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."

UNDERDOG

"There's no need to fear...UNDERDOG is here!

un·der·dog

ˈəndərˌdôɡ/

1. a competitor thought to have little chance of winning a fight or contest: long shot, dark horse

Have you ever felt like an "underdog?"  

Maybe a better question is, how often do feel like an "underdog?"

Do you feel stuck where you are?  Do you feel others look at you, because of what you do, like Shoeshine Boy (the true identity of the Superhero UNDERDOG!)?

I believe, inside all of us, there is a SUPERHERO....an UNDERDOG waiting to be revealed. 

So, hang in there.  Hold on.  It's just a matter of time before YOUR TIME is exposed to others, where you will be able to say.....

"HAVE NO FEAR....UNDERDOG IS HERE!"

LIKE THERE'S NO YESTERDAY

Growing up playing sports, I would have coaches that would tell me and the other players that we had to have a "short memory."  

By that, they meant we cannot let the last play....the last turnover....the last error....the last success....define how the rest of the game is going to go.

So many times (talking to myself...but you can listen), we keep looking back and we either get way down on ourselves for past mistakes, or we continue to live in the glory of the past without acknowledging what we are facing in the present.

Jesus said in Luke 9: 62, "...Anyone who puts his hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God."

HAND TO THE PLOW.

EYES FORWARD.

Our "YESTERDAYS" are there for examples of remembrance....NOT to live in.

What did you learn?

Repeat the good.

Don't do the not so good.

You have probably heard the saying, "live like there's no tomorrow."  To some, this is a license to do whatever they want, as much as they want.  To others, it's a reminder that we are guaranteed tomorrow, so make the most of today.

Either way......

LIVE your life LIKE THERE'S NO YESTERDAY!

You can't get it back....BUT....you can do something today that will have an impact on today and on your tomorrows.

How about we START....today?

THE CLUB

The CLUB.

Not a CLUB any of us think about joining before we are diagnosed, but VERY grateful to be a SURVIVOR in the SURVIVOR'S CLUB.

Not everyone who get's the diagnosis makes it to the CLUB.

Some in the CLUB wonder "WHY ME?  How did I make it and many others didn't?"

Today, I'm thankful to be counted with all those who get a chance to celebrate NATIONAL CANCER SURVIVORS DAY.

Actually, I want to do more with my life than just SURVIVE.  Don't get me wrong, SURVIVING is the beginning.  THRIVING in my SURVIVAL, or THRIVIVING, is what I want my life to demonstrate.

This day is about letting all those battling right now and those who have gone through, know there is LIFE...productive LIFE after cancer.

I have said it here, having a BEST YEAR YET is all about choices....choices that we each face, moment by moment AND our response to those choices.

I can choose to have a pity party....or I.CAN.CHOOSE.TO.LIVE!

I CHOOSE TO LIVE!

Whether you have or had cancer or not, you have a choice to LIVE as well.  There are many...MANY who let their choices and other circumstances of life keep them out of LIFE. Don't let that be you.

If you are in the CLUB today, congratulations.  LIVE LIFE LOUD!

If you aren't in the CLUB and battling right now (whether with cancer, any other disease or just the circumstances of life)....LIVE LIFE LOUD!

Here are 3 THINGS you can do, right now, to LIVE LIFE LOUD:

• SMILE MORE!
• Did you know that it takes less muscle to smile than it does to frown?
• (I don't know if that is true, but it sounds good!)
• LAUGH MORE!
• You might say, "Tim, I don't know if I have anything to laugh about?"  I get it.  I've been there.  Here's a suggestion, find a "stupid funny" movie or TV show and watch it over and over and just LAUGH!  
• GIVE MORE!
• Your time
• Your talents
• Your resources
• JUST GIVE!

Here's to LIFE and LIVING LOUD in this BEST YEAR YET!

FINAL THOUGHT:

You have heard me talk about the importance of my Annual Physical with my doctor and how being consistent with it, every year, helped to catch the cancer in my body early.  PLEASE, PLEASE go see your doctor, everyone reading this, guys and gals.  You and your family will be grateful!

Also, as I mentioned, today, June 3, 2018, is National Cancer Survivors Day, which is just one day to celebrate the whole month of June as June is National Cancer Survivors Month! If you know someone who is in the CLUB, let them know you are thinking of them and thankful they are still here to LIVE LOUD with you!

SUPERMAN AND THE RED RAIN PONCHO

WOW...WHAT A DAY!

April 16, 2018 will go down in my book as one epic day!
I'm sure most of you are aware of by now, but this past Monday, April 16th, was the Boston Marathon.

We have been talking about this day for the past 5 1/2 months.

Now that it is over, I thought I would give you a little recap.

Prior to heading to Boston, I had my eye on the weather....for about the past 2 months!

