ENDURANCE

"Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God's Will.  Then you will receive all that He has promised."  Hebrews 10:36

en·dur·ance

inˈd(y)o͝orəns,enˈd(y)o͝orəns/

the fact or power of enduring an unpleasant or difficult process or situation without giving way.

denoting or relating to a race or other sporting event that takes place over a long distance or otherwise demands great physical stamina.

Back in March, I wrote, right here in the BEST YEAR YET blog, about NIKE's attempt at breaking the 2 hour barrier in the Marathon (26.2 miles).  They called it "BREAKING 2."

The attempt came close, but came up just short.  The great Eliud Kipchoge came in at 2:00:25.

Tonight, I watched a documentary of the "BREAKING 2" attempt.  Although I knew the outcome, watching it unfold made me respect even more what this attempt meant.

Kipchoge said, at the end, that there are not limits to what man can do.

I like that.

NO LIMITS!

But ENDURANCE is what is needed to "run the race" that is set before each of us.

Whether you are running a marathon, or running the marathon of life....patient ENDURANCE will get you to the finish line.

LIFE is a MARATHON.

LIFE is not meant to be a SPRINT.

How you approach LIFE will determine who far you will go.

PATIENT ENDURANCE.

I didn't know this lesson when I was younger.  Boy, I wish I did.

LEARN this lesson earlier and you will have MORE time to accomplish ALL that God has for you.  

If you learn it later, that's ok too.  Earlier would have been better, but there is ALWAYS time to fulfill the plan God has for your life.

Let PATIENT ENDURANCE be what rules and guides you, not only through your BEST YEAR YET, but through EVERY DAY you live.

Whose up for a MARATHON?

1. • 
     
   • 
     
   • denoting or relating to a race or other sporting event that takes place over a long distance or otherwise demands great physical stamina.

HIGHS AND LOWS

Earlier, I was looking at the "On This Day" notification I got from Facebook.

2 years ago, on this day, the CHEERLEADER and I were in New York City as I was preparing to cap off my BEST YEAR YET (version 1.0) by running the New York City Marathon.

That day, October 30, 2015, was the day we went to the Expo and I picked up my race bib, participant's t-shirt, and some other awesome NYC Marathon swag.

I remember, vividly, after picking up my race bib, I was standing in line (I think to pick up my t-shirt), just looking at the number and getting emotional. 

I was REALLY there.  I was in New York City to run the Marathon! 

Standing in line, I was thinking back to the past year.

I couldn't believe that my BEST YEAR YET was just about over and how great it had been.

I didn't know 6 months later I would hear, "the biopsy results came back showing you have prostate cancer."

I was 6 months into my BEST YEAR YET 2.0, but honestly, 2.0 had not been anything like 1.0. 

At the time of the diagnosis, I had completed my 2nd Full Marathon of 2016, but the 3rd in the past 6 months....and I struggled with it.

Now, I was dealing with a cancer diagnosis a couple of months before my son was getting married AND I had 2 more marathons on my schedule I was running for ST. JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL as a ST. JUDE Hero (raising money and awareness for this GREAT cause).

A few weeks after the diagnosis, I was admitted into the hospital with a bacterial infection that kept me there for 5 days (probably should have stayed in longer, but I really wanted to get home!).  A little over 2 months after that, I was back in the hospital, for another 5 day stay to have the cancer surgically removed from my body.

Reflecting on that, it reminded me of the story in the Bible of the prophet Elijah in 1 Kings 18:20-46. He (Elijah) just experience a GREAT, SUPERNATURAL victory, with God's help.  He was on a HUGE high from it.

But shortly there after, a woman by the name of Jezebel said, in a message, "May the gods strike me and even kill me if by this time tomorrow I have not killed you just as you killed them."

Elijah, was afraid (as it said in 1 Kings 19:3) and fled for his life.

In a short time span, Elijah experienced a "roller coaster" of highs and lows in his life.

I'm not saying I'm Elijah, but I am saying that we can experience GREAT HIGHS and even bigger lows...even in our BEST YEAR YET.

It comes down to how we CHOOSE to react.

I have discovered I can trust GOD through it all, because HE is greater than all the HIGHS and LOWS I encounter. 

My job is to just trust HIM through it all.

