Mark McIntosh's Blog, page 41

This week's Pep Talk: "Progress from Pain"

I would suspect most have heard the old adage "adversity doesn't build character, it reveals it." It's easy to say, easy to affirm, but let's be honest, much more difficult – when the storms of life come along – to live it, right? But people do it. Somehow, someway they find the guts to, as I like to say whenever giving a Pep Talk: "Refuse to become a victim of circumstance, instead choose to become a student of experience."

That is certainly Thelissa Zollinger's story. Gary, her darling and d...

This week's Pep Talk: "Keep Spirit Alive"

In cities across America in late February, thousands decided to spend their Sunday morning a little differently. Instead of lying in bed reading the newspaper or watching the morning talk shows, these hardy souls decided to set fire to their lungs and legs. But local fire departments did nothing to douse the infernos since the fires were fueling the American Lung Association's great work in fighting lung-related illnesses in our country.

In Denver, the gluttons for punishment walked, ran and s...

This week's Pep Talk: "Absence or Prevalence"

The heated debate about reforming our nation's health care system seems to have at least one thing we all agree upon: The United States of America must find a way to control the ever-increasing costs of the system.

There are, obviously from the quibbles in Congress, differing opinions about many things - public option, tort reform, purchase across state lines - but it's easier to find a needle in a haystack than someone proclaiming, "health care is too cheap."

So I think we could get an "amen" ...

This week's Pep Talk: "Soul of Solutions"

It's impossible to avoid the constant chatter about the battered state of the nation's economy. There are still far too many Americans unemployed, underemployed and scrambling to make ends meet.

The same is true for our local and state governments. There is much angst over the need to cut budgets. Our nation, collectively, is on a financial diet and the pains are gut wrenching.

Whenever I have the pleasure of presenting a Pep Talk to a group, we always discuss the importance of being limited on...

This week's Pep Talk: "Spare the Heartache"

One of the more popular questions these days is, "Can Tiger do it?" Can the once honored, now humiliated, golfing megastar truly - his words - "begin to live a life of integrity." Of course he can.

It's easy for me to say that, but it's going to be far more difficult for Woods' to execute. His amazing ability to recover from deep fairway rough or cavernous greenside bunkers pales in comparison to the fortitude, moral strength and discipline one of the world's most recognized, and tempted, huma...

This week's Pep Talk: "More Kindness"

I talk a lot about being joyful for the blessings of our lives. Most of us have them, in some way, shape, form or another. But let's be honest, we often think more about our challenges in life than our blessings, right?

Well, one of my great blessings is the neighborhood where I dwell. Nestled on Denver's near east side, close to the city's beautiful botanic gardens, it's like a little village with a wonderful retail area just a three-block walk from my front door. The area has small-business ...

This week's Pep Talk: "Tone at the Top"

Whenever giving a Pep Talk, the subject of being joyful for the blessings of life always is discussed. The stories, depending upon audience, may be different but each encourages others to be joyful for blessings: health, employment, relationships, children or friends – whatever. Most of us have something to be joyful about, right?

Each week I get to encourage you, and others, to effectively deal with change, challenge and adversity in ways inspiring you – and me - to play like a champion in th...

This week's Pep Talk Blog: "Take Time to Dine"

It was late afternoon of Christmas Eve 2009, gifts were wrapped, kids were shopping, the house was quiet and I had time to read the newspaper. There were many stories about the Senate's efforts to pass its version of a national health care reform bill.

One story was an analysis of how polarizing the American political process has become. Many senators expressed dismay bitter and partisan politics have replaced civil and common sense lawmaking within the hallowed halls of our democracy.

Whenever...

This week's Pep Talk Blog: "Show vs. Tell"

It was just minutes before a talented crew was expected at the door to begin the process of cleaning the house. I remembered to check my teenage daughter's room. Her version of "things off the floor" and my interpretation of that ground rule, are sometimes not in the same universe. So, I'm throwing all her junk, that's on the floor, on her bed so the Healthy Clean team can vacuum away.

As I'm tossing clothes, books and papers onto her bed, a drawing about her club volleyball team, catches me e...

This week's Pep Talk Blog: "Same for You"

First, I just want to say thanks to each of you. Your constant encouragement – give hope and confidence to – inspires me, usually on Saturday afternoons, to express some thoughts about the wonderment we call life. They end up becoming Pep Talks.

Many topics to cover but one, in particular, deserves continued publicity. It's the absolutely incredible 3,000-mile journey across America with my kids. This is the third straight weekly Pep Talk from the trip. We enjoyed many great stops along the wa...