Thank you to all of those that have sent your amazing letters of encouragement. It is because of those words and your request to continue writing that I have decided not to end Shawn's Ironman blog. We are just going to refocus the content. The "Shawn's Ironman" journey did prove that anything is possible if you stick to commitment and make it about more than just finishing a race.
The Shawn's Ironman blog will still continue to be about my journey and what is happening, but the journey is now a much larger undertaking that makes the Ironman triathlon look like a training race.
There are so many others that want to accomplish their dreams, but they just don't know where to start, so I have decided to take all the experience from my nearly 3 year journey to help others to enjoy a healthier life. Barring injury, I will still continue to do my own races and post the race reports, but I find it more rewarding to hear about your journeys and run races with alongside you while you accomplish your dreams. I plan on using our story to encourage others to start their fitness journey and give tips to enjoying a healthier life style. Be looking for an assortment of articles such as diet reviews, fitness training reviews, interviews with athletes, coaches, medical professionals, etc. all wanting to help you become the best person that you want to be. I will also be putting my efforts into speaking at various events and promoting the new, "iDO!" mantra. What is "iDO!"? Well, I am glad you asked:
Have you ever had good intentions to make a positive change in your life, but you just never get around to actually doing it. Rarely is it because of lack of inspiration or will. It has to do with fulfillment and sustainability. Every goal has a reason and motivation behind it, but we sometimes have trouble applying the actions to achieve it. Instead of looking at the huge goal or mission as a whole, we must break down the journey into several smaller goals that are achievable on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. You just have to go from "I Can," and "I Will" to "I Do!"
"I DO" is such a simple phrase but it is so powerful in so many ways. It is powerful enough to confirm the commitment to marriage and powerful enough confirm truth in a court of law. We live in a world of I Can't and I Don't. Some of us get inspired enough to go from the "I Can't" to "I Can", but never get around to doing anything to make that phrase "I DO!" The 1% of the world that has finished an Ironman triathlon, understands the phrase better than most. They don't just not say there were going to do something, they do it. You don't have to finish an Ironman to use this phrase. You can use it to follow through with any commitment whether to be to finish a race, lose a few pounds, volunteer to help the less fortunate, or just be a better person. I challenge you to change your life mantra to "I DO! Take the pledge with me:
iDO better myself
iDO better those around me
iDO encourage others that say iDO
iDO help those that are less fortunate
iDO test my boundaries
Shawn's Anomaly's goals are a huge undertaking, but it can be accomplished if we apply this strategy to the ultimate mission: Education, Hope, & Help!
Mahatma Gandhi once said, "We must be the change we want to see in the world," but we can't do it alone. It takes a collected effort from everyone focused on the same goal. Starting in 2013, we are asking all supporters of Shawn's Anomaly to take an "iDO!" pledge. To find out more, go to www.ido5.org.
Get ready for a new and exciting life. 2013 is a year where you don't just sit and read about someone else's accomplishments. This year you start accomplishing things on your own with from the iDO! community. Together we will go from, "I can" or "I will" to iDO!
No iDO challenge is too small or too large, so comment and tell us about what you would like to accomplish.
