Inspiration
Six Bridges of Connection to Jackie-O
Kyle, Jackie-O. So good to meet last year- can you remember this photo we took together? Ok, maybe you were a little two-dimensional then (just a cut-out). You had a night-time sandwich bar operating at the studio. Getting a free sandwich was good, but not quite as good as what it would be like to meet you in person.
I know that much of what is written about you both sometimes just skims the surface. But I know that you both go a little deeper.
Jackie: great to see Kitty arrive safely into the world, and the photos on your website are just beautiful. Can we talk about your pregnancy? That must have been a life-changing experience for you and Lee, not just the complications before birth but more importantly everything you have blessed with since. It is wonderful news!
I am running 10 sub-marathons each of 24 km in 10 cities across 10 countries all inside of one month starting 10 October this year to raise awareness for how we might help to alleviate child mortality. Your story inspires me Jackie. Would you be open to helping inspire actions that make healthy births a reality for many in the developing world who presently face a 20% chance of tragedy?
Love to talk. Can we? Will you? Please join me in the journey to make a difference.
You can read more here at http://www.pozible.com/lifebridge.
Forget Everything You Thought You Knew About Strength
My favourite inspirational video, maybe of all time. Sit back, turn the music up, and get fired up for the next 1:30. If this does nothing for you, go and see a doctor: you need your heart checked.
Strength, perseverance and determination. Qualities we all admire. This video about the 2012 London Paraolympics paints a different perspective. It’s time to do battle. Meet the Superhumans.
I need your support too. I am going to run 10 sub-marathons each of 24 km in 10 cities across 10 countries all inside of one month. I am doing this to raise awareness of how we can alleviate child mortality.
Please join me on my journey by supporting my endeavour. Details of what I am doing, and why I am doing it, along with details of how you can support are here on http://www.pozible.com/lifebridge
Enjoy the video. Let me know what you find best about it.
12 Steps For Practical Problem Solving
Did you ever read the book from Paul Polak: ‘Out of Poverty: what works when traditional approaches fail’? It is a great reference book, and practical.
Paul Polak has worked addressing the needs of those most in poverty for over three decades, and has made a significant impact.
This video shows Paul describing 12 steps for practical problem solving.
Take some time to watch it. It will be worth it.
Kiprotich
I am always amazed at the Olympic Marathon. It is so fast. Really, a race for the whole 42.2 km.
Stephen Kiprotich from Uganda made a surprising guts effort in the last 5 km to win from behind and steal the lead right through until finish.
Literally a race that was neck and neck for its whole distance, it was engaging throughout. Inspiring.
Uganda’s first medal at this Olympics, and in the last race.
See photos here:
Champion Effort
The Olympics are over. But let’s not forget that the Para-Olympics are yet to commence. Every event there is a champion effort. People giving their all, overcoming obstacles beyond than just training hard and pushing through pain.
I really admire competition at that level. Somehow, often it seems so natural and so effortless. But what we don’t see if the years of commitment and determination to succeed. The focus is so often on Gold alone, or Second or Third, but every competitor has achieved something great even if only for their own performance.
The world stops momentarily to watch so of the events. Take the 100 m Mens Sprint. Usain Bolt retains his champion status. What a race- so much intensity. Watch it here again recorded in high density footage caught from a rare up close camera…it is just like being there yourself. Unbelievable.
Want more inspiration? Check out http://www.pozible.com/lifebridge
Imposible is nothing: Oscar Pistorius
Kudos to Oscar Pistorius. This week in the Olympics he qualified through into the semi-final, against all odds and against a load of prejudice. That takes guts and commitment.
“He can appreciate how long the journey has been to get to these starting blocks, and he appreciates not just the opportunity but the moment”.
See his form in this video. It tells the story.
He still has the 400 metre relay to compete in, so this is not the end of his competition in the London Games.
No more words are needed. I am inspired. How about you?
What exactly is ‘bridging’?
Thanks to the inspiration of friends who just keep me going. Most of the time, you never see the difference you make. Especially, a big thank you to Mahei Foliaki for sending this video around which gives a good demonstration of what I am calling ‘bridging’.
Things don’t always work out the way you would like…
We can’t always go it alone. We are stronger together. Sometimes, reaching out for help comes easily, other times not so. A bridge needs supports on both ends…it is not just about one side taking all of the load.
