My basic principle is that you don't make decisions because they are cheap; you make them because they're right. - Theodore Hesburgh
It's not hard to make decisions when you know what your values are. - Roy Disney
Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain but it takes character and self control to be understanding and forgiving. - Dale Carnegie
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Susan Boyle
For those of you who haven't seen the video of Susan Boyle singing "I Dreamed a Dream" from Les Miserables, it's worth taking a look. Similar to the story of Paul Potts a little while ago, here is an unknown British lady, aged 47. Never married and never even kissed! Unfortunately, you can see from her appearance why she was laughed at when she said she wanted to become a professional singer, and be as famous as Elaine Paige (http://www.elainepaige.com/).
When she began to sing it was truly amazing. See for yourself...
What's remarkable is that she's 47, and up until now had been an unknown. Who knows how small the circle was before April 11th who had heard Susan sing. It's fantastic that a talent contest can uncover such hidden talents. It's also sad that it had to be a talent contest that uncovered her talents. I say sad because our society highly values fame. In fact we take fame as an indicator of talent, ability, knowledge, intelligence, intuition etc. It seems that fame is the ultimate recognition of whether someone is good at what they do. That's what's sad, because Susan Boyle's talents were always there, but the world didn't know. She's no more talented now than she was last week, just a little braver.
The question for everyone is what talents do we all have that we choose to keep hidden under a rock, that we choose to keep in the closet, that we choose to keep to ourselves. What talents are we too afraid to share with others, and what's holding us back.
It takes a televised talent show to bring Susan Boyle to the world. And it's tremendous that she entered herself as a contestant for the show, or what other opportunities would have passed her by.
Undoubtedly it was the action she has finally taken to assert herself and put herself out there that has brought the rewards. In 47 years to never marry or be kissed says something about her track record. Who knows what ridicule she has endured in the past to cause her to make that her life.
It seems there are so many "armchair experts" who know better than everyone else, who calmly sit back and criticize, but this lady should be cheered, revered and acknowledged for taking a huge risk and putting herself on the line.
She has won, simply for taking the risk. Her life will be forever changed, for better or worse. One thing she cannot say now is that she "could've been, if only..." Now she will have the answer.
We should answer these similar questions for ourselves. We should take a risk and put ourselves out there. We should not criticize those who do that because they are the ones who are taking action, and action-takers deserve to be the winners.
"Take a chance! All life is a chance. The man who goes farthest is generally the one who is willing to do and dare." -Dale Carnegie
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
The Running Man
It's amazing what happens when you set yourself a goal and commit to it. About 10 weeks ago I committed to running the Calgary half-marathon on May 31st. It's been 10 years since I last ran further than a couple of blocks to the bus stop because I could see my bus coming. I'm a 190lb man with a body (so I thought) that was built for short bursts of strength. Running distances in the hundreds of metres, not thousands!
This afternoon I just completed another 10km mid-week, lunch-time run. This is after running 13.5km on Sunday. Week after week I have been consistently building my stamina by running a "long run" on Sundays that keep getting longer and longer. My first run back on February 1st, was a mere 4.67km and that exhausted me. Now I run almost three times the distance and I'm 15% faster over the whole distance. Some days it feels like I could run for ever!
My primary goal for May 31st is to finish the race. I'd love to run the 1/2 marathon in under 2 hours and right now that's an achievable goal.
What have I done to keep myself in the right frame of mind?
I look in the mirror when I get out of the shower and I say "I have the body of a runner." Now I believe it. That belief spurs me on to run when I'm not feeling 100% like I want to. That belief allows me to stretch my long runs each week and it gives me a "can-do attitude".
I have also been telling myself the next goal is a marathon, and it sounds achievable for me now... and who knows... maybe an iron man triathlon is next! (That's a 2.4-mile (3.86 km) swim, a 112-mile (180.25 km) bike ride followed by a marathon (26 miles 385 yards, 42.195 km) run, raced in that order and without a break).
It's all about changing what you believe in yourself. Setting stretch goals, pushing yourself and being consistent in application and results follow.
This afternoon I just completed another 10km mid-week, lunch-time run. This is after running 13.5km on Sunday. Week after week I have been consistently building my stamina by running a "long run" on Sundays that keep getting longer and longer. My first run back on February 1st, was a mere 4.67km and that exhausted me. Now I run almost three times the distance and I'm 15% faster over the whole distance. Some days it feels like I could run for ever!
