“Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.
Skydiving - A Story of That First Step In Faith
A daring adventure, this was.  Let me tell you the story.  My wife would be celebrating her birthday.  What to get her?  [...]

Posted in Personal Growth 2 Comments »

“When I dare to be powerful - to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid” ~ Audre Lorde
The Olympics.  Athletes who have taken the love of their respective sport to their highest level.
Power.  Dedication.  Commitment.  Resolve.  Words that describe these athletes who [...]

Posted in Health & Fitness, Personal Growth 23 Comments »

photo credit: Sveden
“I learned this, at least, by my experiment; that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours. He will put some things behind, will pass an invisible boundary; new, universal, [...]

Posted in Personal Growth 34 Comments »

“Live life fully while you’re here. Experience everything. Take care of yourself and your friends. Have fun, be crazy, be weird. Go out and screw up! You’re going to anyway, so you might as well enjoy the process. Take the opportunity to learn from your mistakes: find the cause of your problem and eliminate it. [...]

Posted in Personal Growth 24 Comments »

“To myself I am only a child playing on the beach, while vast oceans of truth lie undiscovered before me.” ~ Isaac Newton
Life’s a beach.  What does that conjure up in your head?  Is it a play on words for “Life’s a bi***”, or is it something quite opposite - that life really is like [...]

Posted in Personal Growth 26 Comments »

“If my ship sails from sight, it doesn’t mean my journey ends, it simply means the river bends.” ~ John Enoch Powell
Our family vacation has come to an end.  We have arrived back home.  It has been a great journey together as a family to spend time out amongst nature, and away from the worries [...]

Posted in Personal Growth 21 Comments »

“At the touch of love, everyone becomes a poet.” ~ Plato
I have watched this video several times, and it continues to be a powerful example of what love is all about.  Watch it and be inspired!
SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: “The Power of Love”, url: “http://www.jungleoflife.com/2008/07/29/the-power-of-love/” });

Posted in Personal Growth 13 Comments »

“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams.  Live the life you have imagined.” ~ Henry David Thoreau
For inspiration, watch this short video by Nike about Lance Armstrong.  It’s a great example of what commitment is all about.
SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: “What Are You On?”, url: “http://www.jungleoflife.com/2008/07/25/what-are-you-on/” });

Posted in Personal Growth 10 Comments »

photo credit: MichaelMeiser
“The only one who can tell you ‘you can’t’ is you.  And you don’t have to listen” ~ Nike
Swim.  Bike.  Run.
Why would I ever attempt that?  I’m not a good swimmer.  I can’t run.  And I rarely bike.
That was me five years ago.  Since then I have competed in three triathlons, improving [...]

Posted in Health & Fitness, Personal Growth 14 Comments »

photo credit: jugrote
“But there is suffering in life, and there are defeats.  No one can avoid them.  But it’s better to lose some of the battles in the struggles for your dreams than to be defeated without ever knowing what you’re fighting for.” ~ Paulo Coehlo
Defeat. We’ve all been there. That moment when we’ve [...]

Posted in Personal Growth 22 Comments »

photo credit: Vlastula
“It is not by muscle, speed, or physical dexterity that great things are achieved, but by reflection, force of character, and judgement.” ~ Marcus Tullius Cicero
You get into your SUV and head down the highway.  With all the time constraints you have in your life today, you step on the accelerator and [...]

Posted in Personal Growth 21 Comments »

photo credit: santheo
“The family. We were a strange little band of characters trudging through life sharing diseases and toothpaste, coveting one another’s desserts, hiding shampoo, borrowing money, locking each other out of our rooms, inflicting pain and kissing to heal it in the same instant, loving, laughing, defending, and trying to figure out [...]

Posted in Personal Growth 15 Comments »

photo credit: jaxxon
"Watch your thoughts; they become words.
Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habits.
Watch your habits; they become character.
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny." — Lao-Tze
How’s your yard?  Or your flower garden?  Are there any weeds in them?
Weeds are defined as plants that have no [...]

Posted in Health & Fitness, Personal Growth 28 Comments »

photo credit: joiseyshowaa

"Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors" — African Proverb
As I sit here tonight, I am listening to the sounds of a good thunderstorm.  Thunder, lightning, rain, wind.  I enjoy the powerfulness of these storms (as long as they don’t cause any major damage).  I really get [...]

Posted in Personal Growth 22 Comments »

photo credit: cuellar
“I still get wildly enthusiastic about little things…  I play with leaves.  I skip down the street and run against the wind.”  — Leo Buscaglia
 With three kids, this one’s usually pretty easy for me.  Someone wants to “play” something.  And sometimes I resist.  Maybe I want to rest, or I have work [...]

Posted in Personal Growth 14 Comments »