HIS promise STILL stands.  GREAT is HIS faithfulness.

2017 Nebraska Marathon - Oct. 15th - 9 Full Marathon

LIKABILITY

"A man who has friends must himself be friendly..." Proverbs 18:24 [NKJV]

We live in a day and age where we judge our worth on how many "likes" a post gets on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Our self worth shouldn't be determined by "likes" but by how we treat others.

Who are you when no one is watching?

Who are you when you don't get recognized for what you do?

Who are you when you don't get the click throughs, the likes, the 💙 💙 emojis, etc.?

Having a BEST YEAR YET is more about what you can do for others then it is about you.  

Don't get me wrong, the things you set out to do (laugh more....smile more...give more...just BE more), will do something to and for you, but it is when we extend ourselves beyond ourselves that IMPACT is truly made.

"A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need." Proverbs 17:17 [NLT]

That is the type of friends I want to surround myself with.  

LOYAL.

FAITHFUL.

HELPFUL.

ALWAYS THERE.

You see, anyone can be in with you...be in your corner when all is GREAT...but give me those that will be there when things aren't going great....whether it was my own doing or something that was out of my control.

I have friends like Proverbs 17:17 talks about.  

I strive to be a Proverbs 17:17 friend.

How about you?  

Do you have friends like that? 

Are you a friend like that?

So the next time you post something, don't be so concerned with the "likes," be more aware of your LIKABILITY!

SEASONS

It's that time...again.

The changing of another SEASON.

The long sunlight, the heat, A/C, hanging out on the porch, has been replaced with hoodies, closed windows and shorter daylight.

Summer has given way to Autumn.....and Winter is coming!

As you can see by my front yard, the leaves are falling.

SEASONS.

I like Fall, for a variety of reasons:

• Football
• Hoodies
• The running weather is much better
• Football
• Football
• Football
• Oh, my birthday
• and FOOTBALL!

But you know as well as I do that one season will not last.  We can't hold it back from changing...it's gonna change!

Life has a funny way of being like the 4 SEASONS of the year.  

Many times we want to rush through one season of life because we think the next is going to be much better.

Don't waste the SEASON of life you are in right now because you want the next one to come.

Remember: there are no throw away days!

Growth takes stretching and you just might be in that stretching SEASON right now. Embrace it.

Getting stronger takes rest and you just might be in that rest SEASON right now.  Embrace it.

Whatever SEASON you are in, EMBRACE it.

EMBRACE the process to see the progress.

LEARN, ADAPT and GROW. 

As you continue your BEST YEAR YET journey, whatever SEASON you are in, take it on. 

EXCEPTIONAL

ex·cep·tion·al

/ˌikˈsepSH(ə)n(ə)l/

1. unusual; not typical.
2. 
   
3.      unusually good; outstanding.

I like that...."unusual; not typical."

What is USUAL vs. UNUSUAL?

What is TYPICAL vs. NOT TYPICAL?

What is it that sets you apart?

Work ethic?

How you treat others?

Culture?

"These who have turned the world upside down have come here too." Acts 17:6 (speaking  about the Apostle Paul and Silas)

Really, the world was already "upside down."  These came to turn it "right side up!'

Some of those, who were typical or usual, didn't see a need to change, so they rejected the message of the EXCEPTIONAL!

Paul and Silas were INNOVATIVE!  

They were, what is known in today's business terms, DISRUPTORS.

A DISRUPTOR or a DISRUPTIVE business is likely to start by either satisfying the less-demanding customers or creating a market where none existed before.

And by doing so, becomes EXCEPTIONAL....UNUSUAL...NOT TYPICAL!

DISRUPTION isn't just going out and doing something like everyone else..but doing it LOUDER.  

NO...that just makes you LOUD and ANNOYING.

DISRUPTION....INNOVATION....EXCEPTIONAL happens when you keep your eyes and your mind wide open!

Listen to people outside of your "box."  

Learn from people outside of your "box."

Andy Stanley, who is a Pastor and great communicator said that we should "replace how? with WOW!"  He said that would should "WOW ideas to life.....don't how them to death."

Let's not strive to be typical.

Let's strive to be EXCEPTIONAL!

TEAMWORK

Over the past few months I have been working alongside a group of GAME CHANGERS!