My primary goal for May 31st is to finish the race. I'd love to run the 1/2 marathon in under 2 hours and right now that's an achievable goal.
What have I done to keep myself in the right frame of mind?
I look in the mirror when I get out of the shower and I say "I have the body of a runner." Now I believe it. That belief spurs me on to run when I'm not feeling 100% like I want to. That belief allows me to stretch my long runs each week and it gives me a "can-do attitude".
I have also been telling myself the next goal is a marathon, and it sounds achievable for me now... and who knows... maybe an iron man triathlon is next! (That's a 2.4-mile (3.86 km) swim, a 112-mile (180.25 km) bike ride followed by a marathon (26 miles 385 yards, 42.195 km) run, raced in that order and without a break).
It's all about changing what you believe in yourself. Setting stretch goals, pushing yourself and being consistent in application and results follow.
Friday, March 06, 2009
My effort. My results.
5:30pm May, 1989.
We had just finished dinner and my father says to me, “Matthew we need to chat about your report card.”
“Yes Dad.” I knew it wasn’t going to be a good chat. I hadn’t seen my report card but I suspected it wasn’t up to the same standards as past report cards.
We went into my bedroom and sat on my bed. Dad opened up my report card. Each subject had a separate page with my percentage, the average across the whole grade and my ranking across the whole grade.
“German.” Dad started. “Eighty-six per cent. Third out of twenty-seven.” He announced.
I nodded.
“Not bad, but you’ve always scored I the nineties and your mum and I really expect you to top that class.”
“Yes Dad.” I knew he was right. It was only the second time I hadn’t been first in that class.
Dad flipped the page over, “Mathematics.”
This was always one of my strong subjects. I found the numbers subjects fairly easily.
“Eighty-three per cent. Twenty-ninth out of one hundred and fifty one students.” Dad was very matter-of-fact. “Matthew, can you honestly tell me that there are twenty-eight kids who are better than you at maths?”
“No Dad. I can’t.”
“Well then.” He cleared his throat and flipped over the page, “Physics.” He shook his head. “Matthew can you tell me there are thirty seven people better than you in physics?”
“No Dad.”
He flipped the page again, “Can you tell me there are forty-six kids better than you in Chemistry?”
“No Dad.”
Dad kept going through each subject one by one and arrived at “Geography.” He paused and looked at me. “Matthew, I know you’re not so interested in geography, but are you really in the bottom half of the class?”
“Well…” I didn’t really have much to day at this point.
“Matthew, I want to see your marks above average for geography. Is that fair?”
“Yes it’s fair.”
“So are there any good reasons your marks aren’t what they should be?”
“No good reasons.” My head dropped. I knew I had failed my parents and more importantly I had fallen well short of my own potential.
“What do you need to do to get those marks up?”
“Work harder. Pay attention in class. Do my homework.”
“Well, when your end of year report comes in I want to see the results we’re accustomed to. Fair?”
“That’s fair.”
For the next six months I put in the work that was required, and sure enough my grades had recovered to five A’s and 2 B’s. Needless to say there were no more frank conversations.
I was just fifteen when this happened but I learned the lesson young, that my future is in my own hands. Whatever I expect to get out of life, I need to be putting in the required effort.
My effort. My results.
It’s a motto I try to live my life by. That’s why I have no regrets.
We had just finished dinner and my father says to me, “Matthew we need to chat about your report card.”
“Yes Dad.” I knew it wasn’t going to be a good chat. I hadn’t seen my report card but I suspected it wasn’t up to the same standards as past report cards.
We went into my bedroom and sat on my bed. Dad opened up my report card. Each subject had a separate page with my percentage, the average across the whole grade and my ranking across the whole grade.
“German.” Dad started. “Eighty-six per cent. Third out of twenty-seven.” He announced.
I nodded.
“Not bad, but you’ve always scored I the nineties and your mum and I really expect you to top that class.”
“Yes Dad.” I knew he was right. It was only the second time I hadn’t been first in that class.
Dad flipped the page over, “Mathematics.”
This was always one of my strong subjects. I found the numbers subjects fairly easily.
“Eighty-three per cent. Twenty-ninth out of one hundred and fifty one students.” Dad was very matter-of-fact. “Matthew, can you honestly tell me that there are twenty-eight kids who are better than you at maths?”
