Dear PB Readers,

One of the things I love about our weekly newsletter is the amazing feedback - stories and ideas that come from the readers. Last week I wrote about how the visit I had with, former National Team Athlete, Sean Marlowe was used as my own personal inspiration after seeing the young 21 year old in a wheel chair fighting back from serious brain injury. I am including two of the most thought provoking emails in this week's newsletter. The first email came from Canadian Hall of Fame Swimmer Vicki Keith. While Vicki is most famous for swimming non-stop across many of the world's largest lakes, her biggest source of pride is the work she does every day with physically disabled Canadians. Variety Village in Toronto has benefited in countless ways from Vicki's generosity of time and spirit. Her email to me said the following:

Hi Barrie, I read your article about Sean Marlowe with great interest. As a coach of athletes with physical disabilities I see everyday how their situation can inspire others to new heights. At able-bodied swim meets, people cheer for the people they know. Teams cheer for their own, parents cheer for their children and their friend's children. When I attend a swim meet with my team , which includes children with physical disabilities, that atmosphere changes. Often you hear the regular cheers as the gun goes off, and the athletes leap from their blocks into the water. The roar continues until the race appears to be over, and then silence as the audience slowly realizes that there is still someone swimming. Their attention then focuses on the challenge that continues in the pool - team lines disappear as the young people begin to cheer on the child who is still swimming. Parents in the stands change their focus and also begin to cheer. The roar as the swimmer reaches the final 5 meters of the race often out does the initial cheer of the race winner.

You are so right in your perception that we have to focus on our strengths and appreciate all that we have. I would however like to point out, that we should never place our perceived limitations on other people. I have a young athlete who was born at under a pound. (You could have held her in the palm of your hand). She spent the first 7 months of her life in the hospital, was not able to eat solid food until she was 2 years old. She was told she would never walk. Eva joined the swim team as a non-swimmer, learned how to swim and now competes. Last June, at her school's track day, Eva was asked what she wanted to participate in. She chose the 1500m run. She started running with her classmates when the gun went off, but was lapped before she managed to complete the first 1/2 lap. She kept on running (remember, she was told by the doctors that she would never walk). The other children began to tire, slow down, walk, and some dropped out. Eva kept on running. 20 minutes and 7 seconds after the starters pistol went off, Eva finished 4th in the whole school - everyone else had given up. Eva's goal now is to compete in swimming at the 2008 Paralympics Games. I have no doubt that she will accomplish her goal.

We need to learn from athletes like Eva and Sean, but we need to be careful to never place our perceived limitations on them. Eva will accomplish her goals, and without knowing Sean, but knowing the heart he must have (both because of his accomplishments as an athlete, and the heart it is taking to come back from his injury), I am sure that if he chooses, he will compete again. I know from our past conversations that you are aware of the amazing accomplishments athletes are achieving in Paralympics sports, but it is sometimes hard to see beyond the wheelchair, and remember all that can be achieved. There are no limitations in life. I know this because I see the impossible accomplished everyday on my swim team. Best wishes to Sean. Vicki Keith.

Wow! Words of wisdom from one of Canada's true sporting heroes. I would like to welcome our many new readers to our 225th consecutive PB newsletter. Our numbers have grown every single week since Sept 2000 and I am amazed by the kind words and emails that we receive each week. Our goal is to be just one piece of your positive living tool kit. We all have weeks where we are tired, want to quit, and believe that the world doesn't care whether we are successful or not. Our goal each week is to be a reminder of what is possible. Vicki Keith certainly is a great reminder of that. Please make contributions as well as sign up your family - friends and co-workers at barrie@personalbest.ca. Keep checking out our website at www.personalbest.ca. Have a great week.

JAN 31st PB HIGHLIGHTS

* CHINESE PROVERB ON LIFE
* GEORGE DICKSON'S SEVEN SECRETS TO ACHIEVING YOUR 2005 HEALTH GOALS
* PB EMAIL OF THE WEEK
* DEFINING TIME
* MOTIVATIONAL WORDS FROM A PREVIOUS COMA VICTIM
* DON'T MISS THE FEB 4TH AQUAFINA TALK WITH LEITH DRURY
* PERSONAL BEST OPPORTUNITIES

CHINESE PROVERB ON LIVING LIFE

"To know the road ahead, ask those coming back!"

SEVEN SECRETS TO HELP YOU STAY FOCUSED ON YOUR 2005 HEALTH PLANS

As January turns to February our best laid plans for lifestyle improvement in the New Year start to fade from the top of our priority list. Here are seven secrets we've used with some of our Personal Best clients to keep them motivated when the going gets tough. You might be able to use some to these to re-energize your own wellness plans if you are feeling a slump coming on over the winter.

