FOMO

FOMO.

No, I didn't just cuss (I know my mom is reading this and I didn't want her to pick up a bar of soap...that is MAYBE a post for another day).  

FOMO - FEAR OF MISSING OUT

FO·MO

ˈfōmō/

1. anxiety that an exciting or interesting event may currently be happening elsewhere, often aroused by posts seen on a social media website.

Do you feel this way?  Are others doing "stuff" you wished you were doing?  

I have a little bit of FOMO today.  

Tomorrow, the 121st running of the Boston Marathon is taking place.  I have a bunch of Abbott World Marathon Majors Ambassador friends that are running.  I'm not.

I see their posts on Facebook, on Twitter, on Instagram of their time at the Expo; meeting running celebs; dressing up and going to see the world premier of BOSTON - The Documentary; taking pics with each other; taking pics of the iconic finish line on Boylston Street; and on and on and on.......

I was reminded, again, today, to not let MOMENTS pass us by.  But instead to embrace OUR moments and make the BEST out of each of them.  

In my BEST YEAR YET, I need to realize that I can't be at EVERY cool thing that is happening around the country...around the world.  BUT I can make all the "happenings" around me COOL buy not letting each moment....each opportunity....pass by without putting my STAMP, my SIGNATURE on it!

So you know what I'm going to do?  I'm going to embrace the rest of this day, then I'm going to embrace tomorrow and CHEER on all those who are "toeing the line" tomorrow in Boston. 

I'm making a decision that I'm going to MAKE A DIFFERENCE in my world and embrace all the opportunities that will be around me.  By doing so...and maybe even talking about it on social media....someone in Boston might look at what's going on here and have a FOMO moment!

Praying health, strength and fast legs to all running Boston tomorrow....I won't be missing out on following you!

FIRST 5K

The Cheerleader did it!  She ran her first 5K today.  She got a chance to ring the PR (Personal Record) Bell too!  35:29 official!

One of my Abbott World Marathon Majors Ambassador friend sent her a message this past week saying something about that this would be the first of many.  Today, following the race, the same person said, "Welcome to the Insanity of running!"  Another friend told her, "The prelude to a marathon."  Not quite sure on that one.

I ran the 5k with my sweet Cheerleader...being her pacer AND cheerleader for this one (no cowbell though!).  

I started running in the fall of 2012.  My first race was a 5K too.  If you know my story, I have progressed to running marathons....multiple marathons to date.  I have a couple of crazy run related goals:  Run a marathon in all 50 states (currently I have 5 state in 7 marathon) AND run the 6 Abbott World Marathon Majors (Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York City), currently I have 2 done (Chicago and New York City).  The Cheerleader is just that....SHE'S.MY.GREATEST.SUPPORT.....SHE'S.MY.BIGGEST.CHEERLEADER!  It was only natural for me to flip the script on her first running adventure.

Honestly...I'm surprised she agreed to do it.  The Cheerleader has never been a runner. More importantly, she has a "bionic" hip (got the "new" one 6 years ago).  A while back, she threw down a "verbal" that she would run a 5K, and it was on!  We (me) choose the Omahalf Marathon (5K, 10 mile, and Half Marathon), put on by the race directors of the Nebraska Marathon.  The time of year was good and it gave her time to do some training before this event.  

BEST YEAR YET's are filled with little (or MONUMENTAL) steps or achievements.  It is so fun to challenge yourself to do something, even if it for a "one and only" one time thing.

Sure would be a bummer to have regret about not doing a 5K, or taking that cooking or photography class, or starting your own non-profit or foundation, when you had the chance (this list could go on and on). 

What do you think is "impossible" to do (most of the time, the "impossibility" ONLY exists in your mind)?  Have other's told you "you can't do that!"?  I'm here to tell you today, YOU.CAN.DO.IT!  I believe one of my gifts to you is to encourage you!  Hey, even if you just look at me and the Cheerleader and say, "If they can do it, so can I!"  That would INSPIRE me!

#TeamPeterson

SUNDAY IS ON ITS WAY

Happy Friday.

GOOD FRIDAY.

The other day, the Cheerleader and I went to the movie, The Case for Christ, the true story of a journalist, Lee Strobel, and his journey to disprove Christianity (there is a best selling book by the same title).  A co-worker of his, who is a Christian believer, when Lee asks where an investigation into Christianity would start, he says, "if the Resurrection of Jesus didn't happen, it's a house of cards."  So Lee sets out to find the facts and prove that this whole "religion" thing is a fantasy.  Read the book or go see the movie...it's very compelling.

