Kailey and Julia at the pumpkin farm

It seems we all get “stuck” every so often.  Sometimes I think it is only me who has hit this ceiling of complexity or a glass roof I cannot shatter, but it happens to everyone.  Thumbing through a book I wrote a few years back, a story of life reminded me of the cycles of life…..and breaking through those ceilings!

You may have ceilings placed upon you that were never considered ceilings. But if you have gone through life and been stuck at a certain point, look closely at what is causing you to stay stuck. Someone once told me (and for the life of me I can’t remember who), you need to always be growing personally and spiritually. If not, God will put you in a spot to force you to grow. True for me… in looking back, I thought of an example of just that.

Ten years ago I found my family was not really growing as a unit. We were in a holding pattern so to speak, coasting. My youngest daughter was diagnosed 9 years ago with diabetes. A 4 year old diagnosed with diabetes… hard to take, SURE! Family togetherness, bonding, unity, seeing your daughter rise to the challenge, overcoming obstacles, great lesson and great wake up call. (She teaches me more everyday about winning and striving, than I ever could have received from any book I read. (You have examples in your life too, look for them.)

I also learned a valuable lesson from Tracy. I was somewhat crushed when I left the doctor and had the diagnosis, having grown up with a brother with diabetes, I knew the struggles that were to follow. She said to me “What are you going to do? We are going to deal with this, move on, and grow.” That we did.

We all have struggles and problems. Of course we do, we’re not dead. Work through them, build upon them, challenge your beliefs, raise your ceilings, and win!

How do you overcome your struggles?

401k Changes are not as hard or scary as you may think

Do you really want to leave your 401k money with your old employer?  More than likely not.  But, a lot of people choose that route because they “don’t have to think about it then”.  If you are going to make some changes, here are a few things to remember.

What is a 401k Rollover?

The transfer of assets from an employer’s retirement plan when you leave your employer – whether retiring or changing jobs.

What are my Options?

• Leave the assets in the employer’s plan (if the plan allows – this is not always a possibility) – This limits you to the rules and investment options in the former employer’s plan.
• Withdraw the assets in cash – Because this distribution is considered taxable income, taking a distribution in cash usually has tax consequences, such as a withholding of 20% and a possible 10% penalty if you are younger than 59 ½.
• Rollover to a new employer’s plan – subject to the rules and investment options of the new employers plan.
• Open a Rollover IRA – You can move eligible assets directly from a retirement plan to a Rollover IRA. The advantages of Rollover IRAs include:
  • Preserving tax advantages – Eligible assets can continue to grow tax-deferred.
  • Potentially more investment choices – With a Rollover IRA you can invest in stocks, bonds, mutual funds, annuities and more.
  • Flexible beneficiary designations and stretch-out options for all beneficiaries through an inherited IRA account.
  • Easy access to you assets – You can withdraw money at any time from a Rollover IRA. Distributions will generally be subject to current taxes and a 10% penalty if they are younger than 59 ½ (unless an exception applies).

Take a few minutes and understand your options.  Most people I talk with would rather have their money invested in their own account, than have it stay with an old employer they may not particularly like.

Did you find the rollover process easy?

Feb. 13 — Mercedes Full marathon–Birmingham, AL

March 12– Tom King Half marathon–Nashville, TN

May 15– Rev 3 Olympic distance–Knoxville, TN

June 11– Harpeth Century Ride– Franklin, TN

July 10– ??–Chattanooga Olympic–Chattanooga, TN

July 17– Cardinal Half Ironman– Louiville, KY

Sept. 11– Ironman WI—Madison, WI.

More than likely add St. Jude in December or Disney Marathon in Jan/12

Wishing you all a tremendous race season, and asking you to be a part of the community that holds me accountable!

Perhaps the new tat at years end?

Mantra: I am more than I appear to be, all the world's strength and power rests inside me.

This was a good reminder for me today, realizing what it takes to live a radiant life.  Robin Sharma and his book The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari, illustrate through a parable the strategies to peaceful living.  Hope you enjoy as much as I do.

