Spirit Magazine - January 2014 - (Page 20)

From the Editor Dear Reader, Boy, are you lucky. You get to read a story, starting on page 72, that contains some profound wisdom if you read it right. The story has to do with a man who, for years, has been a member of the United States Running Streak Association, an organization that is not about dashing around naked but running at least a mile every single day. Words like "obsessive" and "guaranteed injury" come to mind. But the moral of the story, it seems to me, can inspire us to accomplish amazing feats. For instance, a person who writes just 300 words-more or less the length of this note-every day could complete 50 novels over the course of a career. (They might all be unreadable, but your bookshelf would inspire awe.) While obsessive-compulsive disorder is a real and sometimes debilitating disease, a single-minded daily pursuit can make for the healthiest kind of obsession. My son, George, is the obsessive type. When he was 8 years old, I reported a story about a crazy bunch of people called "peak baggers" who try to climb the 48 highest mountains in our home state of New Hampshire. I thought these people were funny; George thought it was the coolest thing ever, and he talked the rest of us into becoming peak baggers. I spent more than half my time traveling back then, but I came home over the weekends to hike with my family. George achieved "Forty-eighter" status when he was still 10, climbing Owl's Head in a snowstorm. He and his sister, Dorothy Jr., grew up to become avid outdoorspeople. My wife, Dorothy Sr., continued the obsession by climbing a nearby mountain more than 100 times a year, two years in a row. Obsessive? To her it was a healthy habit and a continuing joy. What's your daily obsession, and where do you hope it leads? Write in to let me know at letters@spiritmag.com. -Jay Heinrichs Editorial Director STEP BY STEP PHOTOGRAPHY BY TEGAN OWENS Making daily strides helps you go the distance. 20 SPIRIT JANUARY 2014

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Spirit Magazine - January 2014

Spirit Magazine - January 2014
Contents
Gary’s Greeting
Gary’s Greeting en Español
Star of the Month
Freedom Story
From the Editor
Your Words
Your Pictures
Do Detective Work
Media Center
Eat Drink Sleep
Blend Bourbon and Bitters
Munch on Mozzarella
Rendezvous in Rosemary Beach
Wise Guide
Communicate With Confidence
Put a Stop to Stalling
The Numbers
Make or Break a Beauty Habit
Keep a Secret
Business
Plan a Day in Providence
Secure a Career Coach
Get in the Games
The Long Run
Your Adventure in Wichita
Promotional Series: New Year, New You
Calendar
Fun!
Spotlight
Community Outreach
Products & Services
Flight Service
Terminal Maps
Information
Rapid Rewards and A+ Rewards Partners
Route Map
The “If” List

Spirit Magazine - January 2014