another in a loving respectful way. Great things happen when you make room for everyone to shine. The best collaborations are those that happen in settings where people know they will be heard, they will be seen and that their comments count. 

I have the opportunity to learn much everyday at Garrison. From door frames to floating a floor and everything construction in between, I have been a student of renovation. The most valuable take away though has been that we honor each and every one on our team. We flow together as one bringing our best to the table each day. We have the support of our leadership who shows us firsthand what this looks like daily. Then, we get to bring that to our clients and show them what sets us apart in the renovation world.

So friends, don’t ever hang up your identity when you walk in that door. You matter. You are needed. The village just wouldn’t be the same without you. 

Is Empathy Overrated?

I recently read an article in Forbes magazine by Rich Karlgaard, “The Jerry Jones Conundrum”. The article caught my eye because Karlgaard discussed how egos in various positions such as Jerry Jones, Steve Jobs and Howard Schultz had to be put aside in order for their business to thrive. In fact in Starbucks case, Howard Schultz realized “there’s an art to customer service that he himself doesn’t really get”. Karlgaard goes on to say “Building a great service company requires a deep empathy for employees and employee culture that Schultz doesn’t have. He is a type A, hyper-competitive, poor-kid-who-goes-to-college-on-a-sports-scholarship, successful-at-everything-he-touches kind of guy. Such people almost never have a gentle, empathetic touch.”—This is what stirred me!

These words reached out from the page like someone gripping my collar and holding me against the wall. “This is you!” I could hear the voice screaming in my head. Really? In my mind, I’m very empathetic. So, I come out of my cubicle and begin asking my co-workers, they work with me every day surely they’ll be honest with me. As I asked them “Do I have empathy?", each of them came back with a resounding “NO” it seems before I could get the question out…hmmmm. But then, one of them said it depends on the situation. He said you expect more from others. Yes, yes I could see that. It was still stirring inside of me. I wanted to understand. I don’t like being unfair, but I know that my expectations from others set a bar higher for many of them than they perhaps set for themselves. 

So, is this good or bad? I look at my son who plays tennis for his university’s D1 team. They have 12 guys on their team. He is in the top 6. He has worked hard for that spot in the top 6. The guys in the bottom 6, they refer to themselves as “team 2”. They make snarky comments during practice. Their attitudes are less than stellar about being on the bottom half. My son says he doesn’t understand. “Why don’t they just try harder then?” I concurred. I don’t understand. That has always been our response. 

So, I suppose what I’m looking for here is your feedback. I want to understand the other side. Is it doing more harm than good to want people to live beyond what they believe possible? Maybe they’ve fallen short of the top of their mountain every time…if there are those of us willing to walk the rest of the way with them, pushing them up the mountain, cheering them on…my how their world would change viewing it from the zenith. 

I want to hear from you…please share. Tell me your story. Tell me your perspective. Where are you on the mountain?

Fear of Joy

Just drove in over the weekend. To be honest, it was quite an emotional drive home. I wept when I could no longer see the mountains around me or in the rearview mirror. They had been my faithful companions for the last 6 days. I had witnessed their transformation. They went from having the tiniest pockets of golden treasure to huge highways of gold leading to the top of their majesty. Each day that past, the mountains were so welcoming, proud of their evolution and happy to share their hues of orange, burgundy and flaming gold with passers by. The mountains were a wonderful reminder that time stands still for no one. Despite what is happening in your life, there is change good or bad, there is going to be a difference so what will you do with it? How will you prepare for it? How will you impact others because of it? 

I read an article in the New York Times this morning, researchers are now discovering there is a “fear of joy” that is permeating not only our society here in the US but globally. The research has shown that it affects most countries except for third world countries where there seems to be no difference in their day anyway according to the article. A “fear of joy”? I had to read the article a couple of times because I could hardly believe it. First off I looked up the proper definition of joy so here it is— Definition of JOY 1 a : the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires. — Perhaps therein lies the problem?