Today, GOOD FRIDAY, represents the basis....the foundation of mine and many other's belief in the saving grace of Jesus Christ.  It's more than just a "belief" but a way...MY way of living.  

This day, GOOD FRIDAY, is the day that Jesus willingly laid down his life for me....for you...for us ALL.  What He went through was brutal, to say the least.  It was LOVE that lead Him to the cross.....LOVE that kept Him there for YOU and ME.

SUNDAY IS ON ITS WAY!

This Sunday, many will attend a place of worship to celebrate the Resurrection...EASTER SUNDAY.  BUT....there is no RESURRECTION without DEATH.  

"But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have all turned to our own way, and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all."  Isaiah 53:5-6

The celebration of Easter Sunday....of RESURRECTION Sunday, came at a HIGH price for One....but the benefits are FREE for ALL who will accept and believe.

"For this is how God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him (Jesus) will not perish but have eternal life. God sent His Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through Him." John 3:16-17

Although today, GOOD FRIDAY, is the place of death, Christ's death for us and our "death" to our beliefs that are contrary to Him...remember:

SUNDAY IS ON ITS WAY!

Happy GOOD FRIDAY everyone!

TWO-SIX-ONE FEARLESS

Katherine Switzer - First registered woman to run the Boston Marathon - 1967

The year was 1967 and Katherine (K.V.) Switzer put on bib #261 and ran the Boston Marathon.  The year before, Roberta Gibb ran Boston as well, but as an "unsanctioned" runner.  Women, in those days, were not allowed to run the race as an "official" entrant.  But 50 years ago, next Monday, K.V. Switzer, had registered, paid the $2 entry fee, and lined up. It was only after she and her running partners got to Mile 2 that there was an issue.

*************************************

I just got done with a run.  On my run I listened to the Runner's World podcast, where Editor-in-Chief, David Willey, interviewed Katherine Switzer about this.  She ran that year at the age of 20 and is going to run this year, at 70 to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of this historic event.

Historic in the fact that it, along with other events, helped usher in the acceptance of women competing in athletics, at HIGH levels and I'm sure opening the door for other opportunities in the business world as well.  

I was SO inspired to hear Katherine tell the story, but more importantly, the fire of inspiration that it lit in her.  

We all find inspiration in various ways.  Since I started this daily, BEST YEAR YET, blog back in January, we've looked at different inspirations and how we can not only be inspired, but do something with that inspiration.....START!

If you listen to the podcast reference above, Katherine said that after the race director tried (unsuccessfully) to rip her bib off of her, she felt confused, scared, then angry and it got to the point where over the next 24 miles she thought about how to make things different.  

SHE HAD A MISSION.

Today, she has a foundation, 261 Fearless, this is what their website says:

"We are a global supportive community which empowers women to connect and take control of their lives through the freedom gained by running. Through a series of non-competitive running clubs and private communication channels, we provide networking, healthy running support and education, and a sisterhood to women all over the world.

It is the mission of 261 Fearless to bring active women together through a global supportive social running community – allowing fearless women to pass strength gained from running onto women who are facing challenges and hence sparking a revolution of empowerment. 261 is the symbol that unites us as empowered runners."

What inspiration...mission...pursuit do you have in you that others need?  Whatever it is, be FEARLESS and let it out!

End Note:

Get behind those that are making a difference in our world.  Maybe YOU are one that others can get behind.  Let others know of your dreams and visions and you'll find the right people to rally with you to accomplish them!

GO.GET.IT!

THE WORLD NEEDS WHAT YOU HAVE! 

WHAT WILL YOU CHOOSE?

"We are our choices." J.P. Sartre

CHOICES.

We are faced with them everyday.

What to wear?  

What to eat?  

Where to go?  

What to spend? 

What to believe?

Life is a matter of choices....and EVERY choice you make, makes you!  We need to do our best to make the right ones....and ALWAYS do our best to learn from the wrong ones!

I heard a quote that said, "Sometimes I Win....Sometimes I Learn!"  Every choice we make, when we "OWN" it, will put us in one of those two categories....and it's what we do it that counts.

Today's post is due to tragedy.  Tragedy brought on because of CHOICES.  

