Blessings All Around Us

Welcome once again to my Blog. I hate saying that is my Blog because I would have no reason to start one if not for all of you. I want to thank you for all of the support and comments that I have received the last few days. I have been overwhelmed with great insight, encouragement, emails, and a few "atta boys" in this the first days of starting this. I'm so happy that I am able share my story and life to help someone, even if its just one, feel just a tad bit better about themselves, their fellow human being, or their life in general. What a great feeling that is. That's what I get out of writing to you. I get a sense of purpose for my life. That extra push to the finish line. Although, as I learned last night, "Once you cross that finish line, your starting a whole new race". Thank you for that Greg S. or should I identify you by your zip code :) I had the great honor to meet new members at the Baltimore chapter of Back On My Feet.

I was absolutely overwhelmed with kindness from such a great group of people from Baltimore!! Thank You for making me feel so welcomed to your city. John took some amazing pictures that you can check out. http://jwaire.zenfolio.com/p434254468/h33a454aa#h309a46a6. I was really on cloud nine riding back to Philly last night. I was also finding myself already missing my new friends. Once I got back to the city and dragged myself through the doors of OBP, still feeling some sadness from my trip, I was pleasantly surprised to see that had mail! I was excited because I have been waiting for my birth certificate from Ohio so that I can officially become a Philadelphian ( I know, I should have done it a long time ago...lol). Turns out it wasn't the birth certificate but something much better. It was a letter from my best friend back in Ohio!!! I have to admit that when I sent him a calendar and a letter, it was the first time writing him in about 3 years. The thing is that I could very easily been where he is. That place would be prison. Divine intervention kept me away that night. Anyway, it made my day complete.

Those are just some of the blessings that are around me. I am fortunate to get to experience that feeling many times throughout the week. Once you have that feeling in your life you will fight to the end to protect it, much like I am. Even in times with the sorrow overwhelms me and I can't fight back the flood gates, there is one constant in my life helps me take one more step into the unknown without fear...YOU! I will close with a quote from my best friend Robert who doesn't know any of you, but can feel the love that you exude from the small bit I shared with him.

"Back On My Feet is not just a slogan, it's the only way to stand tall." - Robert Goddard

Don't forget to sign up early for the second annual 20in24!!! This years race is sure to be a great 24 hours of fun, runs, and friends. I'm looking to do the Platinum race with the first 4 crazies who decide to run 33 miles in one day with me!!!...lol So sign up early and get entry into the races at a discount before Febuary 1st!!

The First Step

"Try to make at least one person happy every day. If you cannot do a kind deed, speak a kind word. If you cannot speak a kind word, think a kind thought. Count up, if you can, the treasure of happiness that you would dispense in a week, in a year, in a lifetime!"
Lawrence G. Lovasik

Welcome Everyone!!! First things first. Let me introduce myself to those that don't know me. I think it is very important for you to know who I am and where I've come from for you to understand what I write. My name is Isaac Lincoln, Sr. I am 36 years old and the father of four wonderful children and one amazing grandson. We will talk about them often. I came from Ohio on January 23, 2008, so I have been here in Philadelphia for one year now. I pretty much was running before I joined Back On My Feet...LOL. I was running away from a failed marriage, drug addiction, and just plain failing at life. I thought that if I moved here things would change for me. I met a woman and had the hopes of being happy, turning my life around, and becoming successful. I was happy for awhile but, I couldn't outrun my addiction. I soon became very depressed. Depressed to the point where I didn't want to live anymore. I was hospitalized twice for serious thoughts of suicide. After the second time in the hospital I finally started seeing a therapist and began taking meds. I really needed that because my girlfriend at the time was fed up with me and I had to go to the shelter. I didn't talk to too many people because I was in a whole new world. It was a very humbling experience. In late August I began these hearing about these crazy people getting up at 6am and running. Well one of the guys that I hung around joined and told me to speak to the team leader. That's when I met Mike S. He told me that there are some really good people running and if I wanted to move my life forward, this could help. Another member also told me some good things about the team ( these guys are persistent...lol). So I signed up. Best decision in my life! Before I could run I had to just come out to the circle to meet the team. So I did. Then I was invited to "buddy day" at the art museum. It must have been fate that I was there because I never win anything, but on this day I won a T-Shirt in the raffle!!! That was September 13th, 2008. I hadn't logged in one mile yet. Didn't know who Anne was and the whole story of how and why Back On My Feet (BOMF) started. I had no idea that I would be talking to you!!! And you listening!!! HEY YOU, WAKE UP!!...LOL This is going to be a great adventure and I look forward to sharing with you and you sharing with me. Until next time...Peace and Love
Isaac