It's all in the mind....

Well, I am finally writing the blog a few of you have been waiting for. Have you ever felt as a failure? Has it ever happen to you that you fail and that one thing plagues your whole outlook for a long time. Each decision, each action you sort of measure against what you considered was your defeat?

Three times, that I can remember, in my life have a felt as a complete failure. The first was when my marriage failed, the second was the first time I was fired from a job, and the last was when I was not able to complete the Goofy Challenge at Disney last year in 2010.

Since that day, it seems like everything I did I, myself, kept comparing to what I could do and what I would do if I failed again. Alot of things have happened, negative as well as alot of positive, and already as most of you know, I did complete the Disney Marathon and had a personal PR to boot.

I guess as I write this, I do not want to concentrate on the success that I accomplished, but more on all that I missed during this past year. I learned that all things are possible with God's help. I also learned that you have to enjoy the journey along the way. You can't just plan on the end because if you don't make it to that end, then you really have not enjoyed the journey.

So my goal now is to really enjoy the journey. Smile more often and definitely not take each day so seriously. So don't forget to smile and love today, this might be it.

A New Year, A New Start...

Yes, it was last year since you heard from me last. I wanted to write on this first day of the year, not only to commit myself on some resolutions that I have set; but , also, to encourage you to set some resolutions and then share them with me so that I can help you and hold you accountable as the year progresses.

My church, St Gregory's, publishes this poem every year at this time and I felt it was appropriate to add it to this blog.
"He came to my desk with a quivering lip:
the lesson was done;
'Dear Teacher, I need a new page', he said,
'I have spoiled this one.'
I took the old page, torn and blotted,
and gave him a new one, all unspotted,
And into his sad eyes smiled:
'Do better now, my child.'

I came to the throne with a trembling heart;
The year's work was done;
'Dear Father, I want a new year', I said,
'I have spoiled this one',
He took the old year, torn and blotted,
And gave me a new one , all unspotted,
And into my sad eyes smiled;
'Do better now, my child!"

Every New Year's morning , I get up and walk with Barbara for a few miles and then I wait for the sunrise, to see the new dawn on the year. Well, today as I walked the weather was iffy, it was cloudy, and very breezy. In the mental dilemma I felt God saying to 'Trust in Him alone'. I realize that no matter what if I saw the sunrise or if it was covered by the clouds the sun would still rise, just as sure as God was present and guiding me in my life. Well as you can see from the pictures, the sunrise was spectacular. But a lesson was still learned in my morning walk.

Without further delay, my 2011 resolutions are as follows: 1) do the 100 day challenge,2) do a half marathon in less then 3 hours; 3) continue to lose weight and reach my goal weight; 4) continue to write the novel:5) do "El Camino"; 6) with help of God, conquer one vice(or sin) at a time; 7) reconcile with brother and his family.

I know some of these seem easy and some nearly impossible; but I have set my goals, I have started my quest to reach them and I know as the year continues to unfold, I will struggle , and I will conquer. I thank you for being my guideposts at time in my life. I look forward to continuing to share this adventure. Like I said I hope that you will be willing to share some of your goals, some of your resolutions so that we can help each other in our journeys. Share them as comments here or on facebook. I look forward to this year with you.