Spring Forward Like A Lion (Despite what the Groundhog says)

Recently I have been very mindful of the world around me. Much is going on and is affecting our day to day life. To name a few:

1. QE1 and QE2 causing the prices of food and other commodities to go up while the U.S. dollar is losing value. (Ouch to our pockets!)

2. Conflict in Libya causing oil prices to go up, thus creating a bear market for U.S. stocks, slowing the economic recovery, and higher prices at the pump. Not to mention protests in Yemen, Egypt, Tunisia and other Middle East countries. (More ouch to the pockets)

3. Budget fights here in the U.S. at the federal, state and local level further polarizing the politicians and lawmakers and creating stalemate at the expense of the American people. (Ouch everywhere else!)

So much uncertainty, and in business (and life in general) uncertainty leads to:

1. inaction

2. protectionism

3. disengagement

4.  and even isolationism.

People tend to revert back to what they are comfortable with and not engage in dialogue with each other to discover ways to move forward. Not moving forward reduces the possibilities of a stronger, more prosperous future together. The actions that led to the failures of the past are not an option for our future.

The road ahead is often filled with uncertainty. (Or in this case... traffic)

In my running activities, I often take the leap in my training and my races, knowing that these activities will lead to a healthier, smarter runner. In previous blog posts I mentioned my motivations and the factors to be aware of. But one aspect of running that I think about these days is how it can be used as a tool for social change. The charity work and race participation of my friends (Krista, Tony, Winston, and many others) and I are examples of this.

 Krista Racing To Save Lives: http://pages.teamintraining.org/nj/nj11/kbassipzmn

 Tony and Camp Fatima: http://www.crowdrise.com/campfatimanjmarathon

Although we are not Olympic runners (yet), we train hard and use our energy to promote awareness and even raise money for the benefit and solutions to societal challenges. Goals have been set and unwavering is our determination to see them through.

That being said, The determination from all of us should also be unwavering, to make this world a better place. Reverting to the actions that led to failures of the past in this time of uncertainty is unacceptable and is not an option. Leap forward! Move ahead despite the struggle and even sometimes the pain. The return on your investment will not only be your lasting reward as a result of your long-term vision and determination, but will have positive impact of your surroundings, your loved ones, and YOUR society. Don’t be afraid to open that door and leap in like a Spring Lion. 

Don't be afraid to open that door and leap in. Together we could accomplish great things.