Category: Inspiration

Facebook for the Common Good

Brian FullfordLeave a comment

...And everything feels good for a while.

I want to recognize my friend Liza Van Arsdale-Mitchell for her recent utilization of Facebook to promote goodness. She posted the following:

Special request to kids returning to school in the next few days: If you see someone who is struggling to make friends or being bullied because he/she doesn’t have many friends, because they are shy or not as pretty or not dressed in the most “in” clothes – PLEASE step up. Say hi or at least smile at them in the hallway. You never know what that person might be facing outside of school. Your kindness might just make a BIG difference in someone’s life!

While I am not so old that I do not recall the uncomfortable nature of adolescence and the strong desire to fit in, I also recall moments in which I decided to go against the grain and simply do something because it was good and right. But for the grace of (G)od my children or your children will find acceptance within a group that promotes success and unity.

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Welcome to North Carolina: Any Ideas?

Brian Fullford2 Comments

Thank you, North Carolina. Good to be here.

One thing I learned years ago with respect to blogging was that if one was not diligent about writing the blog would become stale. Fair to say that waiting one week before writing anything falls into the category of failing to overcome said obstacle.

However, the time has not been spent simply sitting around waiting for inspiration or the next re-run. My wife’s family had their annual beach weekend in which we celebrate her father’s birthday along with incorporating somewhat of a family reunion for the cousins in Orlando. It was an opportunity for me to talk with Lori Newberg who actively shares information regarding what she does to help in the Tampa area. Lori has been very supportive of our efforts and shares a desire both within the home and the community to look for ways to change behavior for the better.

Immediately after the weekend event was over I loaded up the car and headed to Siler City, NC to spend four days with Chris Gandy. I personally love a good road trip and you would be amazed how time flies when you have the CD player loaded full of music. Most of the Toad the Wet Sprocket catalog assumed the role of event soundtrack, appropriate and planned since Wednesday night at Cat’s Cradle will be spent enjoying the band live.

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Fitness to Purpose

Brian FullfordLeave a comment

Nitzer Ebb fans will get the title. They may also remind me the meaning of the song is probably not where I am going with this piece. And they would be correct. However the title alone does serve my purpose of pointing out the many ways in which you can satisfy both your need to get fit and to give back.

Years ago my good friend Chuck Schoonmaker asked me to participate in Jacksonville’s Gate River Run. A 15k (with a nice bridge at mile markers seven and  eight) seemed an impossible task but together we made it through. Now our pace was just fast enough to beat a snail but that was not the point. For me it was a watershed moment of proving what I could do physically.

That is not to say I was a lethargic sofa cushion. I played in a flag football league and engaged in a pick-up game of basketball from time to time. But participating in an endurance event requires a different degree of commitment and mental strength.

Once I had the Gate bug, running became part of my life routine. It was not until my friends Brian Thompson and Joe Peters approached me to take a leg of a sprint triathlon that I really began to understand what the draw was to these type of events. The interesting piece was not so much the sense of satisfaction you get from crossing the finish line (especially at a better time than your last) but also the sense of community and the inspiration from the other participants.

For example, after I finished last year’s Gate I fueled up and found a spot about 50 yards from the finish line. I wanted to cheer on my wife and our friends as they came by. What I was also witness to were pairs of obese competitors pushing each other to success along with few who fell along the route. Those injured, while bleeding and limping, had just as much intent on their faces as those who had finished much earlier.

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