“Going in one more round when you don’t think you can – that’s what makes all the difference in your life. “- Rocky Balboa, Rocky IV (1985)

As I approach the first birthday of TAT, I have been fortunate to receive quite a few congratulatory emails. More often than not, they contain a common sentiment and it falls into this vein.

“Wow! That first year. I remember that. All the ups and downs, trials and successes, joys and frustrations.”

I can’t help but think about how awful life would be if we threw in the towel whenever the going got tough. I can’t imagine what it would be like if the first couple bruises and hard hits that connected on the chin scared us off.

More importantly, what effect would it have on our character if we never allowed ourselves to be tested and stretched? What type of people would we be if we refused to stare down adversity and difficulty? What would we be able to claim as a individual if we never placed ourselves in the position to see just what we are made of?

Today I do not encourage reckless behavior. But I will encourage a healthy dose of, “What would happen if I tried…”and “I wonder if I could…” Do that thing you know you should do but have hesitated out of unchecked caution. Question the procrastination of the hard task. Consider what would happen if you tackled the big project. Know that there is support when you need it and a victory in the journey.

Happy, Happy Birthday!

Next week we will celebrate the first birthday of Turn Around Tuesday. Lots of well wishes and encouragement has flowed in and I sure do appreciate it.

Earlier in the month, I celebrated my bloggy birthday at Making Life Work for You and My Beautiful Chaos. I had been looking forward to that milestone and appreciate you all joining in the excitement.

However, this week our family celebrates some birthdays that are even more special. My handsome husband has his day Friday and our oldest daughter follows on Sunday – she is going to be eleven! How in the world does that happen? I really do say that every year. It is just amazing to watch it all happen so fast…

So, happy, happy birthday all the way around! Let’s all have a slice of cake!

This week in history

• March 26, 1953 – Dr. Jonas Salks announces the polio vaccination
• March 27, 1929 – NASCAR is born
• March 30, 1870 – Fifteenth Amendment adopted
• March 31, 1889 – Eiffel Tower opens

“Ah come on, Adrian, it’s true. I was nobody. But that don’t matter either, you know? ‘Cause I was thinkin’, it really don’t matter if I lose this fight. It really don’t matter if this guy opens my head, either. ‘Cause all I wanna do is go the distance. Nobody’s ever gone the distance with Creed, and if I can go that distance, you see, and that ain’t just another bum from the neighborhood.”- Rocky Balboa, Rocky I (1976)

“All I want to do is go the distance.” Hmm. There is a lesson there. In fact, there are probably a few.

I have watched four children learn to walk. It happened for each of them at different times and in different ways. Some got frustrated easier and others didn’t seem to mind falling down. The one constant is obviously that none of them gave up.

We all have different definitions of success. It could be a first step, a new business, a marathon, a vacation or just being able to turn off your cell phone. Whatever that definition is, what ever that accomplishment looks like, you will never get there if you stop moving forward.

“All I want to do is go the distance.” There is something to be said for tenacity. It is a testament of character to continue on against adversity, against difficulty and on to the destination. There is something to be said for going the distance.

I want to encourage you to define your definition of success and continue to move forward. Realize that things get hard and some things don’t go as planned. But the end will never be realized if we don’t commit to going the distance.

Easter Extravaganza at J.F. Gregory Park

Easter is coming earlier this year. It hasn’t been this early since the early 1900′s. No worries, though. The New Beginnings Church, along with tons of community support, is ready with the Easter Extravaganza.

Festivities will kick off at 11am this Saturday at J.F. Gregory Park. There will be lots of activities and fun for the whole family.

Included in the afternoon is a massive Easter egg hunt with a count that is close to 15,000. The Easter Bunny will be there and available for pictures. Other entertainment and food will offered.

You can well imagine an event this size takes a lot of work. If you are able to volunteer – especially in hiding all those eggs – give the church a call at 912.308.7635,

My family hopes to see yours there.

