A Lucky Man

As I sit here in my room, look out the window to see the sun shinning, watching my children collect rolly pollies, while eating the best breakfast burrito in the world, made by my awesome wife, I can't help but think about how lucky I am. I think in life, we all tend to take the "Important" things for granted. For a while now, I have only been focused on my own goals and ambitions... I think that when I was 400 pounds, I really didn't have any goals or ambitions, the daily goal was to make it through the day without dying... Since losing the weight, I have constantly focused on "The next challenge", the next race, the next adventure, but somehow got consumed in that, and forgot the MOST important things. My thoughts lately have been drawn to a passage that reads... "For where you treasure is, there will your heart be also"...

Over the past several weeks, I have had to do a major "Gut Check" and have continually asked myself about "My treasure". The truth is, once we bring children into the world, our treasure SHOULD be their success. I think many of the things that I have accomplished are GREAT, with regards to athletics and endurance sport, but, the truth of it is, in the grand Eternal Scheme of things, none of it really matters. While I doubt I will EVER stop doing endurance sports (Especially considering I have a 50 mile trail run in 6 days in Decatur... The Grasslands), I have to make sure that it is NOT my #1 priority. Faith, Family, work, then all the rest... It is so easy to forget...

I wish we could go through life and never make mistakes. The truth is, we all do, some small, some big, but none-the-less, we all make them. I think what builds and shows character is what we do with those mistakes. Do we wollow in self-pitty, anger, frustration, doubt, hurt, anguish, disgust, or even worse feelings, OR do we recognize things for what they are, face the music, and do the proverbial 180* turn and change? I think of a song I heard a few years back... "Like stones in the river, we are tossed and turned, and are shaped 'til the edges are made smooth"... Life is certainly like a rough stone, but as we grow, and have experiences, both good and bad, we can become a little smoother, and a little better everyday, IF we seek that change.

I am so grateful for my life. So grateful for my children and especially grateful for my beautiful wife, Christie. Yesterday marks 19 years ago when I asked her to be my girl. I could not ask for a better woman or better mother to our children. She is the love of my life, and I am so lucky to have her. I hope we can all strive to focus on those things that REALLY matter, and not let the small and insignificant things distract us from the things of real importance...