Kaizen is Constant and Never Ending Improvement. You must feel good on the inside before things on the outside will be good…

Practice the Ten Rituals for Radiant Living:

Ritual of Solitude (Mediation)

Ritual of Physicality (Exercise)

Ritual of Live Food (Vegetarianism)

Ritual of Abundant Knowledge (Lifelong Learning)

Ritual of Personal Reflection ( Get to Know Yourself)

Ritual of Music (Listen to Music)

Ritual of the Spoken Word (Recite Mantras – Affirmations)

Ritual of Congruent Character (Industry, Compassion, Humility, Patience, Honesty and Courage)

Ritual of Simplicity (Live a Simple Life)

What is your favorite Mantra?

Find your Passion and live it everyday

The Purpose of Life’s is Your Life’s Purpose

Never forget the importance of living with unbridled exhilaration. See the exquisite beauty in all living things. Today, and this very moment is a gift. Stay focused on your purpose. The universe will take care of everything else.

It’s important to take the time to exam yourself. Determine how you see yourself, how others see you and how you really are.

Follow the 5 step method for Working your Passion:

• Form a clear mental image of the outcome
• Create a positive pressure on yourself to keep yourself inspired
• Never set a goal without attaching a timeline to it
• Perform the new activity for 21 days in a row
• Have fun every day while you are advancing towards your purpose.

Find a burning passion for something!

What is your Passion?  Was it easy to find?  It took years for me to narrow down on what mine is, while others know it right out of the gate.  Perhaps we always know it, but it take years to realize it is exactly what it is supposed to be?

"Friends in Slow Paces" at the finish line

People would ask “You are doing what this weekend? A Ragnar Relay”?  “What is a Ragnar Relay”?  After they got the answer, most of the participants got a weird look!

The inaugural TN Ragnar race took place on Friday and Saturday.  The relay started in Chattanooga, TN and ended in Nashville, TN.  160 teams participated in the 195 mile run over the two days.  Each team had 12 members (unless you were in the Ultra runner class–they had 6 members)  with a member running all the time.   The goal was to run your ”leg”, get to the next check point, and pass the baton to another member.  The legs varied in distance and difficulty, but were typically around 5-6 miles.  Each member running 3 times throughout the 28 hour duration.

Steve White dancing to Foxy Lady at the start of the race!

We were in van 1 which started the race in Chattanooga.  Steve led us off on the first leg, a 7.8 miler, with a killer hill around mile 4.  We provided support along the way, except when we hit a spot along the river that smelled like every fish that had ever died washed on shore and rotted!  Off to a great start, it was lots of fun from there!

Josh and Judith picked up the baton for the next two legs, I followed with a 6.2 miler along the river, which was beautiful, and Troy and Ryan carried us through to complete our first set of 6 run legs.

Running along the river

At the exchange to van 2 we had lots of laughs and a few sighs…..van 2 was not only stuck with the climb up Monteagle, but also the rain/sleet/hail/snow….They were quit the studs!

Van 2 got to start in the snow/rain mix, yuck!

Van 2 is off running and we are enjoying pizza and beer, good conversation, and thoughts of a nap.  We were all cold, tired, chilled from sweat mixing with cold, and applying anti-chaffing products to areas that need attention.  It was in this moment we re-hashed a conversation we had on a run months ago….The 3 Types of Fun!

The 3 types of Fun can be described:

1.  Fun while you are doing it–this would be something you enjoy while in the moment–could be cooking, playing a game, at a party, roller coaster, etc.

2.  Type 2 Fun is fun, that really isn’t all that fun in the moment but after you stop doing it for a short period of time, you reflect back and think, “that was kind of fun”—running through the hills, sitting at a horse show waiting all day to watch your daughter do a 30 second run, or hosting that hard party and reflecting after all the guests went home.

3.  Type 3 fun is not fun at all while doing, but after you think about it for (a longer) period of time, it really was fun.  Could be running in the cold, rain, at 11:30 p.m. uphill, the party that was a flop but was nice to see everyone, running the rim to rim in the grand canyon (I did not personally do this one, but others in group did.  Time still may have to pass for them to state that as fun, it has only been a month!).

While participating in the Ragnar Relay you experience all 3 types of fun!  The memories of silly stories, slap happy moments, sleep deprivation and just stupid stuff that comes up, lots of fun!

