Balls

Sunday I went to the Rock N Roll marathon San Antonio. I have never attended a race , but I have a few friends that run these races all the time and tell me about all the emotions you go through. “You cry, you laugh, you sing, you yell, you dance.”

Ten minutes on premises I see Christine Chapa and Chris Godfrey. I stopped and chatted with them and start to see people I know like, Elizabeth Anderson, Amber Rodriguez, Simon Ponder and Stephen Chavez. They are all moving fast with no problems.

I get to the finish line area and I’m standing on Montana St. taking pictures of people and cheering for the runners. I see a few clowns dressed humorously as they speed by. I also keep noticing the reactions on people’s faces. Some were laughing, some singing/dancing, some were yelling or asking for encouragement for someone next to them having a hard time. Some were enjoying the crowds’ applause and receiving high-fives from spectators. Some were so focused, I would yell their name and they just kept going either singing/talking to themselves or just attentively looking forward.

On the other hand I saw some people crying out of pure agony! So much pain and hurt, but they just pushed through. Mostly the guys would stop and rest or be out of breath/cramp up, but you could really tell they were in pain and had just run 26.1 miles!

I was wondering, if I was to train, could I do this? Really I was thinking “do I have the balls to pull this off?!” Just then I see a gentleman pedaling a specially designed wheelchair doing a half marathon! This gentleman was not paralyzed; he just didn’t have the use of his arms. So at sometime in his life he had to make a physical and metal decision that he wanted to enter this race on his own. I looked on in disbelief. A little while later a lady came up on the full marathon side in a wheelchair. Remember that she has to go up this hill. With every push of the wheels with her arms up she would come back down. Sometimes she went up two feet sometimes she went up six inches, sometimes she went sideways, but she didn’t stop until she got to the top!

After seeing this display of determination my eyes were a little misty. I was thinking this is the way life is, whether it is with God or not. In life people are going to be rushing by, passing you up, bumping into you, and distracting you. It’s up to you and only you to be determined and be willing push yourself!

If you say you suck well then you will collapse and people run over you! If you don’t train, consume the wrong things, read the wrong messages and live a life of excess you will fail. On the other hand if you train, consume the right things, live a life of purpose, and have the right people around encouraging you, you can do anything you want!

Crashed

I was asked, by a reporter if I was a finagler. No, I am not. What I have done is, learn how to read people by body movements and actions. As well as pay attention to my surroundings and always be prepared-thanks mom and dad.

I have always been adventurous. As a kid, I would go on hikes/bike rides within a few of miles of my house and always show up late back to my house. Boy, did my butt pay for it when I got home. I would usually find somewhere to go or something to get into. While I was doing it I was scared, but I think that’s why I did it. I've always enjoyed the thrill of talking/meeting someone, doing something, being somewhere you are not supposed to be/doing. In the past and now it has been pretty ladies and different businesses that has given me the same rush.

Here recently, in March of 2010 I went to sxsw and met all kinds of good folks. I got into all kinds of parties and different venues. Yes I was pointed in the right direction and was introduced to the right people but most parties and venues I was on my own to get into. I ate and was drinking by eleven o’clock in the morning the entire week for free. I took a hundred bucks with me and came back with seven dollars . I saw four different keynotes. Too bad three of them were talking about something I have no idea about and still don’t.

I got into the pressroom where I almost got busted because I was trying not to laugh out loud. While everyone was blogging/writing for their website or paper, I was checking my email and Facebook. I may have even gotten a massage in the pressroom!

So I guessing you’re asking yourself, how can I do this? You can, all you have to do is ask for what you want and don't forget to smile big and have a great time!