Category Archives: Articles

Small Efforts Global Impact

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VCU Massey Cancer Center

Founded in 1974, VCU Massey Cancer Center is a non-profit organization part of Virginia Commonwealth University, one of the nation’s top research universities, and VCU Medical Center, a leading academic health system ranked Virginia’s top hospital by U.S. News & World Report in 2012.

We are one of only 68 among 1,500 cancer centers in the country, and one of only two in Virginia, designated by the National Cancer Institute. Placing us among the top 4 percent of cancer centers in the country, NCI designation means we are truly leading and shaping America’s fight against cancer. 

Every day, Massey expands its groundbreaking research and leading cancer care to more Virginians through a network of affiliations and partnerships throughout the state, giving Virginians greater access to cutting-edge treatment, clinical trials, genetic counseling and cancer prevention and control research. As one of only two NCI-designated cancer centers in Virginia, Massey is truly Virginia’s leading cancer resource. Just think, right here at Massey, our community has access to:

  • a cancer center that is in the top 4 percent in the country, as designated by the National Cancer Institute.
  • more than 450 clinicians specializing in various forms of cancer detection and treatment.
  • multidisciplinary treatment that ensures each patient has a team of experts providing the best possible care
  • access to more than 150 clinical trials and research studies
  • a nationally-recognized “safety net” hospital that serves the entire community with compassion and expertise, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay.

Approximately, 40,000 people will run the Monument Ave 10K this year… that’s roughly the number of Virginians who will be diagnosed with cancer this year.  Massey Cancer Center treats nearly 14,000 patients from very city and county in Virginia each year REGARDLESS OF THEIR ABILITY TO PAY!

As the official charitable partner of the Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10k for the ninth year, more than 3,000 people will come together to raise more than $500,000 to fuel VCU Massey Cancer Center’s life-saving research in 2014 and beyond. Thirty-one percent of the funding for Massey’s research comes from people like you.  So, whether you donate $10, $100 or $1,000, you play an integral part in ensuring our researchers are pursuing innovative, exciting concepts that could lead to cancer cures.

  • SUPPORT life saving cancer research.
  • HONOR someone you love who has battled cancer.
  • UNITE with the community to put cancer on the run… for good.
So, I ask you to consider making a donation to my fundraising efforts. Just think – if all 40,000 10k participants asked 10 friends for $10, together we could raise $4 million for cancer research right here in Virginia!
 
Your 100% tax deductible gift will make a difference to Massey’s researchers working tirelessly on innovative concepts that could extend the lives of countless cancer patients. To make a donation online, simply visit my fundraising page. Here’s the link: http://support-events.vcu.edu/site/TR/Events/General?px=1053082&pg=personal&fr_id=1200
 
Any amount, great or small, helps in the fight against cancer. Every dollar will have a global impact!  Thank you for your support and I promise to keep you updated on my progress!

#masseychallenge

Man’s Best Friend

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“The faithful dog – why should I strive

 To speak his merits, while they live

In every breast, and man’s best friend

Does often at his heels attend.”

The New-York Literary Journal, Volume 4, 1821

On the day of my puppy dog’s 7th birthday, I am inspired to chat about Man’s Best Friend. The following words come from a summation speech given by an attorney representing a man who was suing for damages after his dog, Old Drum, was shot and killed: “The one absolutely unselfish friend that a man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him and the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous is his dog.” (1870 Warrensburg, Missouri, George Graham Vest).

How many of us can say they have or had a dog who helped them get through some really tough times? I know I can! They know when we are happy. They know when we are sad, sick, angry, and had a tough day. They can sense our emotions and feed off our moods. Dogs have a brand of loyalty that is very unique. Dogs are used in therapeutic situations and to comfort the terminally ill. We hear stories of how families have been saved by their dogs when their homes caught fire. You’ve all heard this one: A family dog gets displaced from his or her family on a vacation and miraculously makes its way all the way back home to his or her family on their own. It’s a connection that amazes all. The connection to their human family through their senses is incredible. Their expressions are mesmerizing at times.

