Dear PB Readers,

“Why not me?” is a question that Gold Medal Swimmer Mark Tewksbury made famous after his victory at the 1992 Olympic Games. When Tewksbury got up that fateful morning, he asked himself the question “Why not me?” Why couldn’t he chose to make this his special day to achieve his goal. I use that question “why not you?” often with family, friends, athletes and colleagues.

Why couldn’t 55 year old Leith Drury go back to school and do a PhD in her mid 50s? She did and is currently one of the leaders in the world in the area of “emotional intelligence”. Why couldn’t my good friend Stuart Dorland create the world’s biggest 24 hour mountain bike race company? Some would say “How could a Canadian do this?” Stuart asked “Why not me?” and now is the leader in this sector of mountain biking in the entire world. My wife, Caron Shepley, dreamed about making DVDs that would allow others to benefit from her Yoga and Core Strength Classes. Today she has two best-selling DVDs. Canadian Les McDonald asked “Why can’t triathlon be in the Olympics?” The answer to this question was simple even though dozens of sports that had been around much longer than triathlon believed they were more deserving of entrance into the games. Someone had to lead this new sport and Les asked “Why not me?” Les McDonald became that “why not me” person and in 1993 triathlon was accepted into the Olympic Games and seven years later Kingston, Ontario’s Simon Whitfield became the first ever gold medalist in the sport asking the same question.

I know each of these people very well and while they are special in their own unique ways, they are just regular people who have backed up “Why not me?” with action. Tewksbury went out and swam the race of his life. Stuart Dorland created a new product that virtually didn’t exist in the world. Les McDonald had to use his own personal money to travel the world for four years to meet each of the IOC members and personally convince them to let triathlon into the Olympics.

Why not you? What do you want to do? Start a new business, go back to school, learn a new language, run your first marathon or triathlon? Why not you? The clock is ticking and the one characteristic that Mark, Leith, Caron, Stuart and Les had all in common was their desire to get the job done - NOW! Why wait for another season to get started? What can you do today, this week and this month to move closer toward’s your “why not you” goal? With the new year just around the corner, the balance of December is a great time to start identifying your “why not me” ideas. You won’t regret it I promise.

Welcome to our newest readers in this our 269th consecutive Personal Best Weekly Update. Our goal each week is to be a brief spark plug of motivation. Each of us needs to be reminded of the small consistent steps required to achieve a happy, healthy life. There are so many great positive stories that should be told, and far too few mediums that tell these stories. After hearing stories like that of Andrea Jaeger’s generosity toward needy children (see her story in this week’s newsletter) we better understand what is possible. Please keep signing up your friends for our free weekly newsletter. Check out our website for on-going stories at www.personalbest.ca and send your ideas & stories to barrie@personalbest.ca. Have a great week.

DEC 5th PB HIGHLIGHTS

* DON MARQUIS QUOTE ON PROCRASTINATION
* ATHLETES WHO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
* PB EMAIL OF THE WEEK
* TWELVE MONTHS OF NAKEDNESS
* TEN HEALTHY CHRISTMAS GIFTS TO CONSIDER
* BARRIE’S SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO GET TO JAN 1ST WITHOUT GAINING WEIGHT
* CONTRIBUTIONS FROM GRADE SCHOOL KIDS
* DON’T MISS THE SANTA SPEEDO RUN DEC 10TH

DON MARQUIS QUOTE ON PROCRASTINATION

"Procrastination is the art of keeping up with yesterday." (sound familiar?)

ATHLETES WHO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

As a teenager in the late 70s, I spent endless summer nights playing tennis. Late into the darkness when everyone had gone home, my partner Peter Bakker and I would still be hitting balls dreaming that one day we might play elite tennis. At the exact same time in Chicago, American teenager Andrea Jaeger was hitting balls much faster and more accurately then Peter and I. By the time Andrea was fourteen she had won her first professional tournament and ended up with eight professional victories before she was nineteen. Along the way she played in the USA open (1980 and 1982), Wimbledon (1983) and was ranked number two in the world. A shoulder injury ended Andrea’s tennis career before she turned twenty and she had to decide what to do next in her life. Andrea knew that tennis was merely the platform to her calling in life: to help children in unfortunate circumstances. Andrea gave the earnings that would have secured her retirement and co-found The Silver Lining Foundation, benefiting children with cancer.

>From humble beginnings, the foundation today assists children and their families with specially designed programs that bring joy, comfort and long-term support. The Silver Lining Foundation, based in Aspen, Colorado, has been run by the former tennis prodigy for more than a decade. She also operates the Little Star Program, headquartered in Durango, Colorado, which gives money and provides programs to children afflicted with a variety of hardships and diseases. While the newspapers are filled with stories of professional athletes who abuse their power and fame, Andrea Jaeger is one of a growing number of athletes who use their sporting success to give back to those in need.

PB EMAIL OF THE WEEK

Barrie I am the mother of two who wrote in a few months back expressing fear and trepidation about training for the 1/2 marathon in Boston. I just wanted to let you know that I made it to the finish line in good shape and it was a "wow" moment in my life that I'll never ever forget. The power of the mind and the body working together is a most wonderful thing!! The energy you share with us in this newsletter is fantastic and very much appreciated.

