Thanksgiving.

Tis the season!  Today is my last day of teaching before a wonderful little break!  My next five days are going to be filled with friends, family, and food.  

Thanksgiving is also a time that I like to think about all of the things that I am thankful for.  Every year I ask myself, “why think about this only during Thanksgiving?”  However, as you and I are well aware of, the business of our fast paced lives tend to leave us with little or no time each day to relax and reflect.  When thinking about things I’m thankful for, a whole smorgasbord of items/ideas pop into my head: I’m thankful for my family, my friends, my boyfriend, the Inch’s letting me live with them, my car, my things, my mentor teachers, etc, etc, etc.  That being said, think about all the things I’m already taking for granted?  Some of the things I complain about on a day to day basis are the exact things that some people may hope and pray every day that they will gain the ability to do.  Some days I complain about long runs that are too long, or students who frustrate me, or even drivers who drive too slow.  What about the people who aren’t even given the ability to live their own lives?  Remember when you were little, and everyone asks you, “what do you want to be when you grow up?”  What if you are never given the ability to find out?  What if you are never given the chance to live up your potential?  Don’t you have to be able to live your life, in order to fulfill your purpose?

I know it’s depressing to think about…but the point of this isn’t to make you sad.  It’s to open your eyes to reality – not everyone has it as good as you do, and those who don’t – they need your help.

One of my best friends, Nancy, recently sent me a link about ALS.  She said, “I want to do this!” and sent me a link to the Blazeman Foundation – an organization that allows multisport athletes to race for a cause.  (For those of you who don’t know about ALS or haven’t heard about the Blazeman Foundation, I urge you to visit their website:http://www.waronals.com).

I had been struggling recently with the whole idea of triathlon, and doing so many races just for myself.  Training is already very self-centered, as you need to set aside hours upon hours upon hours just to make you a stronger, faster athlete.  But then what?  So, you race.  But then what?  You keep signing up for more?  You win one?  But then what?  This is what I have been struggling with lately.  I love triathlons…I love the atmosphere, the competition, the struggles that you have to overcome, the pain, the heart that you have to put into it, and the feeling of accomplishment when you finish…but I was longing for something more – a purpose.  I am so glad that Nancy shared her interest in racing for ALS with me, because I absolutely love the idea.  I think that it will be an incredible experience to be able to spread awareness about ALS and raise money for ALS research, all WHILE racing triathlons.  And, not to name drop or anything, but Chrissie Wellington, 4 X Ironman World Champion, outstanding athlete…she races for a cause too.  Her log roll across the finish line is a signature War on ALS move.  Triathlons are her life…that is how she makes a living…that is how she is known…that is her job…yet she still found a way to race for someone other than just herself.

This Thanksgiving, really think about all the things you are thankful for.  Think about what you have been taking for granted…and think about a way that you could make a difference.