We’ve decided, according to Merriam Webster, that joy has to do with well-being, success and good fortune or by having what we want? So, there’s a fear of being well, a fear of success, a fear of good fortune and a fear of having what we want…hmmmm. Are we saying then that it’s easier to be unhealthy, just doing ok and not really believing in the desires of our heart? Then I suppose the other shoe will never drop? We won’t be disappointed when things change? I don’t understand this all or nothing mentality. If you do, please help me. But look around, it’s true isn’t it? We have an epidemic level problem with our health from heart disease to obesity. I’ve met more people and ask them about connecting with their heart, do they know what their passion is…they have no clue. 

Many people weighed in and left comments. Most agreed with the article saying that this made sense with their perspective of the world. But there were the few that said what I believe is true too. Life is neither good or bad, it just is. We can choose how we respond to the various scenarios life hurls our way. Joy is not situational, nor does it have to be. Joy is knowing we are deeply rooted in who we are and we do not allow what is temporal to create a permanent perspective. Much like the mountains, we know our seasons change. Along with the beauty of fall comes the dead of winter and following that the rebirth of spring. And, as a sweet friend pointed out just the other day, the winter is when there is the most growth in our lives just like the beautiful trees in Colorado. They are dormant, there are no leaves to take the nourishment from the roots. 

Sometimes when we have no fruit, no leaves in our lives, it’s when we just get to be. It’s when we get to prepare for that season of rebirth. We get to choose to be as steadfast as the mountains in all their splendor. Time is constantly moving forward, never backward, will we? 

Move Your Mountains

Often times you hear people say, you cannot give what you don’t have. Or maybe, you can’t promise to give what you have not yet received. People often speak of this referencing love. When I was given the most generous invitation to come out to Colorado and stay in my sweet friend’s house, I knew it would be special. I knew I’d receive so many gifts and blessings. My heart had no idea what was waiting for me. 

You cannot look in any given direction and not be blown away. I’ve never taken a drug in my life but this must be what it’s like. You are absolutely dumbfounded by what you’re looking at. My heart was literally beating out of my chest as I tried to take it all in. It’s as though you’re in a dream, it just doesn’t seem real. When you’re witnessing it, God seems to remove your daily hurried lens and gives you lenses that view this world in technicolor! There are fields of the most beautiful wild grasses that grow without abandon. There are the rustic pine trees that offer buffet style dining for the squirrels daily. The army of aspens and their gorgeous golden wardrobe, it’s like fashion week in Paris for the trees here!

 All of it nestled by the majesty of the mountains. They are so massive. The mountains are reminiscent of protectors of this beautiful land. It’s as if God told them you will protect everything with your size, you will create boundaries, you will offer a place of refuge for the animals, you will give people a chance to climb you and remind them just how small everything is when you see the view from the top. The mountains remind me of anchors for our soul. They are so strong, so sure, so true. 

What’s so amazing is that Jesus never said you have to have the faith of a mountain but rather the faith of a mustard seed to move a mountain. Isn’t that something folks…so counter cultural! If you have the faith of this tiny little seed you can tell the massive mountain to move and it will move! In life, how many things are really the size of a mustard seed and we give them permission to be the size of mountains in our lives. We give these obstacles permission to be our boundaries. We look at life as if we are surrounded and there is no way out because to climb them seems insurmountable. And so, we create our own little towns in the valleys of our lives when we actually are meant to be at the top of the mountain! 

Today, I had plans to visit Rocky Mountain National Park, but as my day began the Lord had other plans. So I traveled West to Leadville. I met the sweetest woman there, a shop owner. She was kind and welcoming, as are most of the people I’ve encountered here. She shared her story with me and how she arrived in Leadville. Like most of the other people I’ve met, she simply followed her heart. As I began my drive back, I thought I’d stop back through Salida. There I had the privilege of meeting Maggi Kelly. This woman has a heart as big as Texas as she welcomes people in. Not to mention, her boutique has the super cutest clothes! Maggi and I hit if off like timeless friends. We exchanged stories. We cried together. We laughed together. We were kindred spirits that simply had never met. She has the most precious soul. So inspiriting and so loving. 

There are the sweet friends I met at Amica’s , the most yummy restaurant in downtown. There’s the great folks I met at Safeway, the local grocery store. The waitress at the Patio Pancake House. This world is so big friends and yet just one touch, one smile, one moment to actually notice someone else—I’m convinced it’s why we’re all here. We get the opportunity to learn from one another, to grieve together, to celebrate together, to hope together. We get to be community only separated by zip codes but not by spirit. 

