WHAT'S YOUR CHEESE

[Earlier today (12.28.18), I was reading through some of the BEST YEAR YET! blog posts from 2017.  I wrote this one on 12.29.17 and although it is a year old, the content still is true today.  I hope you enjoy.....again.   TP]

"Life is no straight and easy corridor along

which we travel free and unhampered,

but a maze of passages, 

through which we must seek our way,

lost and confused, now and again 

checked in a blind alley.

But always, if we have faith, 

a door will open for us, 

not perhaps one that we ourselves

would ever have thought of,

but one that will ultimately

prove good for us."

A. J. Cronin (1896-1981)

This year, as we exchanged Christmas gifts with the CHEERLEADERs family, we asked her parents to not buy any gifts, but to gift each of their kids and grand kids something that they already had.

I was so excited to get a classic book by Zig Ziglar, SEE YOU AT THE TOP.  I have been wanting to read this, and now it's mine!

One of my sons, received from his grandpa the book, WHO MOVED MY CHEESE, by Spencer Johnson.  

My son had never heard of this best seller.  So I told him a little bit about it and that it was a GREAT read (some think it's a bit cheesey....sorry, I couldn't resist).

As I related the essence of the story to my son, it got my mind spinning to this story and its application in my life.

WHAT'S YOUR CHEESE?

I asked myself that question.

In the book (not going to give it all away) there are 4 main characters, 2 human, 2 mice.

The 2 humans are Hem and Haw.  The 2 mice, Sniff and Scurry.

The CHEESE represents our livelihood, but also our goals, ambitions, happiness and success.

They all live in a maze, which is representative or one's environment.

The CHEESE is always there, until one day it isn't.

The question is, now that the CHEESE is gone, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?

So many times, in life, we are faced with this question.

Do we sit and take the safe route?

Don't move, because the CHEESE is always there, so it will be back, right?

Do we blame others because our CHEESE is gone?  Do we blame ourselves?  

OR.....

Do we venture out of our comfort zone to find the "CHEESE?"

As you are planning out the next round of dreams, goals, resolutions, in your life, 

• First, identify what your CHEESE is.  What is it that when you accomplish it you will throw your fist in the air and say, "YES!"?
• After you identify your CHEESE, make a plan to go after it.  Don't let anything or anyone stop you from getting it.  Don't even let time or the calendar tell you that you failed.  You will only fail if YOU stop.

So much possibility in front of you.

Keep your eyes fixed forward as you go after your CHEESE in 2018 [and 2019!]!

ONE MORE

"Please Lord, help me get ONE MORE."  Desmond Doss

A little over a year ago, the CHEERLEADER and I watched the movie, HACKSAW RIDGE, which told the true story of an American Hero, Desmond Doss.  If you haven't seen it, it's worth the watch...very "war graphic" but worth it.

As a medic, Doss helped 75 men, who were wounded during battle, to get to safety and a chance for medical attention to help save their lives.  In one scene, it was at night, and Doss spent that night going behind enemy lines to get those wounded.  As the night went on, and Doss obviously hurt, tired and sore, you hear him say over and over again, "Please Lord, help me get ONE MORE."

What a picture of drive and determination.  

It got me thinking about ONE MORE.  

What if we...I lived out each day with a "ONE MORE" mentality?  What would the impact be each day?

ONE MORE smile.
ONE MORE hug.
ONE MORE kiss.
ONE MORE bedtime story.
ONE MORE step.
ONE MORE mile.
ONE MORE football game with your boys.
ONE MORE tea party with your girls.
ONE MORE laugh.
ONE MORE cry.
ONE MORE tear to wipe dry.
ONE MORE opportunity to right a wrong.
ONE MORE time to say I LOVE YOU.
ONE MORE encouraging word.
ONE MORE story about your family history.
ONE MORE song.
ONE MORE dance.
ONE MORE dinner with family and/or friends.

Since we are not assured of tomorrow, these are just a few things we all can do, beginning today, to make ONE MORE impact on lives around us.

So here is your BEST YEAR YET challenge:  say, "Please Lord, help me do ONE MORE."