“No Dad. I can’t.”
“Well then.” He cleared his throat and flipped over the page, “Physics.” He shook his head. “Matthew can you tell me there are thirty seven people better than you in physics?”
“No Dad.”
He flipped the page again, “Can you tell me there are forty-six kids better than you in Chemistry?”
“No Dad.”
Dad kept going through each subject one by one and arrived at “Geography.” He paused and looked at me. “Matthew, I know you’re not so interested in geography, but are you really in the bottom half of the class?”
“Well…” I didn’t really have much to day at this point.
“Matthew, I want to see your marks above average for geography. Is that fair?”
“Yes it’s fair.”
“So are there any good reasons your marks aren’t what they should be?”
“No good reasons.” My head dropped. I knew I had failed my parents and more importantly I had fallen well short of my own potential.
“What do you need to do to get those marks up?”
“Work harder. Pay attention in class. Do my homework.”
“Well, when your end of year report comes in I want to see the results we’re accustomed to. Fair?”
“That’s fair.”
For the next six months I put in the work that was required, and sure enough my grades had recovered to five A’s and 2 B’s. Needless to say there were no more frank conversations.
I was just fifteen when this happened but I learned the lesson young, that my future is in my own hands. Whatever I expect to get out of life, I need to be putting in the required effort.
My effort. My results.
It’s a motto I try to live my life by. That’s why I have no regrets.
Sunday, February 01, 2009
My First Run.
I've just come back from my first "long run" as part of my training for the half-marathon (21.1km) at the end of May. Now it's not that long, but I have to start somewhere. Harold and I went for a 4.69 km run along the Bow River and we completed it in 28:50, which has me at 2hr-11min pace for the half marathon. I'm setting the goal of the half marathon in 2 hours, so it's around the mark.
What is actually the best part of today is that this was my first run and my fitness is such that I performed well. Walking the 4.5km to and from work for the last 7 months would be the main contributor to that.
I'm excited about the start, and I'm encouraged now to take on greater challenges... who knows, maybe a marathon by the end of the year!
What is actually the best part of today is that this was my first run and my fitness is such that I performed well. Walking the 4.5km to and from work for the last 7 months would be the main contributor to that.
I'm excited about the start, and I'm encouraged now to take on greater challenges... who knows, maybe a marathon by the end of the year!
Friday, January 30, 2009
Setting the Goal
Today I registered for the Calgary Half Marathon on May 31st. I'm registering because it's part of my commitment to taking my fitness to the next level and challenging myself. I've never really considered myself a runner and so this will smash those false illusions.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
The Boxer
He must preserve himself.
He must dodge the punches.
He cannot win by dodging alone.
He himself must punch.
The boxer who never enters the ring never holds the title belt.
The commentator is a glorified spectator.
The spectator goes home broke.
The boxer goes home broken and beaten.
He will heal.
He is richer for the experience.
He can fight another day.
He will.
Written for my friend.
He must dodge the punches.
He cannot win by dodging alone.
He himself must punch.
The boxer who never enters the ring never holds the title belt.
The commentator is a glorified spectator.
The spectator goes home broke.
The boxer goes home broken and beaten.
He will heal.
He is richer for the experience.
He can fight another day.
He will.
Written for my friend.
Thursday, January 08, 2009
It's my birthday...
Each year we celebrate that we lapped the sun. And I did it again. Hurray for me! I'm taking the day off.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
The Businessman
The Businessman is tall and thin
With a moustache and a grin.
He has lots of money
To spend on his honey.
He blows it on coke
Drags on a smoke.
It all looks so ideal
The real meal deal,
But it's not a smile of gold
Just a grin... and that gets old.
With a moustache and a grin.
He has lots of money
To spend on his honey.
He blows it on coke
Drags on a smoke.
It all looks so ideal
The real meal deal,
But it's not a smile of gold
Just a grin... and that gets old.
The Runner
The runner runs.
He runs and runs.
Runs and runs.
And runs some more.
Then he keeps running.
Runs and runs.
He stops.
The race is not over.
There is no race.
He has not won.
He will never win.
There is no race.
He just won.
He runs and runs.
Runs and runs.
And runs some more.
Then he keeps running.
Runs and runs.
He stops.
The race is not over.
There is no race.
He has not won.
He will never win.
There is no race.
He just won.
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