I have heard many individuals talk about wisdom as if it is something you receive when you get older. It is like certain people think that when you reach 50 years old, someone will hand you the wisdom manual, and you will know everything you need to know about life.

In my life I have found far more often that wisdom comes from those who truly experience their lives. it comes from those people who decide to take their life and use it to make a difference for those around them. Mattie Stepanek was a young man with a rare form of muscular dystrophy who decided that he was not going to wait to move towards his destiny. Watch his story and realize that there is no better day than today, no better moment than right now, to start making a difference.

Here is the website for the Mattie Stepanek foundation, continuing to work towards Mattie’s message of peace

http://www.mattieonline.com/

This video details the story of Tim Kettenhoffen who has a dream of one day participating in the Kona Ironman, one of the most famous in the world. One day a new obstacle arose in his path towards his goal in the form of grade 4 brain cancer.

After his diagnosis, he made the decision that he was not a statistic and would not allow this ailment to keep him from his dreams. He is now training for Ironman Wisconsin with his eyes looking forward to Kona! Please vote for him today to help make his dream a reality!

http://konainspired.thismoment.com/base/kona?region_id=us-en&content_id=681&tab_id=20

Do you feel like conventional education systems didn’t harness the gifts that you have? Is there a part of you that thinks that a new structure for our educational system could greatly benefit our nation’s youth? Then you need to listen to Sir Ken Robinson’s speech on the changes he recommends in education.

“When I asked you how intelligent you are, it’s the wrong question. The real question is how are you intelligent? The question is not how creative are you, it is how are you creative?”

In my mind traveling is one of the best things a person can spend their time doing. It opens your eyes to the beautiful, crazy, wonderful, unpredictable world that exists outside of the bubble we are all accustomed to living in. Then when you add extreme sports to it you find your heart pounding while you are sitting on your couch at home.

When you find something in your life that makes your heart pound, your eyes widen, and fills your head full of wonderful visions and ideas; find ways to make it a part of your life.

Photo Credit: http://agingabundantly.wordpress.com/2010/05/23/our-deepest-fear-is-not-that-we-are-inadequate-by-marianne-williamson/

Take a moment and really consider the words above. Consider every word of this and start to think, is fear holding you back from taking on a new challenge, meeting someone new, or taking up a new hobby?

Don’t fear what other’s will think of you for going after your dreams, think about the happiness you will be able to spread to others knowing you did not resist what you knew you were meant to do deep down in your heart.

Will Smith is not only one of my favorite actors but it turns out he actually has some great things to say about pursuing dreams and working to make life what you want it to be. We all deserve great things and sometimes we like to hide behind the facade of believing that something is “impossible”. The reality of the situation is that it is not impossible, it is that many people would rather decide it is impossible so they have no feelings of regret when they don’t even try. When something is “impossible” there is no point in trying, so when we decide to use that word and hide behind it, we are robbing ourselves of the greatest joys in our lives. Joys and fulfillment so amazing it is almost unimaginable. Watch this video and let the inspiration drive you to try something new and take a step towards something wonderful!

If this last video got you pumped up, this is the next step, the continuation of the Hip Hop Preacher’s motivation. Part 1 begins calm and builds into a crescendo of energy and music to motivate you towards the finish. Part 2 is the challenge, realizing that “Wanting it as bad as you want to breath” is only the first step towards what it is you want. To really get the complete picture of motivation, watch Part 2!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NwyXwn72kc

Now, this video has changed my life. Recently I took up distance running and ran my first half marathon. In the past my Ipod was filled with upbeat, energetic tracks to increase my heart rate and workout intensity. Then I found with long distance running that I also found a place for songs or tracks that make you think.

This video is the perfect example. This video shows a young man training to pursue his dream of being a football star but the best part is the music and audio over the top of it. The man talking is called the “Hip Hop Preacher” and this man could motivate a corpse to get up and run. Give it a watch and download the MP3 to your Ipod for your next workout!

Photo credit: Beaumont Enterprise
Photo Credit: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1568878-terminal-brain-cancer-patient-winning-marathon-puts-things-into-perspective

Iram Leon decided to find the silver lining in his situation. While many would have chosen to focus on the dark cloud that appeared in his life when he discovered he had terminal brain cancer, Iram decided to take a very different focus. His focus switched to his family and his daughter, and making every moment with them count.

Read his story and watch the video below:
Terminal Brain Cancer Patient Winning Marathon Puts Things into Perspective

Many people decide to believe what they are told. They decide to accept the limitations that others try to put on them. These limitations are usually one thing and one thing only, false. You can choose to accept the limited beliefs others have placed upon themselves, or you can let your dreams grow bigger and more powerful than anyone else could ever imagine.

Here is the ESPN story of Anthony Starego, a young man with autism who decided to make his own decisions about what was “possible”. He decided he could be a kicker on his high school football team. Not only did he succeed at that goal, but he also did something so incredible you will have to watch this video to believe it…

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=8668180