One of the things I love about a free society like ours is that we have the ability to share our opinions and converse with one another in an open forum such as Facebook and this blog. Often, better ideas and plans are created when people ask and take the time to answer a few really simple questions:

1. Why do some guys ride their bikes with their helmets strapped to their handlebars and not their heads?
2. If the US provides health care to everyone, should everyone be required to quit smoking and take better care of him or herself?
3. Why did Merck pay over two billion dollars in fines for the Vioxx debacle but not a single person was indicted?
4. Why do some people still not use cordless headsets while driving?
5. Would anyone use AT&T wireless if AT&T didn’t have an exclusive arrangement with Apple for the iPhone?
6. Do you really believe chocolate-coated nutrition bar are nutritious?
7. Is Starbucks partially to blame for the growing obesity problem in the US?
8. Why don’t more people stop and help a stray dog or cat? (Just yesterday I returned a beautiful German Shepherd to his home when many people saw him before I did.)
9. Why do people show up to run a marathon without a nutritional plan?
10. Sport Jelly Beans? Seriously?

Help me out here. You don’t have to answer each of these questions but surely, like me, you have an opinion or two that’s worth sharing. Click on the “Comments” link below to get started (and for those of you who are shy or do not want to use your real name, feel free to make one up… the point here is to simply get people talking about some important issues).

Enjoy!

You don’t have to look very far these days to find inspiration. In fact, you’ve never had to. Everyday, just by observing what’s going on around you, you witness ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Whether it’s climbing tall mountains, finishing a triathlon, or hiking the Appalachian Trail, or beating the odds associated with breast cancer, adjusting and living an fulfilling life after being diagnosed with Celiac Disease, or managing a family while a spouse is serving your country overseas, inspiration can be found most anywhere you choose to look.

All of us face challenges. Some challenges, like athletic competitions, are self-imposed. Others, like overcoming illness or living with disease, are not. For D.J Gregory — who was born 30 years ago with cerebral palsy, underdeveloped lungs, entangled legs, and told by doctors he’d never walk — facing down challenges and overcoming obstacles takes on an entire different meaning.

As you saw from the above ESPN video, D.J Gregory challenged himself to something most of us couldn’t fathom attempting… walking every hole of every round of every event on the 2008 Professional Golf Association (PGA) tour — which turned out to be a trek of 1,000 miles.

Anytime I feel overwhelmed or like giving up, all I have to do is consider how hard D.J Gregory has to work just to make his way across a room (let alone the 1,000 mile journey he successfully completed in 2008).