Drop me a line and tell me about your ONE MORE.  And if you come up with a different ONE MORE than is on this list above, include it and we'll add to the list!

THE COMEBACK

I've been thinking a lot lately about struggles....challenges that people go through.

These could be with a job, or a relationship, your health, or many other things.

I had an opportunity to tell the story about my journey again today.  Each time I talk about how 2015 was my BEST YEAR YET, and to follow it up beginning in 2016 with challenges, struggles, and setbacks, it makes me thankful for THE COMEBACK.

I was listening to the Danny Gokey song, THE COMEBACK, and it starts out,

"After a season of night falls and push backs
After the heartache of wrong turns and sidetracks
Just when they think they've got you game-set-match
Here comes THE COMEBACK!"

The saying, "Every setback is a setup for a COMEBACK" is true.

I constantly remind myself that what I'm going through is temporary.  What YOU are going through is TEMPORARY.  Storms my come, but they will not stay.

When I was telling my story the other day, I was reminded that THE COMEBACK is not isolated to me.  I see people everyday that are "in line" for their COMEBACK.

Whatever you might be going through, realize that you got what it takes to fight on.  You, too, will have a COMEBACK platform to speak from.

"This is your time, your moment
The fire, the fight, you're golden
You've come so far, keep going
Oh, here comes THE COMEBACK

There is no mountain you can't face
There is no giant you can't take
All of your tears were not a waste
You're one step away

Just when they think they've got you game-set-match
Oh, here comes THE COMEBACK!"

As we all go through our BEST YEAR YET, let's be on the lookout for THE COMEBACK.

THE COMEBACK in our lives, and it the lives of others that we can rally around and celebrate with!

LEFTOVERS

left·o·ver

ˈleftˌōvər/

1. something, especially food, remaining after the rest has been used or consumed.

   synonyms:

   residue, survivor, vestige, legacy, throwback

One of my FAV-O-RITE weekends of each year is the 3 days following THANKSGIVING!

Besides the obvious buffet of football games, it's the food LEFTOVERS that I really enjoy!

The CHEERLEADER and I were in a conversation, recently, about LEFTOVERS.  Some don't like the idea of saving the food and going back in later that day or the next.  Others LOVE it!

The LEFTOVER meal I like the best....chili!  The CHEERLEADER makes THE BEST chili and it only gets better as the flavors have a chance to mingle for a couple of days!

Some LEFTOVERS in the fridge get forgotten and have to be tossed out.

What about people that we treat as LEFTOVERS?  I'm talking about the LEFTOVERS we forget about and not the ones we get all excited about.

You know what I'm talking about.  We have our "fill" and then put them away for another day.

Do you remember the Sunday School story of the Wayward or Prodigal Son?  Luke 15:11-32 tells the story of a son who wanted out and to go his own way.  Since the usual "receiving" of an inheritance doesn't happen unless someone dies, in essence, he tells his father, "I wish you were dead.....give me what's coming to me now." (Luke 15:12)

I won't go through the whole story (you can read it for yourself....VERY POWERFUL), but what happens is the son takes his inheritance and BLOWS it or, as the Bible says, "...wasted all his money in wild living." (New Living Translation).

LEFTOVERS.

After looking for and finding work, he has a moment of clarity as he's feeding pigs realizing that the pigs are eating better than he does.  So he sets off for home.  I'm sure the whole way home he's rehearsing his speech to his father....what he will say....what dad will say...and what his comeback will be.

Here's where it gets REALLY GOOD.  The dad has been waiting this whole time for his son to come home.  When he sees him from far away, he sprints out to meet him, kiss him and rejoice that he is back home.

LEFTOVERS.

That is a GREAT picture of us with a loving God....BUT...it is also a GREAT picture and illustration of how we should treat others!

So, as we continue our BEST YEAR YET journey, let's not forget that EVERYONE is welcome to the "party"....whether they are LEFTOVERS or not!


FINAL THOUGHT:
Check out the group (click the name) THE PEOPLE of THE SECOND CHANCE, and what they do and offer those who others might look to "throw out."  GREAT stuff!

DO MORE OF THAT

What lights you up inside?

