j . a . m . k . m . b: Of Running and Google Food

Pres. Thomas S. Monson, Oct 2008

"This is our one and only chance at mortal life—here and now. The longer we live, the greater is our realization that it is brief. Opportunities come, and then they are gone. I believe that among the greatest lessons we are to learn in this short sojourn upon the earth are lessons that help us distinguish between what is important and what is not. I plead with you not to let those most important things pass you by as you plan for that illusive and non-existent future when you will have time to do all that you want to do. Instead, find joy in the journey—now.

... Professor Harold Hill, one of the principal characters in [The Music Man], voices a caution that I share with you. Says he, “You pile up enough tomorrows, and you’ll find you’ve collected a lot of empty yesterdays.”

f you have children who are grown and gone, in all likelihood you have occasionally felt pangs of loss and the recognition that you didn’t appreciate that time of life as much as you should have. Of course, there is no going back, but only forward. Rather than dwelling on the past, we should make the most of today, of the here and now, doing all we can to provide pleasant memories for the future.

Stresses in our lives come regardless of our circumstances. We must deal with them the best we can. But we should not let them get in the way of what is most important—and what is most important almost always involves the people around us. Often we assume that they must know how much we love them. But we should never assume; we should let them know. Wrote William Shakespeare, “They do not love that do not show their love.”³ We will never regret the kind words spoken or the affection shown. Rather, our regrets will come if such things are omitted from our relationships with those who mean the most to us.

Send that note to the friend you’ve been neglecting; give your child a hug; give your parents a hug; say “I love you” more; always express your thanks. Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved. Friends move away, children grow up, loved ones pass on. It’s so easy to take others for granted, until that day when they’re gone from our lives and we are left with feelings of “what if” and “if only.” Said author Harriet Beecher Stowe, “The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and deeds left undone.”

In the 1960s, during the Vietnam War, Church member Jay Hess, an airman, was shot down over North Vietnam. For two years his family had no idea whether he was dead or alive. His captors in Hanoi eventually allowed him to write home but limited his message to less than 25 words. What would you and I say to our families if we were in the same situation—not having seen them for over two years and not knowing if we would ever see them again? Wanting to provide something his family could recognize as having come from him and also wanting to give them valuable counsel, Brother Hess wrote—and I quote: “These things are important: temple marriage, mission, college. Press on, set goals, write history, take pictures twice a year.”

Said one well-known author: “Both abundance and lack [of abundance] exist simultaneously in our lives, as parallel realities. It is always our conscious choice which secret garden we will tend . . . when we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that’s present—love, health, family, friends, work, the joys of nature, and personal pursuits that bring us [happiness]—the wasteland of illusion falls away and we experience heaven on earth.”

Said the Lord in a revelation given through the Prophet Joseph Smith, “In nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things.”¹⁰ May we be found among those who give our thanks to our Heavenly Father. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues.

Brothers and sisters, my sincere prayer is that we may adapt to the changes in our lives, that we may realize what is most important, that we may express our gratitude always and thus find joy in the journey."

Friday, September 12, 2008

Of Running and Google Food

Angela ran 18 miles this morning starting at about 4:30am. This was the third week in a row that she and her girlfriends ran 18-20 miles, and the second week in a row that they ran at 4:30am on a Friday. I'm really proud of her for being so dedicated to her training this year. She's going to have a fabulous race and, and dare I say... Boston next spring? Sorry to jinx you Ang!

And then there's me. I've mentioned a little knee problem before, but it's becoming a bigger problem because we're getting so close to the marathon. My training plan has been completely scrapped, I haven't been able to run more than 5 miles for almost a month now, and it doesn't appear likely that it's going to get better any time soon. I've been a maddog in trying rehab the sucker - ice multiple times a day, every day; lots of stretching; some Ibuprofen in moderation; and taking multiple days off. I thought I had the problem licked when I got a strap to theoretically hold your IT band in place, and I was ecstatic when it really worked the first two runs I used it. But then, back to the same old pain. I hit 3 miles and the knee decides, "yep, that's about enough of that!" So all I can do at this point is rest, run very short runs every now and then, and hope that it feels better. Either way, it's going to be a brutal marathon, if I get to run at all - I put the chances at 50-50 at least that I can't run...stinks!

So then there's the food thing. Without being able to run, I realized I probably need to eat a little better or else I'll start looking like Hurley (Lost) before too long. Let me tell you though, it's very, very, very hard to eat right when there is so much good food available at any given time throughout every day that I'm at work. I have had good days and bad days - and last week I went the whole work week without eating any sweets. I just need to work on my will power a little more.

To replace running, I have swam in the Google endless pool a few times. That is pure torture. The guys in the Olympics made it look so easy and effortless - let me tell you that was false advertising! I actually have a decent stroke from my Northcrest swimteam days, but I'm slower than slow, and I could barely pull myself out of the pool after 25 minutes of swimming. Anyway, I'm shooting for a relay leg in 2012.

Have a great weekend.

1 comment:

Molly said...: BUMMER! I hope you can run, since I know you've been planning and preparing for so long. Maybe you know someone (wink wink) that could hook you up with some more powerful pain meds on marathon day?? Just a suggestion. :) Oh, and as an aside, I am not driving all the say to George to stand with you, all showered and fresh, on the sidelines...I want to see you guys suffering!! :); September 12, 2008 at 11:33 AM

j . a . m . k . m . b

Pres. Thomas S. Monson, Oct 2008

Friday, September 12, 2008

Of Running and Google Food

1 comment:

Important Links

Blog Archive