In this case, it is about child mortality. I have been watching things unfold for the last 10 or 15 years, and there is good progress, but too much leaning on too few people doing the work. And too much potential and opportunity going wasted. What if we were to bridge together- our ideas, our resources, ourselves. Could we make more of a difference?
Here, the father comes to the son’s aid. “We’re going to finish together.”
In September 2010, I set out to run the 10 City Bridge Run. So far, things didn’t work out as I had planned. I have learnt a lot in the process, about myself and about how to do/not to do something.
I ended up in 2010 physically damaged so that it was not possible to run through overtraining, and also financially stretched…both situations that were unintended and undesirable. Many people had supported me to that time, and I also believed that the issue was worth pursuing.
So here I am again, lining up and ready to undertake this task commencing 10 October this year.
Never give up. There is work ahead for all of us to do. Join me on this journey. Please do. I am asking you to build a bridge together with me and the rest of the world. Are you in?
Training Day 1: Perfect conditions – cold, wet and dark
I started this 12 week training schedule for my run in September with a run through a rainy night in Sydney. It was the wettest I have seen Sydney, or at least the wettest I have seen the area near Lidcombe, since moving there in August last year, measured by the run-off on the ground.
The course took me around the Sydney Olympic Park crossing Parramatta Road and back again.
The next two days were in Canberra. Last night with sprints along Anzac Parade late into the evening, and tonight in the excellent gymnasium at the Australian Defence Force Academy on the running machine.
Feeling good for the journey ahead. Could be a little better conditioned, and a few kg heavier than my ideal training weight which will drop over the next four to six weeks, particularly important as I pick up the distance.
Anything Worth Achieving In This Life Will Be Hard Before It Gets Easy
Jim Stynes, a true legend in many respects, died after battling cancer. He lived his life through to his death like every other pursuit – giving always 100%. Jim gave it all. On and off the field, he exceeded his reputation as a legend of Australian Rules Football.
Jim Stynes loved Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey. He had a great quote about what a gift cancer had been to his life. It showed him how to live.
He sought to push people past ‘The Ordinary World”.
The Ordinary World is the comfort zone of life.
He would dismiss failure as just part of the journey. Jim wasn’t afraid to be vulnerable, and brushed off failure as a valuable experience. He taught others by his example. This is what made him a unique individual.
He once invited me to join him with his organisation Reach when they did a training workshop. He was very grounded, and saw right through anything that wasn’t authentic. He left me with a book he had written which was typical of his style, subtitled: “A Guide To Realising Your Dreams”.
At this training, Jim taught me one of the most poignant lessons about collaboration through a simple children’s game involving balloons. That lesson was a real gift which I will never forget. I will always remember the look in his eyes as he taught me something that he saw I needed to develop.
This 10 City Bridge Run journey was birthed partly in response to his diagnosis of cancer. It is fitting that I train smart and hard every day through until September to make the 10 City Bridge Run as he would say “a journey from the ordinary to the extraordinary.”
I guess it comes down to a simple choice – get busy living or get busy dying.
Thanks Jim. You are truly a champion.
Listen to me please, some things need to change.
Hello world, Me again- I’m back!
I hope you haven’t felt neglected since I last wrote. Yes, it has been a while, but rest assured I have been thinking of you a lot in that time.
I suppose you are wondering what is going on with the 10 City Bridge Run. In fact, maybe you are asking is anything going on with the 10 City Bridge Run?
The last couple of months have been a much needed source of reflection and reorientation, and the answer the question above is unequivocally ‘YES!’
Let me spell what that is in more detail in the blogs that follow. Importantly, we must both understand that some things need to change. You an I both know that.
Sure, the vision needs to be more clearly articulated. And the site is very busy with information.
But I am talking about something much bigger than that. You and I need to get to the heart of what this is about: bridging relationships to reduce child mortality.
There is some work ahead I am going to ask you to join me in doing. Taking photos of human bridges. But it’s ok, it is not a big ask, but I do need your help.
I can’t do it without you. I have only come this far already because of your support, even if you didn’t know that.
Please don’t give up on me now! Thanks for your follow. It means the world to me!
Matt
PS. Would you RT or repost? I can’t tell everyone this myself.
Building Bridges 