TWELVE MONTHS OF NAKEDNESS

Now that I have your attention! One of the great volunteers in my community is a 60 year old dynamo named Barb Karasiuk. Barb’s volunteer spirit knows no bounds. For the last three years Barb has led a group of 20 women who have raised over $250,000 during their two day CANCER WALK. After three years of going back to their same family and friends for donations, Barb and her team have come up with a unique way to raise “cash-for-cancer”. In a series of twelve very classy pictures, her team of 30-70 year old women has become Canada’s version of Calendar Girls. Inspiring women with surf boards, arms and legs positioned in the just the right angle to make the pictures a classy piece of art. Instead of buying a SUPER MODEL CALENDER THIS YEAR, why not put your $20.00 toward a calendar that gives research dollars for cancer victims. Order your Calender at passion_in_our_steps@yahoo.ca. My wife and I already have our copy proudly hung in our home.

HEALTHY CHRISTMAS GIFTS TO CONSIDER

With few exceptions we all end up making some purchases for family and friends for Christmas. Why not consider one of Barrie’s list of top 10 healthy choices for 2005.

1. One of Caron Shepley’s two DVDs. Power Yoga for Endurance Athletes and her new just released HARD CORE CONDITIONING Vol #1. Both are great for at home fitness. See Caron’s website www.bluedogyoga.com
2. A one hour massage from your local therapist says you care.
3. A yoga mat for stretching and conditioning at home.
4. A healthy eating cook-book. See my good friend Leslie Beck’s website www.lesliebeck.com
5. A week at our Personal Best Florida Warm Weather Training Camp (March 11-19) or April 15-22nd). Email barrie@personalbest.ca for more details.
6. A gift certificate for a pair of running shoes at your local shop.
7. A gift certificate for lessons for (golf, skating, swimming, tennis, weight training)
8. Make a donation to a charity in the name of the person who has everything.
9. A heart rate monitor.
10. A fitness evaluation / biomechanical assessment for injuries.

HOLIDAY WEIGHT CHALLENGES

There are far too many outstanding food choices over the holidays to simply avoid them completely. Some health professionals suggest avoiding or minimizing these great foods. While it might work for some, it doesn’t for me. Data suggests that the average person gains 3-5 pounds. Yes that’s 10,000 to 16,000 extra calories over the holidays. My goal is for each of us to wake up Jan 1st no heavier then we are today! Follow these simple strategies and I guarantee you will not gain weight these holidays.

Over the next 2+ weeks (Dec 5-21st) attempt to lose 2-3 pounds through a slight food restriction and a small increase in exercise expenditure (mostly walking). Then during the ten days of feasting (Dec 21st - 31st) eat what you wish/enjoy but simply add 30 minutes of power-walking (or other exercise you enjoy) a day. The exercise can be walking to the corner store, shopping or a local trail near your home. You will lose a pound+ just through the easy aerobic walking (think of it as a way to help you digest before your next big meal).

While more disciplined health professionals would recommend a different strategy, my suggestion is to lose a few pounds before Christmas so you can add a few pounds back. I would love to hear the strategies that your families employ to minimize weight gain WHILE STILL ENJOYING SOME OF THE BENEFITS OF THE HOLIDAYS. Share your ideas with me at barrie@personalbest.ca.

GRADE SCHOOL STUDENTS CONTRIBUTIONS (un-altered)

1. Bethoven wrote music even though he was deaf. He was so deaf that he wrote loud music and became the father of rock and roll. Bethoven expired in 1827 and later died for this.
2. The nineteenth century was a time of a great many thoughts and inventions. People stopped reproducing by hand and started reproducing by machine.
3. Karl Marx was one of the Marx Brothers. The other three were in the movies. Karl made speeches and started revolutions. Someone in the family had to have a job, I guess.

SANTA’S LOOKING FOR WARM-BLOODED RUNNERS DEC 10TH

Matt Freeman writes. Barrie, every year around the holiday season I like to conduct a little charity event for kids. Some years it has gone over quite well; sometimes it's met with a less-than-enthusiastic response by those around me (the "head shaving for charity" incident a few years back comes to mind). In a move that will no doubt fall into the latter category, I'd like to announce the 1st annual Toronto Santa Speedo Run. On December 10th, 2005 we're going to give Yorkville a very different kind of fashion show. This is a fun run with the only objective being to raise as much money as possible for Sick Kids while making complete and utter spectacles of ourselves. Since idiocy loves company, I'd love to have you and your readers join us. The idea is to do a brief (pun intended) run through Yorkville, in nothing but Speedo bathing suits, our sneakers, and festive accessories (Santa hats, strategically placed tree ornaments, etc.) The course will be short (less than 3km), and it's not a race. If you don't feel like running, but can lend a few hours in the afternoon to volunteer, that'd be gratefully appreciated as well. For more details, go to www.torontosantaspeedorun.com.

HAVE A GREAT WEEK AND TRY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIFE OF AT LEAST ONE OTHER PERSON!