The Courage Medal

I borrowed this from my mentor, Brian Herosian. He has a fantastic point here, and I absolutely had to share it. You can read more of him and his tips on Health and Wellness at his own Blog page here: http://profitnesstraining.blogspot.ca/

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As the Summer Olympics concluded in an amazing closing ceremony in London on Sunday evening, it was obvious that this was a very well-organized and a highly-successful Olympiad.

Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals were awarded to outstanding athletes from around the world. I think there should have been a fourth medal category - The Courage Medal.

If I were voting, here would be three athletes to whom I would have awarded The Courage Medal:

U.S. sprinter Manteo Mitchell was the leadoff man in the first round of the 4x400 relay. People wondered why he seemed to slow down. As he ran the first 200 meters, his left leg didn't feel quite right. Then he heard a snap and felt severe pain. He did not stop running. He was part of a team and he didn't want to let his teammates down. X-Rays later proved that he ran the second 200 meters on a broken fibula. A broken leg didn't keep him from running his portion of the relay.

I would also have given The Courage Medal to Oscar Pistorius of South Africa. When he was a child, both of his legs were amputated below his knees. That didn't stop him. Now he's known as the "Blade Runner" and "the fastest man on no legs". He runs with the aid of Cheetah Flex-Foot carbon fibre artificial limbs by a company called Ossur. He is the world record holder, racing other amputees, in the 100, 200 and 400 meter events. It was amazing to watch Pistorius run in the London Olympics.

If you watched the closing ceremonies of the Olympics on Sunday evening, you might have seen Bryshon Nellum carrying the American flag as the U.S. team came into the stadium. It was four years ago that this U.S. sprinter was shot three times in his leg. The 23-year-old was a sophomore at USC in 2008 when gang members pelted him with a shotgun. Through several surgeries, he was determined to run again. At times, during his recovery, it was so painful for him on the track that he would sometimes crumble in agony. His appearance at the London Olympics was an amazing testimony of Bryshon's courage.

So, there you have it. My nominations for The Courage Medal at the London Olympics.
Surely you and I could do something this week that would show a special measure of courage.

You are special. You are unique. You are destined for greatness! Have a powerful day!

A Courage Affirmation
I have the courage to do amazing things.

Deeper Thoughts

"A ship in the harbour is safe...but that is not what ships are built for."
- John A Shedd

"An eagle in the nest is safe...but that is not what eagles were born for."
- Andreas Zimmermann

"A human being home watching TV is safe...but that is not what Humans were meant for."
- Andreas Zimmermann

How To Have A Great Day

Hey everyone,

I received this from my mentor, Brian, today, and wanted to pass it on to everyone else I know! A lot of great tips and wisdom in his list. It can be hard to do the entire list of 30 every single day, but making the attempt to try a few will definitely improve the outlook and outcome of the day!

Have a great day everyone!

Andreas Z.

Have a Great Day… Here’s How:

1. Live here and now!

2. Write out your goals and desires
3. Get plenty of quality sleep
4. Give someone a helping hand
5. Eat healthy foods like fresh, raw veggies and lean protein
6. Smile, it’s infectious
7. Read, read, read
8. Exercise
9. Look for ways to improve yourself
10. Take a deep breath and prepare for anything that comes your way
11. Be appreciative of the things you have
12. Take vitamins
13. Laugh!
14. Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today
15. Avoid negativity at all costs
16. Practice your visualization exercise
17. Play and laugh with children
18. Play with your pet
19. Drink plenty of fresh, clean water
20. Take time out for your family and friends
21. Stretch both before and after exercise
22. Admit to your failures and shortcomings
23. Over deliver on your promises
24. Relax
25. Learn from your failures
26. Don’t take life too seriously
27. Dance
28. Have fun
29. Be forgiving of others failures and shortcomings, as you would want them to do for you
30. Never give up on your dreams or yourself