Dear PB Readers,

As you read this I will have just arrived back in Canada after a 2 week trip to the World Triathlon Championships in Japan and the inaugural test event in Beijing, China for the 2008 Olympic Games. China was an incredible balance of old and new. Seventy-five year old Chinese men riding old three wheeled bikes from downtown Beijing to the countryside with 100kg of metal, plastic and cardboard on their carts. The Great Wall of China still ranks as one of the most historic structures in the world and one of the few things that are recognizable from space when looking back at the earth. Nearly 50% of all Chinese adults still smoke cigarettes (comparable to 1960's North America). While Beijing is building many amazing new sporting structures (they could be ready to host the Olympics in a year if they had to) small shanty houses without proper plumbing are just meters away. Tens of thousands of bicycles roam this populated city with bikes outnumbering cars in many areas. What Japan did with technology, China appears to try to do with sheer inexpensive manpower. While I was a member of Toronto's 2008 Olympic bid organization that eventually lost to Beijing 2008, I now believe the world will benefit more because of the IOC's decision to come to China. Chinese officials are forced to deal with issues of pollution, communication and human rights because the eyes of the world are being focused on Beijing. While the city is in excess of 12 million people I never felt unsafe or threatened. I strongly encourage many of you to put China on your list for future vacation plans.

Welcome to our new readers in our 258th consecutive weekly newsletter. As I age I better understand why fortunate people feel a need and desire to give back to others who are less fortunate. Some do it through sponsoring an over sea's child, others do it working in a soup kitchen and still others by sponsoring a local hockey team or athlete. One only has to see the power of a hurricane or earthquake to realize that each of us can have our lives forever altered at a blink of an eye. Giving back to others should be a responsibility of the gratitude we have for our own good fortunes (and those of our families). Our goal each week is to help you think for just a few minutes on ways to improve your life (and those around you). The process may be as simple as changing one thing you eat, or one idea you consciously have in your mind each day. Please keep your contributions coming and keep signing up your friends and co-workers. Our website is www.personalbest.ca and my email is Barrie@personalbest.ca Have a great week!

SEPT 19th PB HIGHLIGHTS

* STEPHEN COVEY QUOTE ON WHAT IS IMPORTANT
* THE POWER OF LOVE A TRUE STORY OF A FAMILY'S LOVE FOR THEIR MOTHER
* FIVE YEAR ANNIVERSARY SINCE SYDNEY OLYMPICS
* PB EMAIL OF THE WEEK # 1 AND 2
* THE VALUE OF CHOPSTICKS
* LISA BENTLEY AND TIMEX MOTIVATING CANADIANS
* STRANGE COMPARISONS OF JFK AND ABRAHAM LINCOLN
* STILL TIME TO BE A PART OF BARRIE'S 2006 IRONMAN EXPERIENCE
* LOOKING FOR A MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER FOR YOUR 2005 OR 2006 FUNCTION?

STEPHEN COVEY QUOTE ON TIME

"Time cannot be recycled. How different our lives are when we really know what is deeply important to us, and keeping that picture in mind, we manage ourselves each day to be and to do what really matters most."

THE POWER OF LOVE

With only one English speaking channel on my Beijing TV set, I had few options to watch before going to bed each night. This past week I had a chance to see a documentary on an amazing Chinese woman: Evandel Mah was a thirty year old Chinese mother waiting for the birth of her second child. While walking from the grocery store one day, she was bitten by a rabid dog and eventually got GBS, a very rare neurological disease. The disease ultimately killed her un-born baby and left her paralyzed and dependant on a respirator. With her family's life-savings being wiped out, her loving husband brought her back to their small rural town. Without a ventilator for her breathing Evandel's breathing could only be sustained by a family member continually pumping a small airflow-ball twenty-times every minute (1200 times every hour and 28,800 times every day). Without consistently pumping of the manual ball (which pumped air into Evandel's lungs) the loving Chinese wife and mother would surely die. Neighbors, friends and even her four year old son took their shifts continuing pumping the artificial and archaic breathing apparatus. Through the love of her family and amazingly week after week Evandel's body continued to get stronger. Family members soon started experimenting with short periods of time without providing her forced air (forcing her lungs to start to working on their own). Each day Evandel's husband would manipulate her hands and feet to make sure her circulation was not lost. On June 29th, 2004, after nine months of unconditional love and support, Evandel Mah started breathing unsupported and is now in her final stages of complete recovery (all because her husband and family were not prepared to give up on their wife/daughter).

FIVE YEAR ANNIVERSARY

Five years ago I was marching into the opening ceremonies of the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. The second morning of the Olympic Games, Kingston Ontario's Simon Whitfield won Canada's first gold medal of the 21st Century. The next few days became chaotic as reporters, sponsors and media bombarded our Olympic room in the Athlete's Village. Being Whitfield's roommate in Sydney, I was able to observe the madness first hand. I received nearly 20,000 emails over that two week period of time and realized the powerful tool positive people sharing ideas can be. For me and many others we will always remember where we were Sept 17th when Whitfield made that incredible sprint past his German competitor to win Canada's first Olympic Gold of the games.