1. The bait and switch. I learned about this technique back in my university marketing courses. The idea is to advertise one thing to get people in the door, and then once you've got them sell them something else. If you're not feeling up to you or your coach's planned exercise session, give yourself permission to cut it short or switch it up. Go to the gym with the intention of doing something that day, no matter how short. Many times once you get there you'll change the "mini-workout" back to a full workout or add a second or third set once you are there.

2. Blackmail. We've all got at least one unflattering photo of ourselves. Instead of tossing it in the trash, keep it handy - like in your wallet or purse. When you feel the urge to skip a workout, or eat something really fattening, take out the photo and snap yourself back to reality!

3. Try a change of scenery. If you know what you're in for, it may be hard to get moving, so spice it up a little. Drive to a park or a new location or different neighborhood. Start from there and start exercising, the change of scenery may just be the pick-up you needed.

4. Experiment with something new. If your workout routine is the same day after day it will definitely lose its luster. It may be time to try that kickboxing or a yoga class, snow shoeing or going for a swim…you get the idea.

5. Join a group. Many clubs and residential areas have exercise specific groups like walking, running, hiking or cycling clubs where people meet to offer support and a fun workout. Find your local C3 group if you are interested in endurance multi-sports. If you know you are prone to skipping workouts, committing to a group may be just what you need to stick with it. www.c3online.ca

6. Refocus. Instead of looking at exercise as something that you "have to do", be creative and combine it with something you "want to do". On nice days, take advantage of the outdoors. Make the most out of a beautiful day by taking a brisk walk along a forest trail and use the time to think about how great it feels to be healthy and alive!

7. Reward Yourself. It works. If you're really having a tough time, dangle a reward in front of yourself but keep your exercise goals in mind. Try a massage or new workout gear rather than an ice cream cone. Whatever it takes to get moving- sometimes we must resort to desperate measures.

George Dickson is a senior partner in Personal Best and has sat on most of Canada's most prestigious boards related to fitness and exercise. George can be reached at hescanada@cogeco.ca

PB EMAIL OF THE WEEK

Hi Barrie...I just wanted to thank you for speaking to the students at Georgetown High School last week. Their swim coach asked me if I knew Olympians who could come give a talk to his high school swim team. I thought first of you. Not because of where you've been but because of how well you can motivate a person or group of people. Mark and his team were thrilled with your very motivational presentation. You have personally made me look forward to training and even...swimming again. I was literally at the point where I thought a life as a couch potato was in the cards. Now I look forward to your group workouts. The fact that you deal with the elite and are able to motivate the novice is something I admire about you and the philosophy of your coaches. To me having a coach recognize my effort (regardless of whether I ever win again) is more important then all of the medals I previously have won. Thanks for all you continue to do. A.N.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This email is very similar to the young swimmer that Vicki Keith talked about. We can't control the genetic talents we were born with, but we can control the efforts and dedication we put into our daily lives. I appreciate talent - but I admire effort! Emails like this one are the reasons coaches continue to coach.

SEAN MARLOWE LETTER # 2

Barrie a friend of mine e-mailed me your newsletter that talks about the story of Sean, a promising athlete who suffered a brain injury. I, as well, am a brain injury survivor from an assault, in all places Victoria BC, in November of 1996. After awakening from a fifteen day coma, I was in essence a new-born, having to relearn everything from walking to writing to laughing and crying. During my time of rehabilitation I was enamored with what the health care professionals did. From this I was motivated to go back to school with the goal of rehabilitating others inflicted by this debilitating injury.

I succeeded, albeit a long journey. God blessed me with a spontaneous recovery, considering a brain injury is severe after 6 hours of unconsciousness and I was unconscious for 360 hours. I have now been working with survivors for close to fours years, here at Toronto Rehabilitation Institute(TRI) and previously, the Hamilton Health Sciences.

The reason I have contacted you and told you a brief account of my story, is the poignant message in your newsletter of being grateful for what we have. Just me being able to send you this e-mail I realize how blessed I am, especially from my plight with brain injury. From this perspective I have ran a marathon and written a book, for the simple reason that I can. Thank you for taking the time to read this. I hope we can meet and I can share it with you, God bless, Greg Noack

FREE WORLD CLASS SPEAKER THIS WEEK

Don't miss this Friday evening's Aquafina Speaker Fri., Feb 4th @ 7pm at Robert F. Hall High School. Last year's most popular speaker Leith Drury (PhD candidate) will share her research in EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE (an Essential Asset for High Performance). More details and directions at the C3 website at www.c3online.ca

PB OPPORTUNITIES

• If you are looking for a keynote speaker for your company or awards celebration consider hiring Barrie for your special event. From 30 minutes to a full day presentation, Barrie's thousands of pictures and stories are guaranteed to entertain and motivate. If you are interested email barrie@personalbest.ca

• Florida Warm Weather Camps. One week: March 12-19th, and two weeks: April 16-23rd and 23rd-30th. Join Barrie and international coaches for a week of instruction and motivation in Clermont Florida. Details at www.personalbest.ca

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