I Get Knocked Down..

But I get up again, cause your never gonna keep me down. Let me tell you, this has been the freakin theme song of the last couple of weeks. Between people in this world who seem to think it’s fine to berate and attempt to embarrass others to make themselves feel better, too little sleep, even fewer workout sessions, getting sick, and at times, I’ve found myself hanging on by a very thin thread. I know I am not alone in feeling this way. I expect things to be tough. However, if all of it could just space itself out a little, that would sure be a little easier to handle.

With all that said, slowly but surely, I’m picking myself up, dusting myself off and continuing and I’ll tell you why:

"The great successful people of the world have used their imaginations, they think ahead and create their mental picture, and then go to work materializing that picture in all its details, filling in here, adding a little there, altering this a bit and that a bit, but steadily building -- steadily building."

Robert Collier {American Publisher}

The last thing that I need is to let the opinions of others impact the decisions or the way I feel about my life or my goals. We all have our journey to take, and whatever your vision is, not one thing in the world can take it away from you – unless you let it occur. It’s your choice. You can’t change what happens to you, but can change your reaction to it. That’s where the power lies my friends. They more they think they will hold you down, the harder you will work.. that's the key.

In addition, just as some not as fun things are going on in your life, I believe there are always people and things placed right in front of you to show you the goodness in life, the things that matter and the reasons for living.

I can’t go into detail, but two very close ladies to me have been going through their own separate struggles, totally unrelated, but both truly life changing. One is my Aunt Dena, who is fighting for her life as we speak with a 48 white cell count and her body so weak she can barely stand. With that said, she is one of the strongest most inspirational people I have ever encountered in my life. The other is a friend with a daughter who found out she had brain tumor right before the holidays. Although it was not malignat, she still had to have approximately 60% of her cerebellum removed (which as you probably know is responsible for motor skills, balance, smooth movement, and higher-order cognition). She is seventeen years old.

I love both of these women dearly and somehow must have been talking to one about the other and vice versa. Even in all their grief and strife, they had the heart to ask about the other on separate occasions and send a bit of love and prayers their way. In my mind, this is almost unfathomable, but in their minds this is what will get them to their own personal finish lines and one day heal their hearts and bodies.

Sometimes we are so caught up in our own defeats, it’s hard to see the good in the world around us. We focus on our own issues and wine and complain that things aren’t going well or that we’re just not feeling like ourselves etc. etc. Life is hard. Way hard. However, it’s a whole lot harder when we sucuum to the negative and allow it to seep in and corrupt the rest of our outlook.

So while I haven’t been writing, I’ve been watching two separate lives come together without even knowing it and change everything about the way I was seeing my world as of late. Their journeys are far from over, but I know that with God’s help, they are well on their way to making it through.

If you wouldn’t mind saying a prayer, or sending a thought, just send it to Aunt D and my com padre J’s daughter. Don’t worry, that’s enough to get it there. Every little bit helps.. that’s for sure.

In the mean time, even in difficult times, don’t be so caught up you don’t look around every once in awhile.. sometimes, you might just see miracles, right in your midst.

So let's stay marching on.. shall we! Enjoy one of my new favorite songs!

Signing off from snowy PA!! Stay posted!! Lots of training and other thoughts to come!