To put a bow on this journal entry, one of the greatest gifts I received in this journey—pure love. As our Great Creator showed me His love through the beauty and wonder of this magical place, I in turn could give that to others. I took time to slow down. I took time to see with the eyes of my heart. I recovered a piece of my heart that was waiting for me here. No longer will I perceive my world to be confined by the “mountains” I see. There’s so much more waiting to be explored one part of our journey at a time. 

I'm Going Through A Season...

Just read on twitter the Colorado photographer’s here are so surprised by the fall foliage. They can’t understand why the leaves are peaking so early this year. They say that the color is what is typical for October but most believe they peaked on Monday of this week. I spoke with photographers just today and he said, "the leaves were green up until Saturday and suddenly they went into fast forward!" Didn’t they know I was coming this week for my very first trip to Colorado and our Creator would not let me be disappointed. On my drive to Aspen yesterday, it seemed as though with every inch of the miles I drove, the leaves got brighter and brighter.

As I look out from the back deck to the beautiful mountains there is more gold today. There is more fiery orange nestled in too. it makes me realize the wonder of that community of trees. How amazing is it that nature realizes it’s perfect timing? The trees all transition together in such harmony. That’s what makes a strong community. That is the power of a tenacious team. That is what is unquestionable unity. You see when we look at the mountainside, we would not notice one lone tree. No matter how incredible it’s color, it would not stand out. But, when you have an army of aspens…you swear the trees are tinged with real gold they glow so beautifully. 

As I sat and rocked in the comfy rocking chairs built for two, I realized something. As the seasons transition here, nature understands it must give up something to gain something. The fall leaves are spectacular. They’re color so rich and vibrant, colors you won’t find in a 64 count box of crayons. But graciously, they shed these beautiful garments to flow into the barrenness of winter. Soon, only their trunks will remain and their branches will become resting places for the new fallen snow. The green lush grass will become dry and brown and will hibernate under the crisp pristine winter wonderland. 

Then it hit me. So often we as humans like to say "we’re going through a “season” right now. Which typically means we’re transitioning or being stretched in some way. I’ve said it before myself. But perhaps there’s something to learn from nature. If we are ready to receive a new season in our lives, are we willing to lay something down to receive it? So often I know I can be stubborn. I want to change the channel for my life but I want to hold onto everything exactly as it is. Give me more but don’t take anything away! I’ve learned this week from the rhythm of nature, that’s just not how it works friends. Our plates our only so big, so if we want that extra helping of “relationship” then we’ve got to get rid of some of the things on our calendar. If we want an additional side of solitude, then we have to be willing to let go of the bread of busy. i don’t know about you but I can lather me up some busy with lots of butter and enjoy it just fine not being aware of how much I’ve eaten! 

Well friends, two more days here and my moose has been playing hard to get! Until next time...

Making the best of life

This trip has taught me so much. From the moment I told my 83 yr old momma I was coming, she said she wished with all her heart she could come along with me. But the next thing she said was even more profound. She said, "I'm so glad you didn't turn out the way we raised you. I've never done anything like that in my life and now I'm in my last years. All I can do is make the best of it." My mother's statement shook me to the core and warmed my heart all at the same time.

 You see fear was a huge presence in our home. We were raised to be afraid of everything and anything that could possibly happen. The result? A very limited confined life. I used to own a lot of real estate in the community of Much Afraid. Pretty sure I was the HOA president! Twenty years ago I was diagnosed as an agoraphobe. I could not leave my home let alone meet new people and certainly not venture across the country solo to a place I've never been. But life is a great teacher if we agree to the syllabus. Thankfully we have an author and perfecter with other plans for our lives. I think where we sometimes go wrong is believing that we can't live with passion and desire. We do what my mother has done most of her life settle in and "just make the best of it”. 

This trip has taught me that is not the case friends. There is a journey that awaits full of twists and turns, excitement and intrigue and yes even lots of passion and desire. Do we dare to allow ourselves to experience it? There’s a song by One Republic, it’s aptly called, “I lived”. The chorus of this song says, “I owned every minute that this world could give and with every broken bone, I swear I lived.” I love that. We have to live and we have to “own” every minute or we allow fear to tell us how small the cell will be that will be our confinement of contentment. 