The week of the race, all forecasts showed that there was a 100% chance of rain and wind...and boy did they get that one right!

From the time I woke up on race day, until the time I shut the lights out at night, it didn't stop raining.

We got to the Starters Village (fortunately, we had a house that was right at the Village that we were able to be in before the race) and when it was time, my St. Jude Teammates and I made our way to the Corral

Due to a steady rain, all those from our Wave (there were 4 waves of runners in this marathon and each wave had multiple corrals that they would send out one at a time), were walking toward our corrals, we heard over the loud speaker that due to the weather, they weren't going to hold us up.

They said to keep moving and when we get to the Starting Line, GO!

It was cold, windy and rainy.

At times, we experienced wind gusts up to 50 mph, but mostly we dealt with a driving rain and steady wind.

I heard, later on, some of the Elites who have ran this race multiple time says that this was the worst conditions they have ran the Boston Marathon in.

So off I ran with a stocking hat and rain poncho that I intended to discard at the start, end up being the items that kept me sort of dry and warm for the day.

The hat....an old stocking hat I grabbed from the closet before we left home. It had a Superman logo on the front.

Because of the rain poncho being over my St. Jude race singlet, no one knew who I was running for. Usually, someone might call out, "Way to go St. Jude." "Come on St. Jude" and so on, but since they couldn't see my singlet, instead I heard, "Come on Superman." "You got this Superman" and so on.

The first time I heard it, it took me a few seconds to realize they were talking to me.

I thought, "I'm no Superman. I'm just a guy who loves to use running as a way to represent and promote a cause that is greater than myself."

I thought about ditching the hat a few times and just putting on my St. Jude ball cap that I was carrying with me. Each time I was about to do it, something would happen; a wind gust....a sustained downpour of rain....or I just forgot about it.

Nearing the end of the race, with about a mile to go, I decided I was going to get rid of the rain poncho.

I knew I missed out on many pictures that photographers were taking during the race (they identify you by your bib number and since mine was covered all race, no pics would show up) and I at least wanted one of me crossing the finish line.

Honestly, it was a little tough to let go of this flimsy, plastic poncho. It had been my comfort blanket for better part of 5 hours. WE ran the Boston Marathon together...but hey, I wasn't THAT sentimental with it...so off it went!

I thought about doing the same thing with the Superman beanie, but I reflected back on the race. Each time I heard, "Come on Superman" "You got this Superman" it made me think about WHY I was running this race.

It made me think about ALL of those who supported this great organization.

ALL who supported me and my fundraising efforts.

I thought about the kids who were currently in the fight.

Although I'm no superman, it reminded me of all those who truly are.

So I kept on the hat, over the finish line, so the hat could tell the story!

The Superman Hat....the red rain poncho...they helped to keep me calm in the storm that day.

Go out and be the CALM in somebody's STORM today.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

Our St. Jude Team of 12 runners helped to raise over $210,000 for ST. JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL on just this race alone. The fundraising is still open. PLEASE consider a donation to this GREAT organization and cause. To do so, go to:

https://www.crowdrise.com/o/en/campaign/stjudeheroes2018/timpete

ANY donation is greatly appreciated.

Thanks for joining me on this journey as we continue in our BEST YEAR YET!

Here are some other scenes from the 122nd Boston Marathon

6 MONTH CYCLE

cy·cle

ˈsīk(ə)l/

1. a series of events that are regularly repeated in the same order.

So I find myself marking time by a 6 month cycle.  Hitting repeat every 6 months.

October to April.

April to October.

Every October and April, I get a reminder in the mail that it's time for me to go see my urologist.

In May of 2016 I was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer and on August 1, 2016, I had a prostatectomy to remove my prostate and ALL the cancer that was there. 

Beginning in October of 2016 and for the next 10 years, I am on the 6 MONTH CYCLE!

Here's my struggle:  

When I had the surgery, my doctor said he got it all.  

The first test following surgery, in October of 2016 (and subsequent visits/tests)  showed no cancer.

But about 2 days before my next visit, my mind gets attacked with thoughts of cancer.  My body starts to have "pain" in different areas that play tricks on me (for the record, I train for marathons almost year around, so those "pains" I'm feeling are usually due to my marathon training).

So why do I let my mind wander to a place I don't want to go?

I have found, it is so important to not listen to all the "noise" that it out there.  And usually, that "noise" is cranked up to 10 inside of your head.

Worry...anxiety....fret....all of these type of emotions do not help you....in fact, they can cause other types of negative health related issues.

Here's how I get through it:

"Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.  Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done.  Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.  His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus."  Philippians 4:6-7 [NLT]

I exchange fear, worry, anxiety, etc., for HIS PEACE ("Then you will experience God's peace...).  

I would rather have HIS PEACE, which is GREATER than anything!

By the way...my next appointment is tomorrow, April 4th.  Time to continue the exchange process!