Hobbies?
Church?
Volunteering?
Singing?
Writing?
Working with your hands?
Acting?
Being active outside?
The list could go on and on.

Again, what lights YOU up inside?

DO MORE OF THAT!

When talking with people that I coached, I would ask them them to "fill in the blank" to this statement:
"If I weren't so afraid, I would _________________."

Is there something that you have buried deep in you that you would love to "LET LOOSE" but you don't feel you can?  Or you are too scared to give it a try?

There is a good chance...no, a GREAT CHANCE, what you have inside of you is what you should pursue.

It doesn't have to be a career change...but it could mean that.

For some, it just might be to do the list we looked at above:

• Go buy a table saw
• Take singing lessons
• Start a blog 
• Try out for the community theatre
• Plan a trip to hike that "14er"
• Swim with the dolphins
• Rock babies at church
• Change careers and do that thing you have always wanted to do

Whatever it is that lights you up inside, DO MORE OF THAT!

Life is TOO short to just walk through it to arrive at death's door safely.

LIVE LIFE BY YOUR DESIGN AND NOT BY DEFAULT!

BEST YEAR YET?  DO MORE OF THAT!

I WENT FOR A RUN

[SPOILER ALERT]....Today, I WENT FOR A RUN!

I know, I know, that's not real surprising...especially if you know me or know about me.

It got me thinking about why I run.

Not what got me started....but what keeps me going.

So I thought I would share my story to encourage you with your story.

Here are a few reasons why I run:

It's not just the race, but the journey to get there.

• I actually like the training miles....most days!
• In every marathon training cycle I go through, it helps me to enjoy and understand this journey through life.

I like to think.

• What better way than to get out on a long run and let your mind go free.

I like to learn.

• Besides learning more about myself and my determination to get it done, I also like to listen to podcasts where I always come away with some type of learning experience.

For the challenge.

• I grew up playing competitive sports.  As I grew older, I didn't have that type of outlet.  Believe me, it can be unhealthy to always need to win at SkipBo or playing Trouble with your kids!
• My competitiveness is now against time.  Sometimes it's against myself.  

To inspire others.

• My story is not uncommon:
• I was athletic and competitive growing up.  
• Stopped being active.  
• Gained weight and got really out of shape.  
• Made a decision to reverse all of it.
• I have been inspired by others and hope that the little I do has a positive affect on someone else.

For my life.

• It's the best way that I have found to "feel alive" in a health/exercise way.
• I want to make the most of my time...so I want to keep this body healthy to do so.

I'm sure there are many other reasons...but I'll stop there.

What about you?  

Do you run?  

If so, why?

If you don't, why not?  

Maybe it's not running, but what is something you do or can do that helps you feel alive?

For me, today, I WENT FOR A RUN.

DREAM HARDER

"Here comes the dreamer!" Genesis 37:19

Why is it that those that have BIG DREAMS are meant to feel foolish?  I realize this isn't every time...with everyone...but I would say more times than not.

How many have quit because someone told them they CAN'T or they SHOULDN'T?

I know a guy who sensed that his life's path was to be a minister....but his wife didn't want to feel as if they were living in a "glass house" so he didn't pursue that DREAM.

Others have had an idea; a passion for a business; musical pursuits; athletic dreams; that for one reason or another, they didn't pursue them.

What keeps people...YOU and ME...from WORKING HARD AND DREAMING HARDER?

It's not enough to just DREAM...that's just part of it.  

Here are some steps to go after your DREAMS:

• WHAT DO YOU WANT?
• What is that "thing" you know you can do?  That position, passion, invention, whatever....identify it
• HAVE A PLAN
• Think about what it will take to get where you want to go
• What are the steps
• Maybe you don't know.  That's ok.  What is the first thing you can think of to do?  Whatever that is, do that first
• FIND A MENTOR
• Who has done what you are wanting to do?  Find out what all they did...good, bad and ugly, to get it done.
• Maybe you don't know someone personally, but you can be mentored by articles, books, podcasts, YouTube videos and whatever medium they have information on.
• One of my "mentors" is someone who I have never met in person, but I know him through his books and videos.
• Don't make an excuse that you don't "know" anyone to help.
• START
• I've said this here in the BEST YEAR YET blog, "The START is what stops most people."
• Once you have a well thought out plan and have all your information put together, get going!
• By starting, you'll see if you have gaps that need to be filled.  You'll see where you can make it better....but you will never know until you START.