What makes them GAME CHANGERS?

TEAMWORK!

We have a saying...a motto...really, it's the culture...We Are BETTER TOGETHER!

Business Leader, Peter Drucker, is known to have said, "Culture eats strategy for breakfast."

Strategy is good and necessary, but without a good culture, the BEST strategy will only take you so far.  

If you have a great strategy, but a bad culture...you won't go as far as those who have an ok strategy with a GREAT culture!

When it comes to a team, it's not just one individual that makes the difference....it's the collective group, each doing their part that makes the biggest impact.

Ephesians 4:16 [NKJV] says, "from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part DOES ITS SHARE, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love."

When we all do what we are designed to do....and we do it together....as the above Bible verse tells us, we, as a whole, will be complete.

So the opposite is true; if we DON'T do what we are supposed to be doing, we'll make the picture incomplete.

As we are going through our BEST YEAR YET.....ask yourself, "what culture do I align with?"  "What can I do today to sync my gifts with the right culture?"

Culture eats strategy for breakfast.  Let's get to eating!

DO HARD THINGS

Tonight, I was looking for inspiration.

Inspiration for today's blog mostly.

But not just for the BEST YEAR YET blog, but also for life.

I love finding and reading or seeing stories of others who go against the "odds" and take on something others say they can't. 

One such story caught my attention.  

I have a friend who is also a runner (honestly, a GREAT writer too!) that posted an inspiring video that captures, what looked like an impossibility, that her Pastor recently took on.  The short 7 minute video can be found by clicking on this link: MARATHON.

Here are a few take-a-ways that hit home with me:

• DO HARD THINGS!
• how many times to we reach for the "easy button" in our lives?  We don't go the extra step or look to do things with excellence in mind.
• Set goals that are BEYOND what you think you can do.
• PUSH YOUR LIMITS
• Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "Do one thing that scares you everyday."
• You are capable of doing SO much more than you think!
• DON'T GIVE UP
• The other day I mentioned about talking to a friend who recently turned 30 and she was talking about her "what I want to accomplish before I turn 30" list.  She was disappointed that she missed one of those goals.  I mentioned to her that the only way she wouldn't hit that goal is if you just gave up.
• If you work LONG enough, HARD enough, and SMART enough, you WILL it your goal....IF you DON'T GIVE UP!

So next time you are tempted to just hit the "easy button," remember this little blog of inspiration and DO HARD THINGS!

"....Humanly speaking, it is impossible.  But with God everything is possible."

Matthew 19:26 [NLT]

SIGN-POSTS

A number of years ago I read a book by E.W. Kenyon called SIGN-POSTS ON THE ROAD TO SUCCESS.  

The book is made up of a series of short stories that Kenyon did on a radio program many years ago (Kenyon passed away in 1948).

He was a great encourager in his writings.

Many of the stories stand out to me (probably because I also like to encourage and inspire others!) called, "WHAT ARE YOU WORTH?"

What a great question.

It's a question that, if we are being honest when we ask ourselves, more times than not we "de-vaule" our true worth.

Honestly, are you worth anything....in your own estimation?

Kenyon asked the question, "Are you going to be what you could be?"

WOW!  Am I going to be what I COULD be?  

There are so many SIGN-POSTS on our BEST YEAR YET journey.  

So many other types of signs try to lead us on paths that we shouldn't go on.

Most of those "signs" come in the way of thoughts or negative actions of defeat or failure.

Turn away from all the negative signs that tell you:

• you can't do it
• you're too old
• you're too young
• you don't fit
• why would you do that

And find those signs that say:

• what you have others need
• you got this
• you can do it
• watch me

It is when we follow these "signs" that we will position ourselves for the success we are looking for!

What SIGN-POSTS are you following?

YES YOU CAN

So, how is your Monday going?

Ok....for most of us, it's almost over.  But guess what?  There will be another one next week.

What do you tell yourself to get through the Monday blues?

I have a friend who posted this today, "When you are having a tough Monday but then see your marathon photos and remember that you can do so much more than you think you can." (my friend ran their first marathon recently)

THAT is such a true statement.

When I read the post, I said to myself, YES YOU CAN!