Today, I drove to Aspen. It was the most incredible drive through the mountains. And when I say through the mountains, I’m talking about switchbacks, no rail and only 1 car can go at a time. The fun thing was there were certain points where you couldn’t see around the corner. Best you could do was hope that there was no one else coming at the same time you were. I laughed to myself as I considered the definition of faith- faith is what we hope for but cannot see….just like this road.

 A few months ago, if someone had told me that this week I’d be in Colorado having the most amazing time, that’d be hard to believe but I would have hoped it were true. It has been my dream for quite some time to come to Colorado, for years in fact. The reality is I never believed it back then. Let me clarify, I didn’t believe it for me. Truth be told, I probably wasn’t in a place to receive such a gift. The point is, whatever your heart longs for, whatever your dream is, whatever makes you come alive—don’t stop believing for it! 

My son and I talked about this just yesterday. We discussed how most people that really don’t believe in a higher power or aren’t spiritual might say there is no such thing as fate, but merely coincidence. I don’t believe that’s true at all. I believe fate is that there is a larger plan, a specific purpose, dreams waiting to be fulfilled for our lives but that’s only the first half of it. The second half of it is believing it will come true. I have always resonated with mountains, rivers, trees and all that this rustic place offers. Going to Aspen today, I received so many of those gifts along the way. Sceneries that words cannot do justice. Friends, don’t let fear keep you from experiencing life, don’t just make the best of it. Live!

Follow The Yellow Brick Road

As I look out the windows of this amazing mountain hideaway, the sun plays hide and seek with the clouds. Today the Aspen trees look as if God hit the “enhance color” button on his iPhone! They are absolutely glowing today. If you look in the mountains long enough, it’s as though the yellow brick road runs through it and Oz is somewhere at the top of the peaks. 

Yesterday, I had the chance to venture into town. Quaint and charming are the words that come to mind. The locals are so welcoming. They were happy to help this crazy woman who said y’all and asked for sweet tea—which apparently didn’t make it as a staple in the diet here. The shops in the town were full of local artisans, people that understand their connection to the earth here and all that it offers.

 Of course I took the chance to sit down with people and ask them about what drew them here, how long had they been here, are they still stunned by the beauty this paradise brings? Most people said they came to visit and fell in-love with it. They found so much joy and freedom here, they could not imagine leaving it behind. I can completely understand that. 

Colorado has a way of mesmerizing you with it’s beauty. It draws you in and refreshes your soul quenching your need for peace and solitude. Coming here is as if the busy clock stops ticking and there is only time for deep slow breaths of the crisp clean air. Your schedule ceases to be the driver of your day and graciously agrees to be put on hold indefinitely. 

As I hiked today, I was reminded that the world is three dimensional and it is round! The world is not flat and you don’t fall off if you travel too far, so why do we fill our minds with those fables? The earth is gritty and wonderful. It gently offers the richness of it’s soil to the trees and the wildflowers. It beckons us to come explore, to come and taste the goodness. It promises it will not disappoint. If you’re like me friends, your palette is in desperate need of a new flavor for your life. One that your heart says has been there all along, you just have to quiet yourself long enough to find it. 

Time For Rest

If you've never had the opportunity to visit Colorado, you are missing out! Especially this time of year, nature it seems is transitioning into rest mode. The mountains are soaking up the healing mist their creator made to wash over them gently spritzing them with love. They proudly display pockets of gold where the Aspens on cue know it's their time to shine. In fact all the trees are loving their new palette of fiery reds, glistening golds and bursts of orange. They swear they're all falls and wish they could wear these year round. 

The rivers are rustling with excitement knowing they too get to relax. Humans won't be enjoying the ride they offer for a while, they get to let their hair down and run briskly kissing the rocks as they flow through, enjoying their journey. The animals play in the fields of gold, knowing the cooler weather is upon them. The wind will begin gently blowing whispers of what is to come, reminding them to forage and settle in comfortably. Yes, this place embodies the verse "even the rocks cry out" wander through the amazing terrain here and you'll swear that they do. 