Even in our BEST YEAR YET, we can come right up on tragedy....sometimes our own, and at other times, in someone else's life.  Today, it was someone else's choice(s) that led us here.

What did we learn...what did I learn?  I can only control what I can control.  I know that sounds like a "cop out" statement...but it is not a "cop out" statement and it is true.  I can control how I interact with others; how I treat them; encourage and inspire them; not give up on them.  There is SO much I can control.....but I can't control the other person...their thoughts...their actions and how they will react.

CHOICES.

In the Bible, Deuteronomy 30:19 [NLT] says:
"Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life....."

Notice that, "....the CHOICE YOU MAKE."  

What will you CHOOSE? 

YOU decide.  Know this, your choice COULD mean your destiny.

RUN YOUR OWN RACE

                   "A run has no pace or destination, just a beautiful journey from                       here to there and back again."

IT'S RACE WEEK!

I have many running friends who are preparing to run the Boston Marathon on Monday, April 17th....PATRIOT'S DAY.  They have been training since before the New Year for the joy to run 26.2 miles from Hopkinton to Boston.  

I know of others who are preparing to run the London Marathon on April 23rd.

Currently, I'm training for the Lincoln Marathon that will run on May 7th.  

The Cheerleader is joining this CRAZY running "tribe" and is running her first 5K this upcoming Saturday, April 15th.  I will join her on this run as well.

When someone goes out to run an organized race, they usually get the question, "what is your (time) goal?"  EVERYONE'S goal....EVERYONE'S "race" is different.  What is in front of me is different than what is in front of you.  Training; nutrition; weather conditions that day; weather conditions while training; etc., are different for us all.

Same with life.  Each of our path's are different.  Don't try to live someone else's life.  Don't try to live out the expectations of others.  I cannot live your life and you cannot live mine. Now, we might have similar goals, dreams, opportunities and such, but only I can live out the "race" that is designed for me.

In the Bible, the writer of Hebrews said it this way:

"...let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us." Hebrews 12:1 (NLT)

RUN YOUR OWN RACE!

What is the "race" that God has set before you?  Do you know what it is?  You might wonder what it is.  That's natural.  What is that "WHY" in your life?  What is it that gets you up in the morning (beside the pot of coffee)?

I've said it before, "chase what makes your heart race."  That is usually your "WHY" or your "PURPOSE."

Whatever it is, in this, your BEST YEAR YET, realize that every day is RACE DAY and every week is RACE WEEK.  NOW, go after it and RUN YOUR OWN RACE!

SEMPER FIDELIS

Since 1883, this latin translation of "Always Faithful," "SEMPER FIDELIS or SEMPER FI" has been the motto of the United States Marine Corps.  It goes to the dedication that the Marines have toward 'Corps and Country.'

SEMPER FIDELIS!

Although we equate this to the Marines, this saying has been around for much longer than 234 years.

What does it mean to be SEMPER FIDELIS.....to be ALWAYS FAITHFUL?

faithful

[feyth-fuh l] 

adjective

1.

strict or thorough in the performance of duty:

2.

true to one's word, promises, vows, etc.

3.

steady in allegiance or affection; loyal; constant:

4.

reliable, trusted, or believed.

5.

adhering or true to fact, a standard, or an original; accurate:

6.

full of faith; believing.

"Are you SEMPER FIDELIS?  Are you ALWAYS FAITHFUL?"  This is the question I ask myself.  Am I reliable? Loyal? Constant? Trusted? And on and on......

I really like #2, are you "true to your word, promises, vows, etc.?"

To truly have a BEST YEAR YET, it requires SEMPER FIDELIS!  And sometimes that faithfulness is to yourself....being true and honest with YOU.  So many "things," so many "voices" are trying to distract you away from your goals, your targets, your aspirations for this year.  Sometimes it is so loud, in your own head, that you cannot "hear" anything else.

DON'T LISTEN TO IT!

Tune out the negative "self-talk," and replace it with the positive things the Bible says about you.  One of my ALL-TIME favorite Bible verses in Romans 12:2 [NLT]:

"Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think."

CHANGING THE WAY YOU THINK!

Be ALWAYS FAITHFUL with others.....be ALWAYS FAITHFUL to yourself.  You do those 2 very important things and you are well on your well to your BEST YEAR YET!

SEMPER FI!