The race isn't always to the swift...

I certainly didn't break any records running my first marathon, but I enjoyed myself. I witnessed the sun coming up over the mountains as the birds awoke. As I followed the river, it's steady sound put me in a trance. I thanked all the volunteers at every stage for being there with fresh water and a smile. I prayed, sang along with hymns and was just thankful to be able to even consider such an undertaking as this. This race wasn't about being swift for me; it was about stamina, determination and endurance.

At some point in our lives, we have a battle. Mine most recently was Lyme Disease, which I beat with a lot of hard work and prayer. This marathon was my celebration of a completely healthy and balanced body. Before the gun was shot at o-dark-thirty in the morning, I had already won!

So remember this: "Life's battles don't always go to the stronger or faster man. But sooner or later the man who wins is the fellow who thinks he can."

It's all in the state of mind...

Quit Complaining

I recently asked a lady who moved to Colorado how long it took her to adjust to the sporadic weather, which I'm having difficulty with since living in Southern California. She replied, "It took me five years." Curious about that, I asked, "What happened at five years." She simply stated, "I quit complaining."

The weather did not change nor did it become less sporadic. She simply "chose" to stop complaining about it and move on.

How simple a principle. Try applying it to life...not as easy. BUT, it can make a big difference in our perspective, thereby changing "us," which is all we have control over.

So, I will attempt to embrace our 80 mph winds when they come and see the beauty in snow that falls in May. The wind blows the weather out or new weather in, and the snow brings well-needed moisture to the Rocky Mountains so that we may not thirst.