New England Finds a way to Win - I Find More in Life

As a life long San Diego Charger fan I was feeling pretty bad after the Chargers lost. It is bad enough having your team lose, but when the team is so promising it feels even worse.

Soon after the game, the family pulled out our latest Ga'Hoole book for our reading time. I sat back listening, but also contemplated the loss. Soon though, I realized that I was letting a game (important as it was) intrude on a special family time. When that struck me, I was disappointed in myself for valuing this game so highly. I decided to take my turn reading a chapter, and wound up enjoying the reading time with my family even more because of my little mental victory over the football disappointment.

I don't want to minimize the loss many loyal fans feel when their favorite team loses, but it is just a game. These games are meant to entertain, and this game was entertaining. I hope all football fans, whether they win or lose, can remember to value the daily things of life more.

Today at church our pastor's sermon was about valuing Today, the present. It was a little like a seize-the-day sermon. Although he never said those words. The sermon struck a chord with me, as I am looking for something to be more passionate about. I guess today I decided to be more passionate about my family than I am about football. If I can make that a true statement (instead of just some words in my blog), then I will have become a better person.

Of course, I still would like to find something more exciting to be passionate about, like endurance running. If family is my passion, what should I do to act on that? How can someone be more passionate about their family? How can that make a difference in the world? Am I just copping out, picking a passion that I can't avoid? Something that has no real way to measure progress or success?

Maybe I am. Either way, there's no harm in working to be a better father and husband. I can still look for other passions. As Dean Karnazes showed, family may be the one thing that truely allows you to achieve your passion.

Ultramarathon Man...Passion

I recently read Dean Karnazes' book about his start and life as an ultra marathon runner. I finished the book in a couple days, which is quick for me and shows this was a real page turner. I enjoyed the personal look at his life and the detailed descriptions of some crucial moments or turning points in his life.



My first thought after reading it (and even during the read) was that I should become a ultra marathoner too. His writing was pretty good, but it was the motivational message that caught my attention. After a couple days of thinking on his story and letting the message settle in a bit, I realized that the message was intended to inspire each of us to determine or find our passion and go after it like Dean has rather than going after his passion. Not that I won't become an ultramarathoner, but I should make sure that my heart is in it.

Much like Dean, I have enjoyed a good life. My faith and family and job give me joy and satisfaction, but I haven't done what I was put here for. I haven't reached my potential. I haven't found something to be passionate about, or else I just haven't been passionate about what I've done.

I did married a very passionate woman. Passion was what attracted me to her and what has inspired me to do much of what I have done, but I cannot claim her passion as my own, and she cannot apply her passion to my life. No... passion is something you have to find for yourself. Passion is visible and attractive, but it doesn't come without cost. Maybe to have passion you have to be willing to make sacrifices, to trade something, to work harder. It appears that Dean took that approach, and it clearly worked for him.

I guess that's what I saw in Dean's book. It's a story about passion. He does a wonderful job describing his passion and sharing it with us.

As this is a new year, I'll make it a goal or resolution of mine to become a person of passion. I will start by finding something I enjoy, or that I feel is important, and diving into it. I'll let you know what comes up.

I highly recommend reading Ultramarathon Man. Hopefully it will inspire you as well. Thanks Dean for the inspiration.