MLK and some of his words....

I am currently reading a book about famous speeches that have changed the world (according to the author). Of course, MLK's I Have a Dream speech is in it. As many of you know, I am enamored with inspirational quotes, stories, speeches, etc....so I wanted to share a few lines from his speech and get an opinion or two from anyone as to what the words may mean to you. His words certainly appeal to me because of content, but also eloquence, style, metaphors, hyperbolies, influence and meaning.

"....judged....by the content of their character" :

Strong words. Not color, not gender....but what you have inside? Your values?

"....rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force." :

Obviously, he was not a fan of violence and the way he stated it was powerful. Can we get there with words, understanding, listening, spirit, will? Or is physicality the norm?

"....time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood.":

I can visualize what he is describing - better understanding what he is saying.

The art of communication....a master artisan. Regardless of anyone's opinion of his political stance, social views, etc., he is and always will be regarded as an excellent presenter.

What are your thoughts?

Secretariat....having Heart!

While running the other day, the topic of having heart came to mind. I thought back to the ESPN special of the top 150 athletes of all time - number 35 was the great Secretariat, the only non-human to make the list.

Obviously, this horse was awesome. What made this horse so special? Well, many will argue that it was the horse's heart that carried it to victory. Most thoroughbreds slow down after the 1st mile, but Secretariat actually sped up.

After Sect's passing, an autopsy revealed a possible reason as to why this horse was so special. The average thoroughbred's heart weighs 8.5lbs - well, Secretariat's weighed in at a whopping 22lbs! So, literally, Secretariat had more HEART than the competition!

Figuratively, I started thinking about how much heart I have, we have. It could be as simple as having the heart and will to ALWAYS run at least as far as my goal I put in the Ipod when I start my run - regardless of tiring. (as you may know....Ipod and Nike have a transmitter and receiver to help track your results!)

OR, it could be as complicated as wondering if I have the heart to make it through a tough career decision or even handling a personal relationship.

Is your heart in everything you do? Are you inspired to go to work each day? Do you believe in what you're doing, selling?

We get one chance in this life to experience some joy, happiness, love, success, etc....I think having your heart in it is paramount.

What did the Tin Man want? Heart!

If we do not have our hearts in everything we do (job, marriage, family, friends, relationships, etc.), what can we do to fix it? Change it? Improve it?

What do you think?

" Dad's been behind him for 65 marathons."

DEVOTION.

I saw this billboard while waiting for the train at the Atlanta airport last week. Maybe you have seen this "for a better life" billboard too. Well, after taking one step away from it, it hit me like a ton of bricks. Team Hoyt is a true story....great story of love and devotion.

My emotions began to swirl, my mind and heart raced....and within moments I was moved enough to call someone to express my thoughts - when they answered, I could barely speak.

When you look at the picture in its entirety and you consider the quote....where does it take you?

I thought of the physical aspects....emotional aspects....inspirational aspects....individual aspects of the father and the son....as a team....I could go on and on.

Specifically for me, this billboard took me down many paths of thought because most of my growing up was spent without a father-figure to speak of (my grandfather was the next best thing, although sporadic). To this day, I sometimes struggle with that empty place....but can look forward to making amends with my children in the future.

As for the picture, look at the proud look on the son's face and the inspired grimace on the father's. Consider the emotional and physical meaning in "behind him for 65 marathons." Putting someone else before yourself?

What do you think about the billboard? Any relationships similar? Opinion on the pic? What is devotion?

Hope all is well......

mickey

William Wallace....

"All men die. Few men ever really live."

Okay, I know most of us aren't clones of William Wallace running around trying to preserve freedom for our countrymen (some exceptions do exist), but we can appreciate some of the words from Braveheart!

How powerful and invigorating those words are. Of course, degrees of "living" varies to the individual, and I know we all have different commitments that affect those degrees to which we strive.

However, are we just passing the days by waking up, going to work, coming home, eating dinner, watching TV, going to bed and then starting over the next day? Add in paying the bills and cleaning the white picket fence....the American Dream?

Is that really living? Look, in today's fast paced world it is easy to succumb to this pattern, or any other that specializes in making ends meet. Unfortunately, routine and comfort typically results in complacency....again, is that really living?

SO, three aspects of "living" to consider:

Prepared Living....

Reading? Documenting? Researching? Writing? Educating? Sharing? Drawing? Remembering? Planning? Recording?

Living with a Purpose....

Are we serving our Communities? Volunteering? Mentoring? Leading by example? Inventing? Leaving a Legacy? Giving? Adopting? Making history? Family? Generations? Friends?

Living with Passion....

Are we Laughing? Dancing? Shouting? Crying? Thinking? Cheering? Inspiring? Creating? Innovating? Influencing? Talking? Sharing? Standing for something? Singing? Communicating?

It's up to us....but one thing is certain - we'll eventually die. What do we do between birth and death? Life choices....

What do you think?

Excellence....

" Excellence is the result of caring more than others think is wise, risking more than others think is safe, dreaming more than others think is practical and expecting more than others think is possible."

I got this from one of those inspirational pictures of an eagle soaring....from someone's office.

Caring? Do we take enough time to get to know folks nowadays? Or do we shy away because of the fear of being hurt? Or showing too much of ourselves? Connecting with people is key - in order to make a difference it takes caring.....but is it wise?

Risking? The opposite of safe, complacent, comfort, etc....but consider the rewards! Does fear of failure keep of from trying?

Dreaming? goals....Aspirations....Something to shoot for....visualization....

Expectations? Varies from person to person....can't hold the same expectations of yourself on others - but push yourself to accomplishment.....and help lead others to places they have never been.... Your thoughts......????

"Some of your best passes are incompletions."

I have heard this many times, but it stuck a few weeks ago while watching an NFL game. Obviously, in the game of football it pertains to a QB's ability to throw the ball away instead of taking a sack or trying to force a throw into tight coverage - at the risk of an interception....the incomplete pass is better than the alternatives.

Well, does it fit in our lives today? Any analogy? When things go wrong, we seem to be quick to judge as to why. However, there is a belief that things happen for a reason, but sometimes it takes so long to see the reason! Point being....we may not know that our "incomplete pass" was good at the moment it happened - but it may end up being better for us than "forcing a throw into coverage" or "taking a sack". Make sense? What do you think?