Dogs have incredibly expressive eyes. I often wonder what Maddie is thinking when she looks at me with her big, brown eyes. I often think how great it would be if she could speak English… what great things she would have to say! Recently, Maddie lost two of her best friends. The sadness that her eyes showed was heartbreaking. When she is happy her eyes light up like a Christmas tree. You can see all of her moods and intentions in her eyes. Does she want to play, go to bed, go outside to lounge around, go outside to go potty, snuggle? What kind of mood is she in? Her eyes tell all.

Your dog’s manners are a reflection of you. And your manners may well influence how others see your puppy. I was brought up in a family that insisted on proper manners. This included everything from the dinner table to calling adults Mr. or Mrs. to using Aunt or Uncle when addressing your relatives. Please and thank you were, and still are, a must. We said grace before family dinners. My friends and family can attest that my Maddie has manners. She says her prayers, says grace, yes please, yes ma’am. She does not beg for food at the dinner table. (Yes, I am bragging just a bit about my four legged child!) When I tell her to focus, her eyes are glued on me ready for what I am about to say. I have taught Maddie proper manners as I would my own child. I am someone who loves to have fun with my friends and family. I am a very active outdoors person. Likewise, Maddie is a very playful, fun loving dog. She loves the water (as do I). She loves to run (as do I). She loves fire pit movie night (as do I). She loves children (as do I). Yes, she is a reflection of me and my world.

So, on this day I celebrate the birthday of my puppy dog. I can’t imagine the past seven years without her. Maddie and I have been through so much together, good and bad. She has helped me and I have helped her. Maddie is my absolute best friend! Happy Birthday, Baby Girl!

Dear Younger Me

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Dear Younger Me,

I have some things to say and I’d really appreciate it if you would listen and not act like a know-it-all teenager.

“Tight rolling” your pant legs really was not a good look for you… or anyone else for that matter. You are in for a hell of a ride. Just enjoy it! There will be hard times. Just know you get through it. You also meet some incredible people in the mean time and travel to many countries. Don’t be afraid to be yourself, the right people will love you for being exactly that. In retrospect, you are shockingly rad! Keep on keepin’ on! Stay a child as long as you can. Life is not a race. Make mud pies, it’s fun. Life is a lesson. Seek out your teachers, ask questions, have fun. Keep being awesome. Don’t be embarrassed to do karaoke, you’ll miss out on lots of fun times with friends. Plus, you’re not as bad a singer as you think you are. Well, maybe you are, but who cares. You will have a blast!

Invent the Snuggie. It’s a robe, worn backwards, made out of fleece. It’ll be a hit one day. Surprisingly, you CAN run 26.2 miles. I know, crazy right?! You will throw up in front of the brass faculty during your first, second and third Jury Recitals in college. Make sure you have a trash can next to the music stand! Don’t get talked into a perm in junior high. Bad idea! Don’t eat that burrito! Beer funnels in college will seem like a good idea at the time, but not the next day. The Powerball numbers for 4/12/2013 are 3,4,13,29,38 PB# 21.

Spend as much time as possible with your family, all of them! You will miss them tremendously when they are gone. Invent Facebook. It’s easier to stay in shape than to get back in shape. Put down the chips! Do not, under any circumstance, watch “Marley and Me”. It will break your heart! Buy Apple Inc, at $3.47/share and invest in Google.

When I look back at you, I can sum up your life so far in 5 words: I’m REALLY proud of you. Enjoy it all!

Sincerely,

The Older You

Definitive Moments in Life

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Life is full of moments that define your life and change it forever. What is the most definitive moment in your life?

I posted this comment on Facebook last night. The responses were wonderful. So, I now pose this question to the blogging community. What is that one moment in your life that changed how you view the world, live your life, came up with your personal philosophy, the moment you decided to make healthier choices; maybe it was the moment you found God?

One person asked me, after sharing her moment, what my definitive moment was. My response was when I crossed the finish line last year at the Richmond Marathon running 26.2 miles with only 1 month of training and after going through Chemo treatments. I then realized I could do anything I desire. It is the moment that keeps me going when tough gets tougher.

So what is your definitive moment or your life changing moment? I look forward to your stories.

