This past weekend was an interesting weekend. Jenn participated in the PPD Beach 2 Battleship Triathlon on Saturday. I am sure she will write about that experience on her blog  www.fat2triathlete.com and I won’t steal her thunder.

However, I was inspired just as the person ‘hanging around’ waiting for the finish. I saw strangers comfort each other when they were unable to continue. I saw strangers cheering and encouraging each other. I saw people making an effort (while they were focused on their own race) to support and root for for others who were struggling.

It was inspiring!

I walked away on Saturday thinking how awesome it would be if in our everyday life we looked at those around us and realized we are all in the same race – The race of life.

What if we took the time to notice (while running our own race) those around us who are struggling and offered them encouragement?

What if we made more of an effort to look outside our own struggles and became aware of those around us?

I have no doubt a man I saw on Saturday standing with his bike, gulping water (or some power drink), yelling to another athlete, “DON’T QUIT” was really talking to himself. I also know in everyday life it is not as easy to just yell at some stranger “DON’T QUIT”. It is harder to see others struggles.

However, think with me. Think of family. Think of Friends. Think of co-workers. Think of just people you know.

How many people do you know that are or may be struggling with something in their life?

I came up with a long list!

I included myself on the list! As a matter of fact, I’m going to go out on a not very long limb and say we all are struggling.  Our struggles are not the same. Just as the triathletes had different challenges along the way. For some it was the swim, others the bike and still others the run (and any host of subsets within those challenges). Although I am no triathlete, I will say with all confidence that every athlete who participated, struggled! From the first place finisher to the last place finisher.

How hard would it be to pick up the phone and offer a word of encouragement to those on your list? Perhaps you’d prefer to send them a card in the mail. Maybe it’s easiest to write a note on their facebook wall (or my fav tweet them).

My challenge to you this week -Think of seven people you can encourage. And

DO IT!

Send ’em a note. Give ’em a call. Figure out how you’re going to yell “DON’T QUIT” figure out what you can do that is equivalent to ringing a cowbell and cheering them on! Perhaps what you’ll find is that you will feel more encouraged. Perhaps what you’ll find is that you just feel better for helping someone else along their journey. Perhaps at the end of your seven people (yes, that’s one each day for a week) you’ll wish to find seven more.

By the Way, I think you’re AWESOME! Keep up the good work 🙂