PB EMAIL OF THE WEEK # 1

Hi Barrie. Your recent newsletter # 257 was incredibly timely. After reading it I felt some of the ‘normal' self doubt disappear since I have made the decision to go back to school and take Massage Therapy - I start tomorrow. Thanks for a reminder that anything is possible. N.B.

PB EMAIL OF THE WEEK # 2

Thank you Barrie for all of the weekly newsletters, # 257 really impacted me. Last Saturday as I sat in church in Wisconsin where I was there to watch the Ironman. A retired priest who now lives close to New Orleans and use to be pastor at the church in Wisconsin. Spoke of the hardship and devastation for the poor in New Orleans. He spoke of the high illiterate rates and poverty. His description brought tears to my eyes. At that moment I knew that I needed to do something that had purpose. Frequently I shy away from the challenge to do something. Your newsletter from last week made me think “why not me” and helped me reconfirm my commitment to do something to help others in need. Myself and others will put on a 5km race here in Milton Ontario in the next several weeks to aid those devastated by Katrina. I hope I can count on you to spread the word once details are developed and if time permits to attend a meeting to help organize the event. Thank-you for the encouragement for helping me make a difference in other people's lives. Keith from The Fitness Technique www.thefitnesstechnique.com Toll Free: 1-888-573-6350

EDITOR'S NOTE: I believe in the concept of giving away energy to get more back. Keith is another example of a person who is giving away his energy to help others benefit. Whether it's working on a Terry Fox run, volunteering at your church, school or soup kitchen. I encourage each of you to find a way to give your energy away to meaningful projects that benefit others in your area.

THE VALUE OF CHOPSTICKS

China and Japan had very few over-weight people (kids or adults). I took some time in both countries to ask key questions to coaches, parents and school instructors. In the end I noticed two or three key things differences about Japan and China when compared to North America. 1. Most people eat with chopsticks. These great culinary tools force people to eat smaller portions more slowly (both elements which have been shown to reduce caloric intake). 2. Many people walk or ride bicycles. Expensive gasoline and car prices make purchasing bicycles more economical. 3. Vegetables and rice are two key staples of most meals (and both are very inexpensive). These low calorie, high water content foods are doubly beneficial to your nutrition. 4. Many people do Tai Chi, Yoga or meditation. None of the strategies listed above are expensive or difficult to implement into North American life if you really want to.

LISA BENTLEY MOTIVATING CANADIANS TO GET FIT

I have met few Canadians who have made a bigger impact on positive living than Ironman Champion Lisa Bentley. The Caledon based endurance triathlete has had to deal with Cystic Fibrosis during her Ironman training career. While it's tough enough to do a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run, Bentley has had to do it while dealing with on-going pulmonary challenges. In her final preparation before the Oct 15th Hawaii Ironman, Lisa was in Toronto this past week launching “FIT FOR LIFE” between Timex and the Bay Department Store. It's ironic that the company who's mantra used to be "Timex takes a licking and keeps on ticking" couldn't have found a more appropriate spokesperson for their launch. Kudos to Lisa and Timex.

COMPARISONS BETWEEN ABRAHAM LINCOLN AND JOHN F. KENNEDY

Abraham Lincoln was elected to Congress in 1846.
John F. Kennedy was elected to Congress in 1946.

Abraham Lincoln was elected President in 1860.
John F. Kennedy was elected President in 1960.

Both were particularly concerned with civil rights.
Both wives lost their children while living in the White House.

Both Presidents were shot on a Friday.
Both Presidents were shot in the head.

Now it gets really weird.

Lincoln's secretary was named Kennedy.
Kennedy's Secretary was named Lincoln.

Both were assassinated by Southerners.
Both were succeeded by Southerners named Johnson.

Andrew Johnson, who succeeded Lincoln, was born in 1808.
Lyndon Johnson, who succeeded Kennedy, was born in 1908.

John Wilkes Booth, who assassinated Lincoln, was born in 1839.
Lee Harvey Oswald, who assassinated Kennedy, was born in 1939.

Both assassins were known by their three names.
Both names are composed of fifteen letters.

Now hang on to your seat.

Lincoln was shot at the theater named 'Ford.'
Kennedy was shot in a car called 'Lincoln' made by 'Ford.'

Lincoln was shot in a theater and his assassin ran and hid in a warehouse.
Kennedy was shot from a warehouse and his assassin ran and hid in a theater.

Booth and Oswald were assassinated before their trials.

And here's the kicker...

A week before Lincoln was shot, he was in Monroe, Maryland
A week before Kennedy was shot, he was with Marilyn Monroe.

JOIN C3 COACHES AND CARON SHEPLEY AT A 2006 IRONMAN RACE

We have secured spots for the June 25th, 2006 Ironman Nice and July 23rd, 2006 Ironman Germany Races. Packages were emailed last week and if you did not get one (and are interested) please email Barrie directly at Barrie@personalbest.ca for more details.

LOOKING FOR A FALL /WINTER SPEAKER OR AWARDS COMMENTATOR

Each year I have a chance to do several dozen conferences, awards suppers and motivational speeches to groups. If your organization is planning a 2005-06 function and are interested in Barrie please contact him directly at barrie@personalbest.ca

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