I began having dreams of this place even before I knew I would be privileged to come here. As I approached, driving in from Texas, I felt like I was coming home. It was as if I was returning to a place my spirit has known forever. I was awestruck by the majesty the mountains command. In-love with the trees that establish communities of themselves. Amazed by the beauty this place freely shares with all those longing for a taste.

 Here, I find rest. I find freedom. I feel all the little things I make big things out of just dissipate and wash away with the healing rains falling on the cabin's roof. My spirit feels so connected to the earth, it's as though my heart beats with each movement of the playful leaves in the wind. And then there's the clarity of thought, the silencing of the world to hear. 

Just as nature obediently transitions so should we. I tend to fight rest. The to do list is too long. People need me for crying out loud! How in the world would things function without me? After I stepped down from my prideful pedestal, after I hung up my Super Woman cape...I gave myself permission to accept my Father's invitation to come away with Him. To simply sit in His presence. To allow Him to show off the beauty His hands have made, the treasures and gifts busy mode doesn't allow me to see. 

What I've come to realize is I'd rather be out in nature worshipping Him than worshiping Him in church dreaming about being out in nature. We cannot make things so complex and so rigid that we miss the simple and sweet. Until next time friends, I have a date with a moose! Love and miss you all!

Scared? Saddle Up Anyway...

“Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.”
― John Wayne

John Wayne is one of my favorite cowboys of all time. Maybe it’s because I’m a Texas girl but I just love everything he stood for. Jake’s dad and I both admired John Wayne so much we named our only child after one of his movies- “Big Jake”. In my world, names mean something and my son has done very well to live into the weight of that name. He is fierce and amazing. He takes on challenges just like this quote by John Wayne says, “scared to death but saddles up anyway.” I’d like to say he learned that from me, but that’s not the case. You see, for most of my young adult life I battled severe anxiety. Anxiety kept me shackled in a mental prison for so long I was agoraphobic and there was a long stretch of my journey that I couldn’t even leave my own home. 

Daily to do’s that most people take for granted like running to the grocery store or going to pick up a gift, even picking up Jake from school was terrifying for me. I thought I’d have a panic attack in front of people and pass out. Worse yet, I really believed I would die. It was such a hard time for me. I stopped doing all the things I enjoy like playing tennis and spending time with my friends. I literally quit living for fear of dying. I finally decided to get help and see someone. The psychologist explained that I was like a squid. Squid shoot ink to create clouds in the water to protect them from predators, except I would shoot ink because I was afraid of being afraid. 

At first, I decided I’d get on medication to help quell the anxiety. So, I began taking an anti-depressant. Honestly, I took it for about 6 months but then I felt as if I was simply “masking” my anxiety instead of taking practical steps to deal with it. My doctor and I thought it was ok to taper down and them completely stop my anti anxiety drug. After all, I was literally taking a half of a half so for me it was more mental than physical. Now, for some people, it is completely a chemical imbalance and the need for medication is much the same as being diabetic and needing insulin. So please don’t misunderstand me. For me though, I knew most of my problem was allowing fear to arrest me and I was ready to break free. 

I remember countless nights calling the crisis center hotline. Such sweet patient people. I’m sure they all learned my voice after a while. I’d call in with the same story night after night. “I’m dying, I can’t breathe, my throat is closing, and on and on and on..” The staff would always say the same thing in the most patient voice, “take a deep breath, try to center yourself, you’re going to be ok..” till one fateful night…They must have been so done with me calling every night like clockwork. I called in and went through my usual routine and the operator on the other side said, “if you think you’re going to die, why don’t you just die already?” Wait a minute, what did she just say? Where’s the compassion? Why isn’t she giving in to my anxiety? Then it hit me, if they’re sick and tired of me, shouldn’t I be sick and tired of me too? Granted, not the response for someone calling in, but I needed that kick in the pants that night. Then and there I realized my anxiety could be a springboard instead of a death wish. I decided right then and there my life would change. I made the choice to live instead of believing I was dying. That one choice led to the rest of my life being filled with passion. I realized anxiety is the same as adrenaline when you’re excited about something, it’s just the negative face of it. 

