Friday, May 25, 2012

WOW! PATIENCE REALLY DOES WORK

For several months, I have been under an extreme amount of pressure in nearly every aspect of my life. It would have been very easy to say “Why me?” or “Poor me”. It would have been so very easy to just give up. During my monthly MS infusions, my blood pressure has been through the roof which has caused Lynn great concern. With the help of the amazing people around me, I have gotten through it, and have remained positive, knowing that things would get better some day. Then, suddenly, things have shifted, almost miraculously. Life has suddenly gotten better, shockingly so. A friend and I discussed how this all has come about. The consensus is simple. Patience. Remember that that has been one of my worst character flaws? I have now learned that it is an incredible asset. Remember that we have also said how much better we come out on the other side of a struggle when we learn from it and deal with it with grace and dignity. I am a much better man now and have learned from past mistakes and struggles. Of course, this is not to say that challenges will not come back, perhaps even greater than in the past. But I have seen what patience does. I hope I have learned from it. Yesterday was my monthly infusion. My blood pressure was suddenly indicative of the great deal of working out that I do. It was beyond superb. It did not reflect the stress that was a part of my life as it had previously. I hope that my lessons will benefit others as well. I know that I have been truly Blessed and am very thankful for that. It is time to pay it forward in a much bigger way. Keep Dreaming Out Loud! -Trace

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

DON'T FORGET TO LAUGH TODAY

We have talked before about the importance of laughing. Have you laughed today? I mean the kind of laugh that fills you with joy. The kind where you are crying and thankful there is no liquid in your mouth to spew. I make a point to laugh every day. Laugh hard. Actually many times each day. Frequently, I laugh so much that people wonder whether there is something really wrong with me! For example, last weekend was Cinco de Mayo. Jim and another friend picked me up and took me for Mexican food. I had a Dos Equis. Being the slightly twisted people that we are (okay, REALLY twisted), somehow a commercial came up. “‘I do not usually drink beer, but when I do, I prefer Dos Equis.’ He is the most interesting man on earth.” Thus the Adventures of Pancho and Pedro were born. That should be good for a decade or so of laughs at least.
Coincidentally, last night my friend from high school, Lindsay, found me on Facebook. (I promise I had not been trying to hide from you Lindsay.) Just seeing her name made me laugh and talking to her on the phone was, in a word, hysterical. These are the kind of folks that we need to be around. In our last blog, we talked about the importance of surrounding yourself with amazing, positive people. Laughing goes hand in hand with that. I have been reminded so frequently recently by the many amazing people around me that laughing helps so much. Laughing makes us feel good. Laughing makes us a joy to be around. Laughing is contagious. Perhaps most importantly, laughter makes life's hurdles hurt less. It truly provides us with the armor we need to repel life’s often hurtful barbs. Not only do my friends keep me in stitches but I try to do the same. So laugh. Have fun. Make people wonder if there is something wrong with you. And, I know you will listen to the most interesting man in the world when I tell you to KEEP DREAMING OUT LOUD! -Trace

Saturday, May 5, 2012

LOVING LIFE - WON'T YOU JOIN ME?!

This morning I had the privilege of watching the 2012 CB&I triathlon. Yes boys and girls, that is the same triathlon that I participated in last year. It is so hard to believe that a year has passed. I look back on the amazing things that happened to me before the triathlon but the past year has been even better. Exponentially so. With the help of my heroes, I was able to participate in this year's MS 150 and Team Inspiration Texas is growing by leaps and bounds. Six team members rode in this year's MS150 and we took 20 patients and their families to the finish line in Austin. Just two short weeks after the event, more than 25 people have committed already to riding the MS150 next April with Team Inspiration Texas and our patient experience will be huge. Amazing. And it will be very exciting to see how many ultimately ride with us. The difference we are making is mind boggling. Our wrist bands are frequently seen. Personally, I love seeing the Team Inspiration Texas t-shirts and wristbands in pictures of our super jocks, our young men and women, in pictures in college and plastered all over Facebook. After the MS150, one of our super jocks, Travis Wells, had a speech to do for a college class. He did it on Team Inspiration Texas. He made an "A". He proudly told me after the speech that his class was very engaged in his talk. He is proud of Team Inspiration Texas and we are so proud of him and of all of our young people and the great hope that they give us. But the most miraculous thing to me is the number of friends I have made and continue to make on this adventure. I mean real, true life-long friends. Friends who deeply care for you and you for them. Remember that cloud of positivity we have talked about. The cloud of hope, love and joy. It is getting huge and has really become self perpetuating. That is what life is about. That is why I love life. I have suggested it before and I will urge you again. Find an amazing group of people. Surround yourself in their energy and make sure your energy is equally supportive. Love and enjoy life. It makes the challenges and hardships really quite inconsequential. Oh, and KEEP DREAMING OUT LOUD! -Trace