This week in history

• March 19, 1831 – First U.S. Bank heist
• March 20, 1965 – Lyndon Johnson sends federal troops to Alabama to supervise a civil rights march
• March 21 1983 – Little House on the Prairie comes to an end
• March 24, 1989 – Exxon Valdez runs aground in southern Alaska

*Conversation between Rocky and Paulie about Rock’s relationship with Adrian*
Paulie: You like her?
Rocky: Sure, I like her.
Paulie: What’s the attraction?
Rocky: I dunno… she fills gaps.
Paulie: What’s ‘gaps’?
Rocky: I dunno, she’s got gaps, I got gaps, together we fill gaps. ” – Rocky I (1976)

This is my all time favorite Rocky quote, um, conversation, ever! Completely raw, honest and utterly romantic. But, if I take a step back, there is more to this “gap filling” than new love butterflies.

I have the benefit of knowing some really incredible people. I appreciate them for all that they are in the face of the things that I am not. This is not to say one is more or less than the other. It is just to say that it is a fact that we all have “gaps.” This encompasses all those things that we would do better to leave to the professionals. For instance, I will gladly help you write your vows. I will do you the favor of your life and refuse to sing at your wedding.

We all do well to know our gaps and connect with our gap fillers. I am a great project manager but a horrible organizer. I do a great job at presenting material to a room full of people, but I really don’t care for long, intensive training sessions. I have gaps. I am incredibly thankful for my gap fillers.

Today I want to encourage you to appreciate those who connect with you in a way that is mutually beneficial for both of you. Gaps are a fact of life. Good thing, too – gap filler relationships are some of the best kind. Wondrous things happen when we realize the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.

St. Patty’s Day in Savannah

It is that time of the year again. For those who don’t know, St. Patrick’s Day in Savannah is the event of the year. Compared in size (and consumption) with Mardi Gras, we have the big parade and the bigger party.

I haven’t been to the festivities in years. It is just too much for me now. But a lot of folks I know will be enjoying the weekend.

So the mom in me surfaces. Be Safe! If not for yourselves, then for the others that may be on the road with you.

So that I am not all talk, I called a friend of mine that runs a transportation service (our town doesn’t have a taxi company).

I am passing on her information as she will service the areas outside, as well as within, Savannah.

MC Taxi & Shuttle Service 24 hours (912) 412-9839

Be careful out there so I can see you all next week!

This week in history

• March 11, 1968 – Otis Redding posthumously receives gold record for “(Sittin’ On) the Dock of the Bay”
• March 12, 1933 – Franklin D. Roosevelt gives first Fireside Chat
• March 14, 1879 – Albert Einstein is born
• March 17, 1753 – First Official St. Patrick’s Day

“Nothing is real if you don’t believe in who you are.”- Rocky Balboa, Rocky III (1982)

I wonder how many of us are comfortable being big dreamers. Now that we are al grown up, I am curious how many of us allow ourselves to go to that place of make believe in our mind where anything is possible and there are no limits. That place where all things turn out just the way we think they should and nothing is impossible.

Too often on the path to our personal success, we forget that we have to know where we are going, see ourselves there and then move forward. Sound silly? It isn’t. We do this kind of thing all the time.

Remember the last time you were getting ready to leave on that great vacation. Didn’t you say, at least once, “I can already see myself there.”

Being the person you want to be is no different. You must believe that is who you were meant to be and know that you can get there.

Today, I want to encourage you believe in who you are and who you are striving to be. Know that if you can’t see that person in yourself, nobody else is going to. Self confidence is not arrogance – it is the fuel for your journey.

Can’t believe it is March!

When the whirlwind that was February was finally over, I realized it was March. Sounds like no big deal – except I am now counting down to a year of Turn Around Tuesday.

That’s right! The first issue of Turn Around Tuesday was published the first Tuesday in April last year.

So, for the month of March, we a going through some of my favorite Rocky quotes and some other notable moments in history.

I couldn’t have done any of this without you. I really appreciate all the support and positive feedback.

This week in history

• March 4, 1933 – Franklin D. Roosevelt inaugurated
• March 5, 1963 – The hula hoop was patented
• March 7, 1876 – Alexander Graham Bell patents the telephone