I began reflecting on the past two years of my life. Yes, two years folks and I realized that I had not lived. Living used to be terrifying for me. So, I decided that if we only get one chance to swing, I want to swing for the fences! I also knew, that I would cheer everyone on when it’s their turn at bat. Even for those who believe they have been sentenced to the “sidelines” or who are more comfortable “riding the pine”, I will do everything I can to encourage, edify and excite so that they too can see that it’s not all that scary to give it a go. Please hear me when I say there were plenty of days when I had to “fake it till I make it” and I may have been having a conversation with you at the same time that the adrenaline was pounding my heart right out of my chest. What I finally had to realize was my fear was much smaller than I made it out to be. What was the worst that could happen anyway? I’d pass out and then come back to, if I were that riddled with anxiety I probably needed the little break anyway…Ha! It’s certainly not that it never happens anymore, but I’ve learned to ask myself questions like “why am I feeling this way?” “What am I noticing that’s happening to my body?” Those questions give it more of an external perspective rather than allowing me to spark a wildfire of emotion. 

I hope this article encouraged some of you who struggle with anxiety or any kind of debilitating emotion like that. What I really wanted to convey is our mind is very powerful. It can be our biggest ally making us feel fearless or it can be our greatest enemy leading us into a battle that isn’t ours to fight. So take heart friends, it looks like it’s your turn at bat, so gird yourself with courage and saddle up anyway...

What % is your potential?

If you’ve read my writing for any amount of time, you’ll know that I’m a huge fan of living into our fullest potential. I believe in showing up and evolving to be the very best us we can be. Maybe its the optimist in me and the cheerleader but for that reason I love watching shows like Extreme Weight Loss. The physical transformations blow my mind! I suppose because it’s something we can “see”. If we make changes to how we function emotionally or how we process things, they aren’t so evident but transformation happens none the less. Then it occurred to me, in order for a physical transformation to happen, you must have a mental shift first. You have to agree with yourself that you are willing to make the changes necessary to see your goal realized. 

When someone wants a physical transformation to occur, they have to make certain changes. You have to set goals. You have to adjust your schedule to make room for these disciplines. It must be measured. It’s re-wiring your mind so that you can adjust your thinking for this journey. It’s the prep that goes into it. It’s telling those around you, you’ll be working through making some changes and ask for their patience and support. Finally and most important, it’s making the decision that there is no turning back, you’re burning your ship to make it happen. It’s go time and that’s all there is to it. 

So, last night I watched Extreme Weight Loss. This beautiful brave woman started out at 320 pounds. She was having health problems, emotional problems and just the day to day struggles of carrying around this extra weight. It’s a 4 phase year program that she went through and I really appreciated it because only the 1st phase is done with the trainer. After that the person has to learn to make it theirs. She had to be able to go home and still have her “normal” life. She had to learn how to integrate her new regimen into her typical day. She had to learn to balance who she was with who she wanted to be. She would meet with the trainers at the end of each phase to weigh in. She failed to make her goals for the 2nd and 3rd phase. She was going through some emotional struggles and her old habits sucked her in. The end of her 3rd phase though she competed in a half iron man triathlon. This was a woman who hadn’t been on a bike since she was 12 years old! She began training for a 1.5 mile swim, half marathon run and a 56 mile bike ride. In the half iron man, if you’re not within the time parameters for the events, they pull you. This is not a finish when you finish event. She did it! She completed it just shy of the 8 hours allotted for the event! I was so proud of this woman I’ve never met before! Not only that but her phase 4 weigh in she met her goal and for the first time in her adult life of thirty something she was under 200 pounds. She had lost nearly 150 pounds in a year’s time. 

The most striking thing that touched my heart as I watched this show was her trainer telling her during the Half Iron Man, “most people live up to only 50 percent of their potential”. Wow. Does that mean we’re only half living? That really blew my mind and disturbed me deeply all at the same time. It reminded me of a quote I read once by William James, “Most people live in a very restricted circle of their potential being. They make use of a very small portion of their possible consciousness, and of their soul’s resources in general, much like a man who, out of his whole organism should get into a habit of using and moving only his little finger.” So, I wonder what is the equivalent for a mental “Iron Man” that we must train ourselves for? What I’ve realized is we can become very comfortable, myself included, in doing things the same way over and over. We can make changes but revert back to what we know, like cheating on a diet. We cheat on our discipline for a new outlook or an improved thought process. If we could somehow measure our new found habits for being better organized or maybe learning to relate to others well, or wanting to get in better physical shape--what would that look like? What daily exercises would you have to take part in to create a new habit? 

