Memorial Day

Make today a great day.

I’ll be spending my time remembering those who paid our debt in full, so that we can have the freedom to do what we like.

I wrote a short post at www.junglejeff.net

Peace. Carpe diem, jeff noel 🙂

Blessed Beast?

Yesterday morning, as I was returning from a run, a neighborhood middle school boy was waiting for his school bus.

As I was slowly running by, on the cool down portion, I said to him spontaneously, “Just do it! I could talk about exercising. I could think about exercising. I could hope to exercise. Or, I can just do it!”

He replied rather spontaneously, “You’re a beast“!

He meant it as a compliment. My body fat is around eight percent. I was shirtless and had that sweaty sheen from five good miles, plus the early Florida morning humidity.

I thought for a moment, and yelled back, “A blessed Beast“!

His Father is a Pastor, and I’m a life-long Disney advocate, and I was making a play on religion and the Disney classic, Beauty and the Beast.

Oh well, guess you had to be there.

If you don’t exercise, but want to, try something creative. Do something easy. A goal so small, you can’t fail. Do it five days in a row.

The following week, do just a hair more, for five more days.

Repeat this process week after week and guess where you’ll be a year from now?

Like it or not, you are responsible for your health. Ignoring this doesn’t make it go away.

No male on my Dad’s side made it past 60 years. I’ll be 50 in a couple weeks. Ever thought how you’d live your life if you only had ten years left?

Carpe diem, jeff noel 🙂

Will He Make It?

Can I make it to May 31?

Does it even matter?

I’m not sure about either.

So I’m gonna at least try.

Dude, what are you talking about?

Writing five blogs per day for nearly three months straight.

Sometime in February, I can’t remember exactly, I challenged myself to write daily in the five blogs that I am the most passionate about.

Some days, it flows from my mind and heart to the keyboard, like the water over Niagara Fallsa You Tube clip.

Other days, it feels like the Sahara Desert – photos.

If you’ve never written everyday, for an extended period, it’ll challenge you in ways you never thought.

Throw in a full time job, a Family, and all the other privileges and obligations of being a mid-life adult, and it can really be a grind. And, many days, it can really be an awakening.

And so it goes. May 21, 2009. Ten more days.

When was the last time you really pushed yourself? I mean seriously pushed yourself to grow?

Hope you like your answer. Carpe diem, jeff noel 🙂

Do Things Happen in Threes?

Threes are important, aren’t they?

How about Faith, Hope and Love?

The biggest three in my world anyway.

However, this morning, in the span of 30 minutes, it happened like this:

  1. Father V spoke about Love
  2. Art spoke about do-overs
  3. Dennis & Stacey spoke about making a difference

Please let me explain;

Number one. Our Priest spoke of Love being the ultimate choice in life. Not that we get to love, as much as we are loved. And our choice is in what we do with this knowlege. The goal, Father V said, is that we love others, as our Father loves us.

Number two. Art told me his oldest son graduated High School two days ago. I asked, “He grew up fast, didn’t he”? Art replied, “Too fast”. If given the chance to do it over, Art said something about doing it differently, carving out even more time than he did, knowing what he knows now.

Number three. Stacey and Dennis are sponsoring a fund-raiser, in honor of their beloved daughter, Whitney Lee DeCarlo, on Saturday, May 23, at our Church. I asked Stacey and Dennis if it would be OK to post a short You Tube video clip. Click here to see the short video clip. A few minutes earlier, we had just finished talking about trying to make a difference in our World, and using social media to do it.

You may click here – Whitney Lee DeCarlo – to read Stacey’s Caring Bridge Journal, for the full story.

This post is in honor of all those people trying to help others. This post is also inspired by the power of people working together for a common good.

While many reading have no way to attend Stacey and Dennis’ dinner gala for a great cause, maybe there is something else you can do in your corner of the world. Or, if you would like to make a tax deductible donation, please email Stacey at [email protected]

It is better to give than to receive, eh? Carpe diem, jeff noel 🙂

Are Baby Boomers Cool?

Are Baby Boomers, and even Gen X-ers cool?

Totally!

Way cool!

In 25 days, I have (hopefully) the privilege of turning 50. Seriously,

Of the many blessings and unique things that have happened during those five decades, I have never been an Olympian, nor had a “six-pack”.

Later this summer, I anticipate both becoming reality.

Funny thing though. Neither was a goal I had in mind.

Sure, like some people, I had dreams of these things throughout my lifetime. But never in a million years thought it would come true. And, may I add, I was never longing for, nor hellbent, to accomplish either.

Instead, what did I become passionate about?

Lowering my high cholesterol.

And that is what is leading me to the 2009 Master’s Track & Field World Championships this August.

Feel free to check out this amazing, yet humble, journey to the “old people’s Olympics” at www.Lane8.org .

Our eight-year old son is encouraging me to finish my goal of becoming the slowest of the fastest, out in Lane 8 .

Never let your memories be bigger than your dreams. Carpe diem, jeff noel 🙂