Remember, you can have excuses or you can have results....you just can't have them both.

WORK HARD....DREAM HARDER.....NO REGRETS.

THIS TOO SHALL PASS

Challenges.  

In our day to day lives, we don't necessarily look for challenges, they usually seem to find us.  

Even as we are on this journey in our BEST YEAR YET, we WILL have times that we are challenged....when everything is NOT awesome.

Let's look at 2 types of people that we can be.  What you believe...the choices you DO have will help when experiencing challenging times.  In Matthew 7: 24-27 Jesus said:

"Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.  Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won't collapse because it is built on bedrock.  But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn't obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand.  When the rains and flood come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash."

Here are a couple of things to take note of:

• Wise = Rock; Foolish = Sand
• The "rain" and "floods" came to both types, so no matter what you think about your life, you are not exempt from storms.  The key is what your foundation is built on.

Question of the day: How do you react in the middle of the "storm(s)" in your life?  

The CHEERLEADER and I have faced some seemingly small, "sprinkle" storms and some all out assault "torrents."  

Sometimes we have reacted carefree and other times, we reacted full of care.  

Let me tell you, the carefree approach is MUCH better.  

We don't have our heads in the sand or denying the existence of the "storm," but what we do is look to the ONE who is our BEDROCK...our FOUNDATION, and we know we'll make it through, STILL STANDING.

Life's situations are not always awesome, but what is AWESOME is knowing that in any storm that you are facing, you are becoming and being stronger.  

Remember this, as you are walking out your BEST YEAR YET, your past is not strong enough to shut down your future.

VISIONARY

September, is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

Let's talk about VISION and specifically one VISIONARY, Danny Thomas.

Danny Thomas is the founder of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, TN (to see a short video about the history of St. Judes, click HERE).

As the story goes, Danny was a struggling entertainer.  He prayed to St. Jude Thaddeus, Patron Saint of Hopeless Causes, and said, "Help me find my way in life and I will build you a shrine"

After Danny became a success, he kept his promise.  He didn't want to just erect a statue, but to do something that would have lasting impact.  Thus, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital was born.

His VISION was that any child, from around the world, regardless of race, creed or economic status, would be able to receive the necessary medical help for life threatening diseases.  The kicker.....NO family would ever pay.

VISIONARY.

I'm sure many, when hearing of the VISION he had, came back with, "HOW are you going to do this?"  Probably fewer said, "WOW!"

But the WOW he started has continued for over 56 years.

When they first opened the doors of St. Jude in 1962, less that 1 in 5 survived childhood cancer.  Today, the survival rate has risen to 4 in 5 (80%)...but that's not good enough. They won't stop until NO child dies from cancer.

VISIONARY.

Personally, I haven't had a family member go through treatment at St. Jude, but I have close friends who have.  They have told me of how thankful they are for St. Jude and the care that their child received....all because of one VISIONARY!


FINAL NOTE:

This month (and any other for that matter), please consider partnering with St. Jude and donating what you can.  

Many of you know that since 2014, I have ran 5 different marathons as a St. Jude Hero, raising money and awareness for this great cause.  Most recently, in April, I ran the Boston Marathon as a St. Jude Hero, and currently I have been training for this year's St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend, which I will run on December 1st.

Over the years, many of you have been so gracious in your support of St. Jude and my efforts as a St. Jude Hero. For Memphis, I'm not going to be the only Peterson running.  My wife, The CHEERLEADER, is doing the 5k and my oldest son, Josh, is taking on his first full marathon.  All of us are running and raising money as St. Jude Heroes.

Would you consider being a part of Danny Thomas's VISION, whether again or for the first time?    If you can only give once, give to Josh or the CHEERLEADER.  Here are the links to our donation sites:

The CHEERLEADER'S donation site
Josh's donation site
Tim's donation site

As Danny Thomas once said, "No child should die in the dawn of life."