I've been there in my life:

• In 2009, after years of no exercise, injuries and not eating properly, I lost 50 lbs.  THAT was a "YES YOU CAN" moment
• In 2013, completing my first 1/2 Marathon, after being told in 2008, that I should never run again due to tearing up my knee that required surgery to remove 75% of the meniscus in my right knee, THAT was a "YES YOU CAN" moment
• Since my first Full Marathon in 2014 and the other 8 that have followed (to date), each one of those have been a "YES YOU CAN" moment 

You don't have to run marathons to look back at something that you didn't think you could do and get inspired because you did it.

It could be:

• starting a blog
• writing a book
• going back to college
• going to college
• finishing high school...after you dropped out three times
• getting your GED
• getting up a singing in front of people
• giving a speech
• cooking for your significant other
• cooking for your significant other's family
• asking him or her out on a date

Find that THING that inspires you. 

Better yet, like my friend, if there is a picture of the moment, print it off and look at it...DAILY...and remember what it took to get you there...and tell yourself again,

YES YOU CAN!

PIANO MAN

My car is in the shop getting diagnosed.

I have a loaner.

My loaner has satellite radio.  

The CHEERLEADER and I went out for dinner tonight and on the way home, she was checking out the stations.  

She said, "You must be BIG TIME if you have your own station!"

She dialed us into the "BILLY JOEL" station.

Song number 2 was PIANO MAN.

We listened, sang, talked about the people in the story.

"...Bill I believe this is killing me." As the smile ran away from his face. "Well I'm sure that I could be a movie star if I could get out of this place."

I had a conversation, earlier today, with someone who just turned 30.

They said that they took it pretty hard and they don't know why.

They said that it was mostly because of the "what I want to get accomplished before I turn 30" list they had.

I asked, so how many things on their list did they get accomplished?  The answer:  "all but one."

ONE!

Man, I wish my "before 30 list" would have been as accomplished as their's was.  I think I had only ONE that was accomplished:  make it to 30!

As we discussed the one that they missed, we were able to talk about dreams, goals, and not giving up.  I told them, "The great thing about goals, unless you give up, you can always hit them!"  

How many times do we put a date on something, miss it by that date, and give completely up on the goal?  I heard it said, "Giving up on your goals because of a set back is like slashing your other three tires because you got a flat."

"And they sit at the bar and put bread in my jar and say, Man what are you doin' here?"

DON'T stop pursuing your dreams and goals.  

Whatever your "PIANO MAN" situation or story is, if you experience a setback, let it set the stage for the greatest COMEBACK there is!

"Sing us a song you're the piano man
Sing us song tonight
Well we're all in the mood for a melody
And you got us feeling alright."

HOW ABOUT THAT

HOW ABOUT THAT?

Earlier today, I, and about 350 people, ran/walked/pushed a stroller (one guy even walked his Great Dane) a Halloween themed 5K.

This was my first run since I completed THE NEBRASKA MARATHON 6 days ago.

I didn't go out to run hard....I just went out to run and have a good time.

But something happened on the way to the finish line......I placed 3rd in my age group!

When I started running 5 years ago, it became clear to me, rather quickly, that I would most likely never stand on the podium....unless there were only 3 people running.  I'm not the slowest....but I'm not one to pull some fast times...even in my age group, usually.

Today was different.  

I didn't set out to place.  I don't have my official time...I don't even have my unofficial time as I forgot to stop my watch after I got crossed the finish line....my run today was good enough to get 3rd.

Today made me realize how much I like running.  Not because I got a medal, but because of the running community that celebrated everyone that got out there today.

So, if you are looking at your life and think that having an opportunity to "hit the reset button" and go after something new is beyond what you can do because of your age....let me tell you, YOU ARE NOT DONE YET!

GO FOR IT!

Who knows, maybe in your pursuits, when you aren't expecting it, you too will get that "medal" that let's you know that you STILL GOT IT!

HOW ABOUT THAT?

VOICE OR ECHO

Today, October 20th, is NATIONAL WRITING DAY.

Started by the National Council of Teachers of English, it is a day to celebrate the importance, joy and evolution or writing (the main campaign is a Twitter hashtag of #WhyIwrite).

I got in on this as well.

Actually, the title of today's blog, "VOICE OR ECHO" has been sitting in my blog que for over a week.  

