Skip to main content

What Did You Say?

Finishing Strong
“Tomorrow my plan is to bike ride at least 60 miles, we’ll see how it goes.”

“What did you say?” asked Lori. “I thought we were riding 58 miles?”

Since my 50th birthday my self-proclaimed yearly goal is to complete a bicycle ride, in one day, at least my age, on or near my birthday. On August 17, 2014 Lori and I completed this years ride; a total of 63.5 miles in 5 hours and 17 minutes. A metric century!

With the advent of Facebook, Twitter, and other social media outlets I’ve been able to shout from the mountaintop my proposed goal to all who will listen. Even to those who could care less. This serves two purposes, to sustain a foundational fitness level as I get older. Cycling provides a exercise regiment and long-range goals to keep me motivated. Two, it challenges me to live up to my time commitments in daily activities and relationships. Yes, I truly love cycling. I’ve been a devoted bicyclist since about 15 years old.

The fact is, it’s not the ride that’s difficult. The challenge is - to do what you say you will do.

It’s a disarming thought, always do what you say you’ll do—simple but not painless. Show the world your commitment to integrity. More importantly, it is how you demonstrate dedication to yourself, your family, friends, and your community.

Believe me, after a full round of golf on Saturday, I struggled just to get out of bed that next day. Sore shoulders, stiff neck, stiff back, and I’m certain I could have fabricated a host of other excuses. 

As Socrates said, “Know thyself.”

Well, my legs felt fine. Those other aches and pains, nothing a couple of Advil can’t handle.

Surprisingly, I began to realize just how much everyone listened to my birthday proclamation. Friends and family began sending me messages on Facebook, texts, and phone calls.

“Happy Birthday Patrick! Are you going to ride your age???” from a fellow rider and close friend.

Saturday, 2:26 p.m. a text from my mother-in-law, “Are you through with your bike ride?”

From my brother, “Happy birthday Pat, big 60 gonna be a long ride.”

And a phone call from my mother, “Aren't you tired? You'll cycle your legs off."

“Mom, the ride is tomorrow. There’s a lot less traffic on Sunday’s.”

So, the next morning I’m up at 5:00 a.m. preparing for our ride; checked the air in the tires, clean the chain, and inspect the gears. Now, what most people don’t realize is my best friend and wife, Lori, is right beside me.

With enthusiasm, she is up by six, has her coffee, prepares breakfast, and is ready to hit the road by 7:30 a.m.

As we roll away from the house she says, “I must be a crazy wife to participate in a stunt like this.”

“What do you mean?” I said, we play golf and do all the training rides together.”

Of course, she insists on taking photos and posting our progress on Facebook throughout the entire ride. Start time, rest breaks, food stops, and finishing times. 
Stretching

At our last rest stop, the 55 mile mark, her comment to me was, “I get to stop now - right? You ride home, get the truck, and come pick me up.” 

“What did you say?”

“Just kidding, I just need to stretch my back then I’ll be ready to go.” said Lori.

With the commitment of a trooper she rode ahead to take the attached photo titled, Finishing Strong. If you look carefully you will see our lunch attached to my handlebars.

Well, the next few days we will both take some well deserved time-off. Next weekend we will start preparing for next year’s ride.

“What did you say?”

The lesson learned is to always do what you say. No matter how silly and insignificant what you declare may come across at the time, people do remember.

“I call it selective absorption.”

Comments

Most Popular of All Time

Finding Our Place

In this episode,  Finding Our Place: Hope and Humanity in the Age of AI . . . Yesterday, I overheard a conversation that echoed a question many of us are quietly asking: In a world increasingly shaped by algorithms, where do we , as humans, truly fit in? My younger colleagues, sharp and driven, were "joking" about AI taking their jobs. Their concerns felt valid, prompting me to reflect. Will machines really replace us? My answer, unequivocally, is No . And here’s why. What makes us uniquely human isn't merely our ability to perform tasks. It's our innate capacity for creativity and our deep-seated need to serve others. These aren't just abstract ideas; they are the very essence of what gives meaning to our lives and work. While AI excels at processing data and automating tasks with incredible speed, it cannot replicate the spark of human ingenuity. It lacks the empathy to truly understand unspoken needs or the intuitive synergy that fosters breakthrough solutio...

Chasing the Magic

In this episode, Chasing the Magic: How the Summer of ’98 Inspired the 'Ball Boys' . . .  Do you remember that feeling? The late-summer air was thick with humidity, radios crackling on porches, the smell of fresh-cut grass and barbecue smoke in the backyard. Every evening carried a new kind of suspense—the country holding its collective breath after every pitch. “Did he hit one today?” became more than a question; it sparked a nationwide conversation.   For me, and millions of others, the summer of 1998 wasn’t just another baseball season. It was theater, a movement, a time when the game recaptured something sacred. As sportswriter Mike Lupica said so perfectly,   “No matter how old you are or how much you’ve seen, sports is still about memory and imagination. Never more than during the summer of ’98, when baseball made everyone feel like a kid again, when it felt important again.”    Just four years earlier, the 1994 players’ strike had left the sport bruised...

The Curious Crew

In today's special episode, The Curious Crew . . .  Oh, our young folks are ready, with AI so grand, A new era of wonders across every land! With curious minds, vast as Space, full of creative delight, And a zest for exploring, with all of their light! They welcome new tools, with a gleam in their eye, To learn and to grow, way up to the sky! Our thinking's a marvel, a clever design, We make new plans, so fantastically fine! With problem-space maps and memories, too, We build new ideas, quite fresh and quite new! With smiling faces, showing gratitude's grace, We find our own wonderful, human-filled place! Sharing a meal with generosity and love, A warm human spirit, a gift from above! We stand tall together, collaborate, and help with a grin, For with Agentic AI, together we win! Not machines all alone, but with us by their side, We'll create and serve, with nothing to hide! I'm Patrick Ball. Stay curious and ask questions. See you next time.

Beyond June Gloom

Beyond June Gloom: The Milky Way Awaits! ✨🌌 Has the seemingly endless marine layer got your telescope feeling neglected? For us sky-watchers on the beautiful California coast, May Gray and June Gloom have played a persistent game of hide-and-seek with our celestial views. But there's good news tonight: as summer officially arrives, a stunning cosmic spectacle is about to reveal itself, and you absolutely won't want to miss it! We know the drill: that persistent marine layer turning our sunny days into cool, misty ones. It's a hallmark of our coastal climate, and while it's kept our telescopes under wraps, consider it nature’s way of building epic anticipation for the celestial show that’s about to unfold The Return of the Galactic Core! (Photo courtesy of Gemini) As the days grow longer and the summer air warms, those stubborn clouds will begin to dissipate, revealing a breathtaking sight: the core of our very own Milky Way galaxy! That's right, the vibrant heart...