Me Revealed!!!!!

Before we get into today's post I want to inform you that Whitney is hosting the Pay It Forward giveaway at her site.  Go here for the giveaway.  So far the books have traveled from Dallas to Arkansas.  Let's see where they go to next.  Giveaway is until January 9th.
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In the past day I have exchanged emails with fellow bloggers (friends now truth be told) as well as people interested in becoming sponsors of the Marathon Makeover program as well as those interested in joining the program.  It has been a life changing 24 hours.

I am a person who doesn't dream when he sleeps.  I am just too tired after training and running this small business that I believe my creative minds eye is done and I sleep like a log....maybe like a chainsaw ripping through a log if you ask Karen....but a log nonetheless.  But two nights ago I had a dream.  I dreamt that close to 300 people showed up at the kick-off meeting for Marathon Makeover at the Coppell Family YMCA and I litereally shed tears.  I shed tears that 300 people would trust me to help turn their lives around.  To allow me to help them lead a healthier lifestyle.  It was incredible and I was humbled by their confidence in me.  I couldn't put it into words.

Yesterday I had a bike/run brick workout.  My bike wound up at a speed of 18.2 mph and my run at a pace of 8:18/mile.  I was thrilled with my run speed considering my feet felt like I was running with needles because they were so cold and the pounding was causing this feeling.   I was upset mostly with my bike.  I felt like I should be faster.  I questioned myself about what I was doing.  Was I pushing hard enough?  Was my training working?  I had so many questions but was mostly frustrated with my bike speed.  Weather conditions, hills, turns did not mean anything to me.  I turned to three people that I know are much faster on the bike than I am and had their email address.  I turned to Patrick, Jeff and Scott.  Their words were beyond helpful and there is no way I can express my gratitude toward them since it has helped me in my frame of mind when it comes to the bike.  Their help was invaluable.  I also learned that I need to learn a lot more about all of you.  I found out that Jon was a cyclist before he was a triathlete.  I had no clue and I owe Jon an email now as well. This also led me to think about a post that Kristin posted regarding the guy on the treadmill next to her not knowing what she was training for.  There is so much that I need to learn from all of you and I can't wait to do that.  One day at a time.  But the point of all this is that life is so much fun to live.  There are things we can learn everyday if we just open ourselves up to it.  Don't hid in the corner and be afraid of being who you are.  Let yourself out and show the world who you are.  Let it all hang out.

Then to end the night I got an email from Jill that made me smile, tear up and filled me with pride.  Jill and I have 'known' each other for about a month thanks to her Secret Bloggy Santa.  We have exchanged a couple of emails so the extent to her knowledge of me is let's just say minimal.  We haven't broken bread or shared drinks but her email was awesome.  I thought about what I said, and even re-read it, to try to figure out why she would say what she said.  I then realized that I did nothing more than be myself.  The lesson I learned and am trying to share with you is that you need to just be yourself.  Don't try to be the person that you think society wants you to be.  What's the point?  You won't be happy and it won't lead you to your ultimate destination which is happiness.

So here I am revealed:

I am married to a wonderful woman and will celebrate our first anniversary on January 22nd.  I found Karen through the sport of running, online, and fall in love on a daily basis with her.  She is my rock and allows me to be who I am by being who she is.

I have a step-son that when things are bad I look at and take myself back to his age when everything is new, everything is wonderful, there is no stress, there are no responsibilities and you just smile.

I smile everyday and find the silver lining in each and every day.  There is one, just look for it and you won't be disappointed.

I am grateful for what I have accomplished and not what I didn't accomplish.  I don't say things like I ran only 4 miles or I only went 18.2 mph.  18.2 mph may not be what I want but it is faster than some and gives me a goal to strive for.

I love to live life.  I love being around people and saying hello.  When I run I say good morning or good afternoon to everybody.  I answer the phone with a smile and say 'Good Morning this is Jason' or 'Good Afternoon this is Jason' so that the person calling me knows who they are speaking with.  I say Thank You and Please.  I don't use the word can't.

I am a glass is so full it is overflowing into other glasses type of person.  This half-full thing leaves too many chances for something not working out.

I don't live with regrets.  I live with lessons.  I learn from others and teach myself at the same time.

I want to live forever.  I want to see the youth of this world grow up and see their impact on the world.  I want to be around to say that back in 1986 the Mets won the World Series and have some kid ask me what is the World Series.  Life moves on whether we like it or not so savor those memories and share them with others.

I am a simple yet complex person.  I don't need much to make me happy but I'm happiest when I'm doing a lot of different things at the same time.

I kiss my wife good night every night.  I kiss my wife good morning every morning and hug her when I leave the house or she leaves the house.  Life is short and you never know when it will be taken away from you.

I enjoy cooking for my family.  It makes me smile.

Make today the day that you Light the Fire To Desire Greatness and do it Smiling.....you will not regret it.