Get inspired

Fall is typically a season of revival. I like to take a deep breath and a time-out during the Labor Day Holiday that is past, to reflect back on the incredibly challenging year of 2020 and plan forward for a return to normalcy, whatever modified times will be like after the Coronavirus pandemic plays out and the Presidential Election is finalized, hopefully quickly.

Fall is also a great time to be inspired, and an opportunity to inspire others. Passing on what you know or what you’ve recently discovered. To adapt personal strength from one’s accomplishments of 2020 and give that energy on to others.

During our annual trip for the races at Iowa Speedway; and this year it was only one weekend of events, an ARCA (NASCAR) 150 mile race, with two Indy Car 250-milers, as the whole 2020 track schedule was canceled, other than this weekend of July 17th and 18th. Just a restricted limited number of 5,000 tickets were sold. Due to the Coronavirus threat. My wife Jeanine and I had the best seats in the place, front row Club starting line, we don’t mind the central Iowa heat that time of the year, upper 90’s, just drink a lot of water and other hydrating liquid we had at the track’s “Newton Club Seat’s Bar!” The weather was great, with lots of sun in the afternoon and clear sky for the Indy Car night races. The most interesting fan focus for us was Ty Gibbs a 17-year-old racer winning the ARCA 150. This was inspiration on steroids. Ty is a high-school junior in age group, driving NASCAR sanctioned races part-time. That he is using highly developed skills of depth perception, physical strength, time to distance reactions and strategic thought, on a fast sharp banked mile track, wrestling a 700-hp 396-cu.in., Ilmor engined stock car beast. And; this young guy has been doing this since age 14 starting with NASCAR modified racers, for anybody this age it’s nothing short of incredible! What is emerging here with Ty Gibbs is the beginning of a career in professional athletics with racing cars, developing specific and rare skill sets, to open a life of professional goals and achievements.

For 17 year old’s in Newton, take the challenge like Ty Gibbs has, use him as an example, follow his race track exploits and learn everything about his life and goals. Get interested in a specific academic or athletic pursuit, study, learn and practice something you can be individually superb with. Something you can be better with than any other 17-year-old out there. Then put your expertise to work ... most likely start with “STEM” (science, technology, engineering and math), that’s where the future lies in agriculture, industry, computer science, artificial intelligence and even electronic art and music. Design a human-piloted craft to explore the solar system, and more. Like the original NIKE corporate slogan, “Just Do It”. Energy, commitment and challenge yourself. Just like Ty Gibbs has done at age 17.