Cowboy Up

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“In rodeo, to ‘cowboy up’ means to suck it up in times of adversity and carry on when you are injured or down and the prospect of doing whatever you’re about to try is so bleak that the best you can hope for is to live through it.” ~ Tuff Hedeman, World Champion Bull Rider ~

For our Pink Nation Marathon Training Team, our mantra is “All Go, No Quit, Cowboy Up”. We use this phrase when faced with adversity in our lives and when we head out for training runs and races. When one of us has a tough road ahead, team members shout it from the roof tops (well comment on Facebook and other forms of communication, but you get the point). In a way, it is comforting knowing that when you are feeling beat up, there are people out there who know just what to say to make you suck it up and keep pushing ahead. They know what to say that makes you not quit.

Do you have a phrase that keeps you going? What gives you the kick in the butt you sometimes need to “get through it”?

Desire: Give it some thought.

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Desire:a sense of longing for a person or object or hoping for an outcome. The philosopher, Thomas Hobbes maintained that human desire is the fundamental motivation of all human action. How badly you desire something will determine how motivated you are to obtain your goal. So, to me, the question is not only what do you desire, but how badly do you want it?

This time of year, aside from the New Year’s resolution rush, fitness facilities across the country will see an increase in memberships because people desire to be healthier, skinnier or more fit. Bathing suit, boat and beach season is in the near future. For many people this is a reason to start a new work out program. But, the desire to be healthier, skinnier and more fit can not be achieved solely by joining a fitness facility or purchasing the latest home gym/workout craze videos. Nutrition plays an important part in achieving your goals. But, desire (the deep down in your gut kind of desire) is the most important factor. Wanting to be skinnier is one thing, but what is the real reason behind your desire to achieve this goal? Are you unhappy with the way you look and/or feel? Are you tired all of the time? Are you unable to do the things you want because of your current level of health? You need to ask yourself what is the true emotion behind what you desire.

No matter what it is, take some time to examine the real reason behind what you desire in your life: job, love, family, wealth, possessions, health, etc. I believe unless you understand and know what the real motivation is behind your desire, you may never achieve your goal. Yes, there are other factors that you can not control that can affect the outcome. However, if you don’t set yourself on the right path with an understanding of and answer to the age old question of “Why?” you may never be able to achieve what you desire.

When you write your “bucket list” of desires for the upcoming months, I urge you to also examine why they are important and write it down. Then, paint a clear picture of what, why and how. What do you desire, why do you desire it and how will you achieve it? Post your list where you will see it all of the time. I have posted mine on my bathroom mirror with a dry erase marker. I see them every morning and every night. It is a constant reminder of what I desire.

So, what do you desire and why?

Eat the Frog

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Well, it’s Monday morning. Are you happy about it or are you dreading it? I don’t know about you, but I have about 100 things I must accomplish today (a little exaggeration, but it feels like 100). Some of the items I like doing and some I would pay thousands of dollars if I could have someone else do them. So, the question is what order should I do them in?

A couple of things I need to do today I equate to shopping. You see, I absolutely loathe shopping. It is by far my least favorite activity. So, needless to say, there are a items on my to-do list today that I really do not want to do, but must. Time to Eat the Frog!

Yes, I said Eat the Frog. There is an old saying that “If the first thing you do each morning is to eat a live frog, you can go through the day with the satisfaction of knowing that that experience is probably the worst thing that is going to happen to you all day long!” Your “FROG” is the one you are most likely to procrastinate on if you don’t do something about it now! It is also the one task that can have the greatest positive impact on your life and results at the moment. What do you do if you have two frogs or more to “eat”? Eat the ugliest one first, of course! In other words, start with the biggest, hardest, most important tasks first. Once you get these tasks out of the way, your day will become immediately easier.

Here is an excerpt from Bryan Tracy’s book, “Eat That Frog” to help you get started.

“1) Set the table (p7-12)

RULE 1 — Think on paper!
Step 1 =Decide exactly what you want
RULE 2 — One of the very worst uses of time is to do something very well that need not be done at all!
Step 2 = Write it down!
Step 3 =Set a deadline on your goal
Step 4 =Make a list of everything that you can think of that you are going to have to do to achieve your goal
Step 5 = Organize the list into a plan
Step 6 = Take action on your plan immediately!
Step 7 =Resolve to do something every single day that moves you toward your major goal
Clear written goals have a wonderful effect on your thinking. They can motivate you and galvanize you into action. They can stimulate your creativity and release your energy. They can help you overcome procrastination as much as any other factor. Think about your goals and review them daily. Every morning when you begin, take action on the most important task you can accomplish to achieve your most important goal at the moment.

