My best friend gave me the best advice…

He said each day’s a gift and not a given right
Leave no stone unturned, leave your fears behind
And try to take the path less traveled by
That first step you take is the longest stride

If today was your last day and tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last
Leave old pictures in the past?
Donate every dime you had, if today was your last day?
What if, what if, if today was your last day?

The words to Nickelback’s song “If Today Was Your Last Day” (the above lyrics are but a taste of a song filled with powerful-spiritual lyrics) rang over and over in my head while I was accomplishing one of my “bucket list” tasks a couple of weeks ago.

Back in early January of this year I developed a desire to compete in and complete an endurance triathlon. Endurance triathlons vary in length from 70.3 to 140.6 miles. I competed in the 70.3 mile event which included a 1.2 mile open swim in a lake, a 56 mile bike ride and a 13.1 mile run. I’ve done all different types of triathlons over the years but only 3 of the endurance kind.

There were many reasons for my desire to complete this goal but first and foremost it made me take my personal discipline to a higher level (which is never a bad thing) and for some reason I had this desire to defy what “they” say people with AARP cards can and cannot do. 🙂 I’ve always been an “against the grain” type of guy.

This picture below (when I was about 5 hours into the race) is kind of the story of my life…while others are saying stop…I just keep on going.

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I worked the principles of my P.E.A.C.E. acronym to the max over the past eight months in order to attain my goal. For eight months I’ve been planning my workout schedule in and around my family and professional responsibilities, putting forth maximum effort even when I didn’t want to, continuously kept my attitude in the “can do” mode, I sought help and advice from the experts in the triathlon community, and I ate right, slept right and took care of my body as well as I ever have, so I could have the energy I needed to prepare myself for and accomplish this significant challenge.

What was almost as cool as finishing, was having my family there as well as some friends. After the race my son said; “Dad, what do you think about for 6 hours?” I told him I thought a lot about my buddy Joe. What I didn’t tell him was how much I learned from my friend’s tragic death and the many thoughts it gave me to think about while alone, trying to accomplish this crazy goal.

I thought about what Joe would have given to be able to compete right along with me as he also was somewhat of a fitness freak. I thought about the many summers we spent together riding our bicycles all over God’s creation. The swims in the river, and the pool, the runs around town…some to get in shape…some to run from the cops. I thought about our talks late at night in the parking lot of the pharmacy about Christ and faith. I thought about how sick he must have been when he decided to end it all. I thought about how I will never put off to tomorrow what can be done today. I thought about how final death was. I thought about how precious life is.

Although Joe never gave me the following advice directly; his tragic death has certainly made me realize “each day’s a gift and not a given right.”

Joey this race was for you brother.

P.E.A.C.E.

BTW…I beat my previous personal record by 33 minutes…age is nothing but a state of mind…as is the case with everything we do.

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