tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45455089845514007912011-04-21T18:04:48.502-07:00Musings of a middle-aged man bent on becoming what God wants him to be.Pyro Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14050650085166963097noreply@blogger.comBlogger21100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4545508984551400791.post-26498207997845247752008-07-24T17:36:00.000-07:002008-07-24T18:19:22.364-07:00<a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_uHIhidKVeTM/SIkhxRJzRgI/AAAAAAAAACA/PuBI9z90CAM/s1600-h/prefontaine.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226745972841989634" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_uHIhidKVeTM/SIkhxRJzRgI/AAAAAAAAACA/PuBI9z90CAM/s320/prefontaine.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>I love this poster of the late running legend Steve Prefontaine. This man had guts; read the biography <em>Pre</em> and you'll see what I mean. </div><div></div><div></div><div>Lately I've been wondering just how much guts I have. I have a lot of things going on in my life right now, and I feel as though I'm just going through the motions, and not really tackling each area with my full effort. I don't know why; maybe on some level I'm just lazy, unmotivated, indifferent or something. </div><div></div><div></div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Let's see...I am running out of time to finish my dissertation by mid-September. I am in poor physical shape despite an impending military deployment to Iraq in October. My marriage needs work. I haven't stayed in contact with friends very well. I haven't been reading God's word enough. Little projects around the house remain unfinished. Paperwork such as power of attorney for Leslie needs to be accomplished before I deploy. You know, I could easily get overwhelmed right now. </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>The question that keeps coming to mind is, "You got the guts for all this Bill?"</div><div></div><div></div><div>I am an extremely blessed man. I have the time to finish my dissertation because I have no other military duties right now. I have the time to exercise and get in shape; in fact, I have been working out with Brad Tillery of BCSfitness.com. The problem is my diet is lousy enough to counteract any workouts I do. I have the time to work on my marriage...to do little projects around the house...to spend time with my kids and complete any pre-deployment paperwork. But I am not doing these things to the degree I need to. Mid-September is coming fast and I could very well get caught with my dissertation incomplete...and miss the cutoff date for graduation in December. Boy, the Air Force would not be happy with that situation! </div><div></div><div></div><div> </div><div> </div><div>I look in the mirror and do not like what I see. I do not feel good about myself at all. Why is this? For crying out loud...I am a military officer; a Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Force. I am supposed to be disciplined, motivated, and efficient! I am in a funk. I need to find the guts to break out of this funk and get things done! I started finding some guts last weekend at the Men's Camping Trip to Inks Lake State Park. I jumped off a 50-ft rock into the lake; wow, the water was a scary-looking sight from the top of that rock! But I jumped...I actually jumped! And it felt good when I hit that water. I swam away with a big grin on my face. I did it; I overcame my fear by summoning the guts to climb the rock and to jump. I need that ability again.</div><div></div><div></div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Guts...do I have the guts to do what I know I need to do? Or will I fail the Air Force, my family, and myself? Will I deploy to Iraq with a completed dissertation, much-improved physical conditioning, a stronger marriage, and my affairs in order? Or will I not? I am inspired by my friend Andrew and his recent conquering of the physical feat of flipping a massive tractor tire 10 times in under 3 minutes. Andrew has guts...he would not give up until he won his battle with the tire! I want what Andrew has...Guts to keep fighting until victory is realized!</div><div></div><div></div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Steve Prefontaine once said, "I try to make every race come down to a pure guts race; if that happens, I am the only one who can win it." Prefontaine was a man with guts. I have friends around me with guts. C'mon Bill...get some guts!</div><div></div><div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4545508984551400791-2649820799784524775?l=deepintheheartofanaspiringtexan.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pyro Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14050650085166963097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4545508984551400791.post-22817005238157821312008-07-23T12:14:00.000-07:002008-07-23T12:24:43.441-07:00Welcome friends! I have decided to leap head-first into the blogosphere. A year ago I would have laughed at the suggestion that I would become a blogger. But I am a different man than I was a year ago, in more ways than just age. I am sure my blogging will be a work-in-progress, as I search for my voice. As a good friend of mine said, "Blogging is not about finding an ear; it's about finding a voice." Therefore, by establishing this blog, I intend to say what's on my mind and in my heart. I am 42 years old and an aspiring Texan. Glad to have ya'll along!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4545508984551400791-2281700523815782131?l=deepintheheartofanaspiringtexan.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pyro Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14050650085166963097noreply@blogger.com1