Cami's game face before run, Audrey's fun face, probably done running!

Leg 2 in the middle of the night or the start of leg 3, around 5 a.m. with 2 hours of sleep, seemed to be the most difficult.  It is not only the miles of running that take a toll, but the fatigue, poor eating, cold, confined quarters, and having to run when you really want to crawl back in the van and sleep.  It is amazing how the mind can think it and the body adapts!  The van support and motivational yelling and hooping it up makes a difference too!

Josh and Judith in the middle of night passing baton

Day time on Saturday was your friend.  We had a beautiful sunrise and nice runs into Cool Springs and Franklin.  At the big exchange, Healthways in Cool Springs, van 1 was done.  Van 2 pulled us through the remaining 6 legs and did the team proud.  We all met around the corner of the finish line and ran in together.  I think we actually ran in too fast, my legs were killing me at this point!

The Prize

The medal proves to be a reminder of a great event!  The laughs, stories, memories, and 3 levels of fun!  I would highly recommend finding 11 of your closest friends and signing up for a future relay event, you will enjoy!

You Can Do It!

Working through old journals and books led me to one way that helped me get through tough times in years past.  Ironically it is the same way to get everything you want.  Wether you are searching for ways to catapault your success, or a good way to get re-motivated, the three 3 points below will take you there!

1.  You can train your mind to think positive thoughts. These positive thoughts will give you energy and fill you with cheer. Think “I CAN!” – Your mind can only hold one thought at a time make it a positive thought.

2.  Explore your mind – find what you truly love to do and put all your energy towards doing it.

3.  Involve your body in positive thinking. Sit up straight and breathe deeply. If you’re up, move your body like you’re happy and full of energy.

Most importantly, Visualize! For several minutes take breaths and clear your mind. Begin to visualize pictures of what and who you want to be. Clarify those pictures. Fine tune them, adding more and more detail. The more real the pictures, the closer you will get to making them your reality.

What is the one thing that you are striving for this week?

Really John?

Reinforcing good behavior and replacing the ones that are not so good, a good goal.  Successful people practice certain behaviors and non-successful people also exercise certain behaviors.  Looking at which behaviors are exhibited determines which way the day, week, life goes.

Behaviors of Successful People– Self responsible, take control, positive, happy, smile, express gratitude, say thank you, give praise, give attention, listen actively.

Behaviors of Non-Successful People–make excuses, irresponsible, lack control, negative emotions, anger, fear, resentment, guilt, envy, jealousy, worry.

Note: Habits can not be eliminated! They can, however, be replaced. It takes 21 days to replace a habit. By changing an action, you modify a habit, by changing a habit you modify your behavior.

The steps to change:

• Form a clear mental image
• Put positive pressure on yourself
• Set goals with tracking timelines – A goal without a date is a dream
• Do it for 21 days, then it becomes a new good habit or a Ritual
• Enjoy the process. A day without laughter and a day without love is a day without life!

 IF you were to change one habit, or behavior what would it be?

What would the impact of that change be?

Make decisions when you are comfortable

What a traumatic time, mourning the loss of a loved one.  Soon to follow will be the financial decisions make, often creating even more stress. 

It is critical that your options be thoroughly explained to you, seek help from a trusted advisor before making any decisions.

Ben knew the value of $1 saved

In 1790 Benjamin Franklin left $4,000 jointly to the city of Philadelphia and the state of Pennsylvania. He left instructions that the money should be conservatively invested, but not withdrawn, until 200 years after his death.

In 1990 this fund had grown to $1,500,000. The Pennsylvania State Legislature distributed the assets of the fund to several charitable foundations, including a scholarship fund for the students of Penn College.

Because of his remarkable foresight and planning, Benjamin Franklin continues to benefit thousands of lives even though he has been dead for more than 200 years. Franklin understood the interrelationship between time, money and compound interest.

His lump sum investment of a mere $4000 earned a modest 3.00% return, yet his money increased to $1,500,000 – 375 times the original value.

The road to security and increased wealth is not a “get rich quick” concept, rather prudent wise decisions.

What can you do to increase your savings?

Invest in Balance