This week's Pep Talk: "Kids at Heart"

It was a beautiful, lazy and peaceful Sunday in the Mile High City. My NCAA tournament bracket was in shambles, Billy Joel was singing and I’m writing. My thoughts wander to a buddy. He had been real helpful at a recent fundraising event for Families of SMA, www.fsma.org. I was the emcee and Connor, 11-years mature, was outstanding assistant. He knew the facts, scoured the crowd for bidders during the live auction and just shined in my eyes. The fifth-grader’s also a darn good student and athlete.

Connor and I had never met before The Evening of Hope gala to help fight spinal muscular atrophy. But we were connected. We were one heartbeat thanks to a red JOCK wristband. Connor’s mother Joy, event organizer, had given it to him after I had offered it to her on the day we met to discuss my role. Handed the wristband, the proud mother grinned and proclaimed: “Connor will love this!” I hope you do too. I hope you love what JOCK stands for. Because, whether there’s an athletic bone in your body or not, there’s potential for a JOCK within each of us.

Let’s be joyful for blessings. I know, it’s tough; life pokes us in the eye – physically, emotionally and financially. What are we going to do about it? Choose to be joyful – despite the adversity – for blessings: a supportive team, income security, good health or something else. Be Joyful for them.

Next, let’s be optimistic about the future. Again, easy to suggest but challenging considering life’s roller coaster ride, right? Those moments of, “What the heck is going on here?” The families gathered for FMSA Rocky Mountain’s 10th fundraiser to battle, in spinal muscular atrophy, a terrible foe could vouch for that. It’s hard but necessary to be Optimistic about the future.

Also, courageously eliminate any self-destructive behavior preventing us from expressing ourselves in healthy and productive ways. What are we putting into our bodies? Our minds? Who are we hanging out with? Are they raising us up, or dragging us down? Whatever it is, Courageously eliminate it.

Late in the event, Connor and I are sharing the microphone as this fine young man told the gathered throng his JOCK bracelet - he was wearing it - stood for, “joyful, optimistic and courageous.” Then I asked, “Connor, if you’re joyful for the blessings of life, optimistic about the future and courageous despite the past, what’s the ‘K’?” Without missing a beat, my buddy, proclaimed, “You’re gonna kick butt!” You go boy.

Being joyful, optimistic and courageous – just my opinion – are three valuable talents to posses for this condition we call life. Connor knows that at eleven years of age. My prayer is he never - despite the stuff – forgets those truths. You too. We’re all kids at heart, right?