They come to pass

I listened to a cd by Robert L. Dickie yesterday about the purpose of trials in our lives. He talked about a phrase we hear in the scriptures a lot - it came to pass. He said our trials did not "come to stay, they came to pass." I loved that!

More Great Quotes

I don't know about you, but, remembering quotes helps me in times of need. I am not always the best at remembering them. But, the feeling and the ideas they brought to my mind when I read them just come to me. I hope you like these...my favorite today is the last one.

Where nothing is sure, everything is possible – Margaret Drabble

When you are down to nothing, God is up to something.

Only those who attempt the absurd achieve the impossible.

Faith - See the invisible. Believe the incredible. Achieve what the masses think is impossible

Don’t tell God how big your troubles are. Tell your troubles how big your God is. Faith without works is dead.

When in doubt, when in fear, be aggressive. Commit yourself and never look back. Unknown

The same everlasting Father who cares for you today will care for you tomorrow and everyday. Either He will shield you from suffering or give you unfailing strength to bear it. Be at peace then and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginings.

Daily Kick in the Butt

The more I thought about what I get to do, the less I realized I had to do. It was just a shift, just a new perspective, just a new and more grateful method for labeling the things in my life. Think about it—if you stopped yourself every single time you were about to say, "I have to" and changed it to "I get to," it might change your entire experience.

Kristin Armstrong, Mile Markers blog

Daily Kick in the Butt

From the moment I ran through the tunnel into the Olympic stadium I knew that the Olympics wasn't everything I wanted but it was everything I needed. Meaning that I had dreamt of winning for so long but by losing I would develop a whole lot of character and my running career would have a lot different direction compared to if I had won.

Ryan Hall on his 2008 Olympic Marathon performance

Daily Kick in the Butt

Here is one of the daily quotes I get from Runner's World. Thought I would share...

I don't know how the creative process works, but it always seems, as I'm running...that thoughts start coming in; sentences start coming in.

Robert A. Caro, biographer

Your Destiny

I am keeping the things that get me thinking and inspire me here on this blog. I love this. Thanks Cathy Anderson for including it in your most recent e-mail.

Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.

Running (and Life)

The only secret is that it is consistent, often monotonous, boring, hard work. And it's tiring.

Robert de Castella, World champion marathon runner

A Couple of Great Quotes

Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he's been robbed. The fact is that most putts don't drop, most beef is tough, most children grow up to be just people, most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration, most jobs are often dull than otherwise. Life is like an old-time rail journey -- delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders, and jolts -- interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride. - Gordon B. Hinkley

Be at peace with the process and nothing can hurt you. - George Guzzardo

God cares more about your growth than your comfort. - Unknown

Book: A Thomas Jefferson Education

I heard about this book a few years ago from my friend Clancy. I just finished it. I wish I had picked it up sooner. EVERYONE needs to read this book.

We are all concerned with our children's education. We see deficits in the public school system and no way to really fill in the gaps. We want the best for them but feel we don't really know what we can do. It feels as though it has been taken out of our hands. This book helped me see that it is my own education I should be concerned with. And this will inspire my children and any children over which I have influence to pursue a great education for themselves.

Here are just a few of my favorite quotes from the book:

The world teaches that good grades equal intelligence, but they don't; that degrees are equal to education, but they aren't; that money and position are success, but they aren't.

Do not buy the facades the world offers. Only virtue is success. Only integrity is greatness. Your task is to become "men and women of virtue, wisdom, diplomacy, and courage who inspire greatness in other and move the cause of liberty," to live up to your mentors and the classics which helped make you who you are and will

help build the person you will become.

--

Statesmen are needed in our day, in our communities, homes, businesses, schools, churches, governments, relationships and associations.

In 1776 Thomas Jefferson declared the independence of all humankind, but in 1764 he was just a college student trying to mend a broken heart.

In 1780 George Washington almost single-handedly brought down the greatest military force on earth, but in 1764 he was just a farmer struggling to get out of debt.

In 1787 James Madison swayed the entire course of history, but in 1764 he was just a shy twelve-year-old.

It is the ordinary people in our day, just like those in 1764, who have greatness in them, if they decide to develop it.

