Whatever you face today, stop telling yourself it’s hard work. Change your mindset to “hard play.” Words matter.
In 189 days a few friends and I will play in the French Alps for eight days of cycling the hardest, steepest, and longest climbs the Tour de France has to offer. It will not be a race. There will be no spectators. We will not be paid but the rewards will be priceless. We will mostly ride alone but will never feel lonely. When the mind begins to go dark as muscles, lungs, and heart begin screaming for it to stop, there will be no relief offered. Each of us will choose to respond to our governor (mind) and either quit or keep pedaling. Nobody will much care what is decided. I will. You see, since turning 50 I decided to lead a group of dudes who wanted a hard playground. My only message to myself was to never stop until each summit. So far so good..
This will be France IV. I’ll be 65, Littlest 67, Downer 62, Peej 47, and our newbie Jon (age unknown but around Peej’s), will have a great time overcoming obstacles (mountains) in our way. Nobody will force us to keep playing. Nobody will stop us from playing longer. The French Alps will be our playground. The beauty will pull us upward. The camaraderie of suffering will carry us. Our minds, however, will matter most. Remember this, friend.
Hard labor you disdain as you tire. Hard opus you sustain as you perspire. What are you telling yourself about your “play” today? Is the O to your OPUS big enough? Slow down. Reflect. Write. Play.
Live hard. Love harder…
BUILT TO LEAD 
Awesome Chet. Looking forward to it! 47 is my current age for future reference 😊