I do not want to live as though I can only use my little finger, I want to use my whole being. Everyone in my life from my work family to my family at home, to my peers and all the others I come in to contact with deserve my "very best me" operating to the fullest of my potential. Aren’t you the least bit curious to see what that looks like? If you would’ve told this contestant on Extreme Weight Loss the year before she’d be participating in an Half Iron Man Triathlon, she wouldn’t have believed you, but she did it. So what is it for you that seems so utterly ridiculous? What will you set your mind to doing and burn your ship to make it happen? What does your more than 50% look like?

Do Something.

"When you die, it does not mean that you lose to cancer. You beat cancer by how you live, while you live and the manner in which you lives.”-Stuart Scott

This was just one quote from a very moving speech by Stuart Scott at the ESPY's as he accepted the Jimmy V Perseverance Award. For those of you unaware, Stuart has been battling cancer for the last 7 years. He has used the opportunity of having cancer to give himself a platform. How many of you had to read that sentence again or missed it all together? Yes, he has used cancer as an opportunity. Interestingly, Webster defines opportunity as a set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something. Often times I think we hear the word opportunity and immediately our mind defines that as positive- the opportunity for a better job, a bigger house, to travel somewhere…but what about the opportunity to struggle, opportunity to experience hardship, the opportunity to battle a disease like Stuart Scott. You see, the other half of the definition of opportunity is that which makes it possible to do something. That’s what Stuart’s speech did for me, he reminded me that whatever it is we’re going through we get to choose how we will “live”. We get to choose how we will face the circumstance. We get to choose what we will do because of the circumstance. The circumstance makes it possible to “do something”. 

There are two very defining moments in my life that give me the desire and passion to want to “do something” every day. One of those was my son’s father falling 25 ft onto concrete. He suffered a traumatic brain injury among other things such as a collapsed lung, bruised kidney, maxiofacial fractures, not to mention only the survival part of his brain was alert. His face was disfigured from the fractures sustained in the fall. He had to be strapped down to his bed because in that situation, it’s flight or fight for your brain. There were times he wanted to do both. The thing that saved him was being such a tremendous athlete. The doctors believed his muscles cradled his bones well or he would have suffered many more injuries. We spent several weeks in the hospital. I’ll never forget the day the doctors came into his room after we had been in the ICU for 15 days with no change. They gently told me we’d have to figure out what to do with him since he could remain like this the rest of his life. How do you respond to news like that? The things that run through your mind…I’ll tell you what I did, I yelled at him. Sounds crazy and selfish to some degree I guess. I sat there and yelled at this man that couldn’t understand a word I was saying, this man that was in his own world, this man that was the father of my precious boy. I told him he couldn’t do this to Jake, he couldn’t do this to all his students that counted on him. Believe it or not, later that day he sat up and asked, “Is this a nightmare?” The doctors couldn’t understand how he snapped out of his semi comatose state. The rest of our journey would be uphill but Jake would have his dad a part of his life again.

He had to have prisms put in his glasses because the double vision sustained from his brain injury was so bad and it would be permanent. In the end, he lost 6 months of short term memory and he had to learn all about his life again. He had to learn how to breathe on his own again, how to walk again, what year it was, who all the people were in his life. When we went home, I had to remind him daily about who he was and what he liked and didn’t like until it became his normal again. We would make daily visits to the tennis center where we ran tennis clinics. I taught him how to feed balls again and his students did their best to come sit with him so that he could “teach” them. Several years later, he’s teaching tennis again, has a great junior program and teaches several lessons every week. But we had to “do something”. The opportunity to endure a traumatic brain injury taught us something about perseverance. It made it possible for us to walk through brain injuries with others since we were familiar with all that it took from us and all that it added to our life. 