--

I know it is hard to study the classics and find mentors. We are busy making a living or going to school, but if we are too busy to study the classics and apply the lessons they teach, then we are too busy to stay free, too busy to secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity.

--

Tomorrow's leaders will determine whether the flame of freedom and prosperity lit by American Founders two hundred years ago continues to burn brightly or is extinguished.

Why did I love this book? Because I truly believe that all of us were called to do something great! And, in order to do something great we must prepare ourselves. This book is a beginning. GET IT! READ IT!

I believe that when the time is right, some of you will be called upon to be statesmen of our day - whether you like it or not. And whether you are prepared or not.

MonaVie Convention

We went to the MonaVie convention in SLC where they released their new hybrid energy drink, EMV. It tastes great! The convention was incredible. We learned a lot and got to spend time with some of our best friends.

2009.06.20 MonaVie Convention in SLC

The Climb

Hi, I am back from the dead.  Maybe.  Just thought I would write something to contribute to the theme of my blog.  We went to see Hannah Montana the movie.  She sings the song "The Climb" in the movie.  (I had never heard it before, but, apparently it is quite popular.)  Anyway, it is wonderful and I wanted to put the lyrics here for everyone to read.

I can almost see it
That dream I’m dreaming but
There’s a voice inside my head sayin,
You’ll never reach it,
Every step I’m taking,
Every move I make feels
Lost with no direction
My faith is shaking but I
Got to keep trying
Got to keep my head held high

There’s always going to be another mountain
I’m always going to want to make it move
Always going to be an uphill battle,
Sometimes I'm going to have to lose,
Ain’t about how fast I get there,
Ain’t about what’s waiting on the other side
It’s the climb

The struggles I’m facing,
The chances I’m taking
Sometimes they might knock me down but
No I’m not breaking
I may not know it
But these are the moments that
I’m going to remember most yeah
Just got to keep going
And I,
I got to be strong
Just keep pushing on,
cause

There’s always going to be another mountain
I’m always going to want to make it move
Always going to be an uphill battle,
Sometimes I'm going to have to lose,
Ain’t about how fast I get there,
Ain’t about what’s waiting on the other side
It’s the climb

There’s always going to be another mountain
I’m always going to want to make it move
Always going to be an uphill battle,
Somebody's you're going to have to lose,
Ain’t about how fast I get there,
Ain’t about what’s waiting on the other side
It’s the climb

Keep on moving
Keep climbing
Keep the faith baby
It’s all about
It’s all about
The climb
Keep the faith
Keep your faith

I can't keep this song out of my head!  I love it!

When You Are Weak...Read This!

This is the note that Lana read to herself from my previous post.

You are strong. You can do this. This whole journey wasn’t about you starting. Anybody could do that. It was about you finishing; and only you can do that. When you stand on this stage in the dark, in your heart only you will know if you’ve been true. Don’t let yourself down. I believe in you!

Love you guys!

Self Discipline - Answers

What is the right amount of pressure? What are the right things to either take away/or give when I have accomplished or failed to accomplish my objectives? How do I avoid the thoughts of complacency and procrastination that keep me from choosing something to work on and applying the pain/pleasure principle to it?

These are the questions I set out to answer for myself, again. Isn't it funny that we already know or have known the answers to the questions that seem to give us the most trouble. As I thought about self discipline this week many things came up to answer my questions. I listened to a CD's by Laurie Woodward, Chuck Goetschel and Jerry Harteis. And, all of them gave me some little nugget that helped me get my head back in the game in terms of my own self discipline.

On May 28, 2006 I made a list of 14 things I wanted to change about myself. I remember feeling a little overwhelmed as I looked at the list. I didn't know how to change all of those things at once. So, I prayed about it. I was direct to one thing on my list and felt as though if I changed that one thing many of the others would come into alignment. So, I focused on that one thing and don't really remember coming back to the list to pick the next one. But, as I review it now 3 of the 14 things are habits for me now. The rest are in progress. But, in all 14 of them there has definitely been improvement since 2006.