Each time I think I have something, I stare at the blank page with just the word graphic above asking the question, "Are you a Voice or an Echo?"

Today was different.  I looked at Twitter and saw that #WhyIWrite was trending....so I started looking at it.  That is when I discovered it was NATIONAL WRITING DAY.

I don't look at myself as a writer.  I haven't published anything....yet.  The closest I get is right here in the BEST YEAR YET blog.  But I do write, everyday.

I should probably look at myself as a writer, just like I look at myself as a runner.  I tell people all the time, "If you lace up your shoes and go out to run, you are a runner.

I guess the same holds true for writing.  If you put words down on a page and someone reads it, even if it is only the CHEERLEADER, you are a writer.

So my quest is to be a VOICE and not an ECHO.

What is it I get from writing and what does the reader get from reading my writing?

I'm not looking to just duplicate what someone else has to say, like Tommy "Repeat" Timmons

Even though you might hear a similar "tone" in other like writings, the intention is to be a VOICE.

Jesus, in Mark 1:3 said of John the Baptist, that he was, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness..." .  John's "voice" was fresh...authentic.  It brought people to think and make a decision.

Now, I'm not John the Baptist, but I do believe that I have a VOICE.  

I believe YOU have a VOICE as well.

What is your VOICE?  What is it that you have that others need to hear?

Is it to stand up to injustice?

Is it to teach basketball; running; golf; cooking; sewing; singing; etc.?

Is it to sing?

Is it to speak?

Is it to write?

Whatever you VOICE is, don't let it be silent.  Get it out for others to hear.

Be a VOICE and not an ECHO!

4TH QUARTER

4TH QUARTER!

Time to put the game away.

For some teams, the meaning of putting up "4" with your hand has become common place.

When this started, it was from teams who were telling their opponents, "THIS is our time! We own the 4th quarter!"

I remember, as I was growing up, that our coaches would condition us HARD.  Their reasoning, they wanted us strong for the 4TH QUARTER.

THERE.IS.NO.SUBSTITUTE.FOR.PREPARATION.IN.THE.FOURTH.QUARTER!

Many of you know that I run long distances.  Having a long mile training run is similar to the sprints we would do in conditioning in high school football.  It's all about preparing for the end of the contest.  Do you know how to push through to the end?

I'll say it again: THERE.IS.NO.SUBSTITUTE.FOR.PREPARATION.IN.THE.FOURTH.QUARTER!

Do you know that is the same for LIFE?

You might be in that 4TH QUARTER of life.  

Are you pushing?  

Are you righting through?

Don't quit!

Don't give up!

There is plenty of "GAME" left for you. 

Be encouraged to FIGHT THROUGH THE 4TH QUARTER OF LIFE!

FINISH STRONG!

WELL DONE

"Well done is better than well said."  Benjamin Franklin

I was talking to a friend of mine the other day.  He made reference to a conversation he had with a mutual friend.  They were talking about church and why my friend liked his church. My friend was asked, "Tell me in three words why you like it."  My friend came right back with, "It's like NIKE says, JUST DO IT!  My church doesn't just talk about reaching the lost. They don't just talk about how we should feed, cloth and help others get out of their less than fortunate circumstances.  My church is doing it....and not publicizing it when they do."

WOW!

I think it's ok to let someone know, "you are in my thoughts and prayers," but DO SOMETHING.  Put action to your intentions.

Between the political landscape in our country; weather and man made disasters; tragedy like in Vegas; to the daily Facebook posts I see of someone I know or knew years ago passing away; are just our thoughts and prayers, WITHOUT actions enough?

In the Bible, James writes, "Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works."  James 2:26 [NLT]

The two go together....FAITH (what you believe) with GOOD WORKS (corresponding actions).

Jesus said in Matthew 25:45, "I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me."

WELL DONE IS BETTER THAN WELL SAID.

We all need to speak the truth...BUT, back it up with your actions.

Mahatma Gandhi once said, "BE the change you wish to see in the world."

It doesn't matter what side of the isle you are on.

It doesn't matter where you live.

It doesn't matter your gender or ethnicity.

IF you want to see change, don't just talk about it on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.  YOU be the change. 

WELL DONE IS BETTER THAN WELL SAID.