The second defining moment in my life came when I had a near death experience in a kayaking accident. The river crested that day and the kayak I was in got sucked into a tide pool. I hit my head on logs and ended up vertical under a big pile of debris several feet under water. I had a life jacket on but the strands were tangled and wrapped all through the branches. I fought so hard to try to get free so I could get to the top of the water, but it was no use. I realized I was going to die that day. I quit trying and I prayed. I asked God to forgive me for all the wrong I had done in my life and I asked Him to remind Jake every day that I love him. Then I quietly allowed the most peaceful feeling to wash over me. The next thing I knew, I woke on the side of the river. The person I was with said I floated up out of the water with arms stretched out. I had no pulse and I was under for at least 3 minutes before I popped up out of the water. I gently opened my eyes. I never spat out water and never gasped for air. Just woke as if I had been taking a nap on a lazy afternoon. I realized I was given another chance to live. I was given an opportunity to do something. So, that’s what I attempt to do everyday. I try to “live” and I try to inspire others “by the manner in which I live”. The reality is we’re all on different paths in this journey, we all face different giants in our life, the only way we get to beat them like Stuart Scott said is to not allow those things to define us. We can choose to defy the odds. We can choose to “do something”. 

Come Home With It Or On It.

In Gates of Fire, Steven Pressfield writes, “The Spartans say that any army may win while it still has legs under it; the real test comes when all strength is fled and the men must produce victory on will alone.” Know me for any length of time and you will find that I love reading about the Spartans. I appreciate the training, the discipline and the “at all costs” mentality. It fascinates me really. Consider what was “normal” for these Spartans in society. When born, if a male looked weak, he was left out to die from exposure.  At the age of 7 they were taken from their mothers and assigned to a “pack” with other boys. They were made to walk around barefoot with only a cloak for dress and learned to endure hardship. For the most part they were taught military tactics but also were exposed to reading, to poetry and the arts. At the age of 18, they were considered “adults” and assigned to a military unit. They remained constantly training for battle and all that went with it until the age of 30 when they would be sent out on military campaigns. Their mothers would give them a shield with the words “Come home with it or on it.” 

It sounds extreme doesn’t it? But for them it was normal. I wonder what our “normal” is? For most people that know me well, I’m considered “extreme” in comparison to others. I read something new just about every day. I write every day. I train my body every day through running or strength training. I strive to learn something new that adds to my life every day. I try to eat clean every day. I try to impact someone every day. My mentality is we were never given the promise that life would be easy or even comfortable, so we might as well show up and be ready for anything. 

When I began training for tennis when I was a junior, I had a coach that always pushed me to do better than I did the day before. My “good” never seemed to be good enough. It seemed I would get right to the verge of doing better and I would shrink back and whine about how hard it was. I remember being in so many matches where I was down, I’d come close to coming back and my opponent would pull away again and end up winning the match. I’ll never forget my coach talking to me after one of these matches, he said “don’t worry about it, maybe “just ok” is good enough for you”. That’s all he had to say…I thought about what he said, reflected on my training and asked myself if that’s what I thought about who I was. I made a decision to choose to be better than “just ok” and I would do whatever it took to get there. 

I trained harder, I ate better and I made a choice to cross the mental threshold in my mind to get to the next level. My opportunity came in a match that began just like those before. I was behind early, it usually took me a set to warm up. I began coming back and like clock work, my opponent went into their next gear. Normally, I would have caved. I would have stared at the mountain in front of me and thought it was too steep to climb. But, not this time. I considered my training, I thought about my fitness, I remembered all the situational sets I had played leading up to this and I decided it was worth it to fight with everything I had. It would’ve been a great ending to tell you I won the match, but I didn’t. What I gained though was the realization that I battled. I battled with my physicality and when all that was gone, I battled because I had a will to win. Though I didn’t have a w that day for beating my opponent, I had a w that day that would carry forward for the rest of my life. 

Yes, that day as I set foot on the tennis court, I decided to “come home with it or on it” and every day we all get to choose. It sounds crazy I know, but I’m “extreme” remember? Whether in business or in life, consider what your mental threshold is and dare yourself to cross that boundary. And, when your legs are done and you physically have nothing left, allow your will to produce your victory for you. We may not have been raised in such harsh conditions but I think we can all find a little “Spartan” in each of us.