I have heard this principle more than once. If you take 21 days to focus on one thing that will make it a habit for you. That was the purpose of my list was to take 21 days on each thing. So, I got started this week again. I went right back to the gym thing and I am going to spend the next few weeks firming up that habit and getting it to the level that I want. Then, I am going to move to some other important areas of my life. On her CD Laurie Woodward said you have to focus. She said 'He who begins too much accomplishes nothing'. So, I am going to keep it simple and focus on one thing at a time for three weeks at at time. And, I am going to apply the pain pleasure principle and use rewards to get myself into action. This week my reward was reading one chapter of the Twilight book from Edward's perspective. Next week I'll get to read two. Yea!! How did I choose that? First I thought of rewards that I would have enjoyed but they would hurt my progress in other areas. For example: I wanted to make my mom's biscuits and gravy. But, that would have destroyed my diet goals for the week because I had already used all my extra points. So, I chose something that I really wanted to do but don't generally take time for. And, as soon as I got home from the gym on Saturday I read my chapter. Of course I wanted to just keep reading. But, I am storing that desire to get myself to the gym five times this week. I think that is the answer to almost all of my questions. Find something you really want! That got me over the desire to just stay in bed this week. And, I know that if I can keep finding things that I really want - deep down, truly want - I can leverage that to change myself. I hope this week helps you as much as it has helped me.

Here are some other quotes I have picked up along the way that you might enjoy:

Stay ready so you don't have to get ready. - Will Smith

Success will not come to you on your terms. - Jerry Harteis

Success is directly related to standing out not fitting in. - Joe Gregorski

Success is going from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm. - Winston Churchill

When you aim at nothing, you hit it with remarkable accuracy. - Unknown

Self Discipline 2

Not long after writing the last post, I went back into Google Reader and took the time to watch and read a blog by Chuck Goetschel. Click here and check it out!

Self Discipline

I've been giving a lot of thought to this topic lately. It is a funny thing. On one hand, we want great things to happen in our lives. We want to reach our goals and live our dreams. But, who wants to follow a strict pattern and do all the things necessary to achieve them? And even if you want to, who can? And how to they make themselves get it done?

I remember a couple of years back I was struggling with making myself go to the gym. I wanted to go. But, just couldn't make myself go when it was time. So, I decided to use some advice I heard on a cd. I am not sure which one it was exactly because a lot of them gave this advice back then. It was the pain/pleasure principle. Basically, you either deprive yourself of something you want or give yourself a reward in order to get yourself to do something you aren't doing. I decided to apply this to make going to the gym a habit. I decided that I was going to the gym 4 times per week. And, I would have to take a cold shower for every time I didn't go. So, if I only went 3 times, I got one cold shower. It wasn't just a shower lacking in warmth either. I made myself take a cold enough shower that I wouldn't stand in the water except to rinse REALLY fast. It worked. I didn't take many cold showers. And, now I love going to the gym. I am still not the best at getting there. But, I am way better than I was before I followed this pattern.

Now, here's the test of toughness. Have I ever used this technique again? No. Have there been a whole host of things I have wanted to change? Yes. So, I ask myself why not? Why not use a technique that really made a difference?

This opens up a whole new topic. Miles and I are Mona Vie Distributors. And, we are tied into the best group in the industry, Team. So, I listen to a lot of CD's about personal growth. They teach pursuing excellence, doing your best in everything you do and pursuing your goals and dreams. The difference the system (meaning the CD's and books Team provides for personal growth) has made in my life is immeasurable. But, there are things that my little brain struggles with. Like how much pressure to I place upon myself to change? I am notorious for expecting myself to accomplish way more in a day than is even humanly possible. And, then, I am hard on myself when I don't. This drives Miles crazy. He always says, "You always try to put 10 pounds of crap in a 5 pound bag." He's right. And, I have had many a monthly break down because of it. I am doing much better now. I set more reasonable goals and don't place so much pressure on myself if I don't get them done. But, now I fear that I have gone too far the other way.

So, these are my questions. What is the right amount of pressure? What are the right things to either take away/or give when I have accomplished or failed to accomplish my objectives? How do I avoid the thoughts of complacency and procrastination that keep me from choosing something to work on and applying the pain/pleasure principle to it?

I believe that questions are the answers. I believe that as we ask questions our brain and our spirit go to work at finding those answers for us. So, these are the questions I will be pondering this week. I welcome your thoughts...