Letter from the Editor

Life and Times of JWN

Good Friends This weekend was homecoming at SUNY Geneseo. You may be wondering, "What does that mean Joseph?" Well, the school's publications might mention sporting events, special programs for family and students, and other festivities, but in my book, it means reunion time. For us at the cross country and track house at 69 Second Street, we always put up at least five alumni on our incredible couches and random guest mattress during this weekend. A unique new energy is always brought into the house. Travelers start trickling in on Thursday evening and their stay usually lasts until late Sunday. The featured event of the weekend for us runners is the Geneseo Invitiational at Letchworth State Park in Mount Morris. Celebrity guest all stars from all over make their appearance to see their alma mater team, the Geneseo Blue Knights, compete against a highly touted field of athletes. (Click here for this year's results). Although the race is the featured event, it is just one small part of a great weekend of story telling and catching up with old friends. Good food, good times, and great company are inevitable during these reunion weekends. There is something about this camaraderie that gets me going because it creates an incredible feeling of comfort, positive energy, and belonging. I love that feeling. I am fortunate enough to be able to say I live with seven good friends and have many more who live throughout the country that are always there for me. It is wonderful when many of us get together to enjoy each other's company. "So what are you getting at Joe?" The experience of this weekend reminded me of a few key concepts of life that I have thought quite a bit about, the significance of good friends and taking "vacation." In respect to the friendships, I surround myself with the most positive, witty, and hilarious people I know. When we get together you can imagine the result. Laughter. Quite simply we laugh all the time. It is so important to have people you can laugh with because that is truly what life is all about, having fun. The next concept is my version of taking "vacation." My good friend Josh, who was in town this weekend, explained this idea to me some time ago. While we deliberated over some of life's intricacies, he said when you're on vacation you've got to be able to shut it down and wash all the stresses away for a set period of time. This weekend "we were on vacation." NORMAN NOTABLE: My friends and I are cool like that. Our conversations cover a range of topics from pointless to the meaning of life. Some think we're crazy, but I wouldn't have it any other way. ACTION PLAN: 1) Keep your good friends close and make time to get together as a group on a periodic basis. Build those relationships on positive influence, intellectual stimulation, empathy, and most importantly, laughter. 2) When you take vacation, don't be afraid to shut it all down and freshen up the mind with a complete getaway. Once you learn how to truly "get away," life becomes much more manageable. For a final life lesson, here is a favorite quote of mine from the movie Van Wilder: "Don't take life too seriously, you'll never make it out alive." - Van Wilder Although many see me as intense and ambitious, this quote keeps me grounded in the fact that you always need to enjoy the ride. NOTABLE: I may not have run 92 miles last week, but my 5'9" 153 lb. frame is not as soft as Ben might attest. Love the journey, ~JWN