Once you start moving, keep moving! Don’t stop. This decision, this discipline alone, can make you one of the most productive and successful people of your generation!”

I encourage you to pick up a copy of this book. It will guide you to becoming more efficient and learn to stop procrastinating so you can become more productive and reach high levels of performance.

EAT THE FROG!

Jennifer Mott

Big Hairy Audacious Goal (BHAG)

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imagesCAUWY9S5 “A true BHAG is clear and compelling, serves as unifying focal point of effort, and acts as a clear catalyst for team spirit. It has a clear finish line, so the organization can know when it has achieved the goal; people like to shoot for finish lines.”

—Collins and Porras, Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies

A BHAG is a strategic business statement which is created to focus an organization on a single medium-long term organization-wide goal. However, it has the ability to spark thoughts on setting goals in our personal lives as well.

This past weekend I ran the Monument Ave. 10K in Richmond, VA with 3 very good friends and 39,000 other friends. Participants ranged from never completing a race to those who have not run a race in years to those who participate in several races a year from 5K’s to marathons (26.2 miles). No matter which group people fell into, they all had one major thing in common. Everyone set a Big Hairy Audacious Goal (although for some it was more audacious than others). We had a clear finish line. For me, this was the 1st of 4 goals I have set for this year in terms of races. My BHAGs for this year are as follows:
April 13th – Monument Ave. 10K (6 miles) in Richmond, VA

May 19th – Marine Corp Historic Half Marathon (13.1 miles) in Fredericksburg, VA

Sept. 22nd – Adirondack Distance Festival Marathon (26.2 miles) in Schroon Lake, NY

Nov. 16th – Anthem Richmond Marathon (26.2 miles) in Richmond, VA

In the week leading up to the 10k I had an injury that could have kept me from reaching the first of my four goals. I had a muscle tear in the back of my left hip which caused a tremendous amount of pain in my back, hip and into the outside side and front of my left leg. Utilizing acupuncture, my TENS machine, good old fashioned ice, rest, and anti-inflammatory medication, I was able to run the 10K on Saturday. One thing I kept thinking about all week was if I missed this race, I would not have a chance to hit my 4-race Big Hairy Audacious Goal for the the year. So I did everything I could to make sure I was healthy enough to run the race and not do more harm. My friends and I saw the finish line and we proudly crossed it.

So to you I ask, what is your Big Hairy Audacious Goal? Have you set one for the year yet? What about the next few months or just this month or this week? Take the time and set some S.M.A.R.T. goals (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-targeted). Do you strive to be better, stronger, faster, healthier, etc.?

Today I challenge you to set some goals. Make sure they are measurable and you have a clear finish line. Mark it on the calendar and circle it with bright, vivid colors. Set your plan of attack and go after it.

What is your Big Hairy Audacious Goal?

Jennifer Mott

The 5th and final question.

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Today we have the final question in. Thank you all for your comments and following my blog. I hope you return often. If you have suggestions for my blog, please pass them along. So, let’s review the first four questions.

  1. If you could make a 30 second speech to the entire world, what would you say?
  2. If you were at heaven’s gates, and God asked you, “Why should I let you in?”, what would you say?
  3. If your life was a novel, what genre would it fit into, what would be the title and how would your story end?
  4. What small thing could you do to make someone’s day better?

Here is our final question.

5. What is the most important thing to teach a child?

Thank you again for visiting my blog. Come back again… and again… and again…

Jennifer Mott

Question #4 (of 5) for you. You could brighten someone’s day.

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Thank you once again for your awesome comments and for sharing my posts on your social media sites. Today we have the 4th question in our series. Let’s review the first three questions.

  1. If you could make a 30 second speech to the entire world, what would you say?
  2. If you were at heaven’s gates, and God asked you, “Why should I let you in?”, what would you say?
  3. If your life was a novel, what genre would it fit into, what would be the title and how would your story end?

Another great series of comments on yesterday’s question. I encourage more comments on the previous questions, as well. Today’s question is simple. After giving it some thought and sharing your ideas, I urge you to act on it.

4. What small thing could you do to make someone’s day better?

Let’s make someone’s day better!

Jennifer Mott