CONTAGIOUS

con·ta·gious

kənˈtājəs/

adjective

(of an emotion, feeling, or attitude) likely to spread to and affect others.
"her enthusiasm is contagious"

Have you ever heard or even said of someone else, they have a:

• Contagious laugh
• Contagious smile
• Contagious energy
• Contagious (good) attitude
• and so on.....

What does it take to be like this?  What does it take to be CONTAGIOUS?

I think it's a decision.

I heard someone say, when referring to a recent study, the number one thing people are looking for today is......HAPPINESS!

Here's one easy way to help others achieve the happiness they are looking for:  

SMILE AT THEM!

How easy is that? 

SMILES are CONTAGIOUS!

You know what?  When you smile at someone else...it does something to you as well!

Are you CONTAGIOUS?

My hope is that you are encouraged and inspired by reading this BEST YEAR YET blog.  I trust and hope you keep coming back to read it because you see yourself in these words each day.

BUT....my hope is that you don't stop with just reading it for yourself.  My hope is you take what you read and apply to your life to make an impact on others.

BE CONTAGIOUS!

BOMPA

Today, October 16th is my Grandpa, Neal Turner's birthday.

BOMPA.

My Grandpa Neal passed away in November of 1980, just after I turned 15 and shortly after he turned 75.

We were close.

Right before or right as I was starting school, my mom went back to finish her college degree.  I spent a lot of time with my Grandpa.

It was great.

Grandpa knew sports.

I liked sports.

We had a winning combination.

BOMPA.

Grandpa would take me and my brothers to a golf driving range....SMITTY'S.  I always wondered when we went, why did Grandpa get the bucket of balls that looked new, when we got the bucket of "has been" range balls?

Grandpa was like the "Norm of Cheers" at Smitty's.  First named basis with Smitty himself!  "Hey Smitty!"  "How ya doin Neal?"

So many memories that there isn't enough space here in the BEST YEAR YET blog to write them all.

I love pancakes....because of Grandpa Neal.  He made them the best (sorry Mom and Chris).
I loved HIS chocolate cake with 7 minute frosting (sorry Mom and Chris...yours is good, but just not quite like Grandpa's).
Every year at Christmas, he would get my brother and me a joint subscription to "The Sporting News."  
He taught me how to respect the game of golf.  One of my favorite stories, which I use to this day when talking to successful business leaders about the importance of coaching:

• I must have been around 8 or 9.  We had moved away from Lincoln to Plano, Texas. We were back in Lincoln for an event and I was at my Grandparents home in Lincoln. I was doing what any 8-9 year old would do and was making noise in the living room. Grandpa had his eyes glued to the golf tournament on TV.  As I was making noise, Grandpa "shussed" me.  "Tim...shhhh...Jack's putting."  I'm thinking, "Jack can't hear me!"  This started my appreciation for the game that carried well after Grandpa left us.
• Fast forward to 2006.  I love the Master's Golf Tournament and make plans, each year, to watch it...especially the final round.  Well in 2006, it was the 20th anniversary of Jack Nicklaus winning the Master's at the age of 46.  I was watching one of those "look back" shows that highlighted Jack's historic win.  People thought he was washed up and was done.  Leading up to that tournament, Jack wasn't playing real well.  He was having a hard time hitting his tee shot straight.  His son Jack, as his caddie at the time and he noticed that his dad was not doing a normal routine he had done for years when teeing up his ball.  Jack told his son that he was right.....he made the change, started to hit his drive straight and the rest is, well, you know, history.
• The point is, even the best, need a coach.  
• If not for Grandpa, I might not have learned that lesson some 30 + years later.

The ring in the picture above...that was his ring.  For Christmas, after he passed away, my Grandma gave me his ring with a handwritten card that said, 

"Dear Tim, 

Grandpa always said "Tim is to have my ring."  What better time than Christmas for you to get it.  It was given to him by Bill Stessman, one of his very best and loved friends.  Always take care of it, Tim, as it was Grandpa's favorite."

Man, I remember opening this up, that day, almost 37 years ago, and trying to read the card through my tears.  Man, I missed my Grandpa....and still do.

So, today, I remember him and his legacy.  

As I continue to journey through my BEST YEAR YET, I think I'll make it a point to be a NEAL TURNER and even a Bill Stessman!