The Sunshine Report The Courage to Begin! ‘Karen and Jay celebrate the spirit of turning adversity into opportunity!’ The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Or put simply in another context, the initiative of going for a run – or possibly working out, really begins with ‘putting on your shoes.’ And ironically – whether it’s a long journey or a short run or workout, often we find that the most difficult part is taking that first step – or even putting on your shoes. This much is certain – you can’t win if you don’t begin! Back in 2015, German soccer star Andre Schurrle (pronounced shirl) was on top of the world. He and his countryman had just won the World Cup the previous summer and his club team Chelsea, based in London, would go on to be champions of the Premier League, Britain’s top soccer league. Yet only 5 years later, Andre found himself not getting any offers from teams due to recent injuries he’d sustained. Faced with a difficult decision, he decided to retire from professional soccer at only 29 years old, a sport he’d been playing since he was old enough to walk. We often think or hear stories about athletes like Tom Brady or Ted Williams who play into their late thirties or early forties as if they are the norm. But the reality is, most professional athletes retire in their 20’s or early 30’s as the physical and emotional burdens become more difficult as they get older. And in the case of Schurrle, the sport he’d grown to love had become to feel more like a burden than a passion. So, when he retired, he was left with an ominous question: what next? To compound everything, he retired just as the world was coming to grips with the spread of covid-19 in the spring of 2020. For months he contemplated what direction he would go in. He admitted that it was one of the most challenging moments of his life having at one point been on the top of the sports world, to then find himself at the metaphorical bottom. Not knowing where to turn, he procrastinated for months on making a decision about what would come next, fearing that making a decision would lead him down the wrong path. Yet what he would discover is that by doing nothing at all, he was only achieving exactly what he in fact feared most, inaction and stagnation. That’s when Andre was introduced to Wim Hof, a very eccentric Dutch motivational speaker and ‘extreme athlete’ whose breathing and training exercises are used by some of the world’s top endurance athletes. Perhaps you’re familiar with him. Known as the ‘iceman’ for making cold plunges an international phenomenon, Wim Hof is a true believer in the idea that what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger. In his own words, “I fear not living fully”. So, Andre decided to take up training again, doing regular breath work, running, climbing in a way that was drastically different than anything he’d done as a professional soccer player. Over time, with each little step, he saw progress and growth in his physical and mental well-being. That was when finally, he decided to take on what he called the biggest challenge of his life this past winter, bigger than the World Cup challenge he said, when he would climb the highest mountains in the Czech Republic with only a pair of shorts, hiking boots, and a winter beanie. Facing winds of more than 75mph and temperatures of -10, Andre would reach the summit. "The hardest mental and physical thing I ever did! An experience that I will never forget.” Now this is not to say challenging yourself to something like this is what we should all be doing, certainly not as we each have our own boundaries and limits. However, what Andre demonstrated is that even as a professional athlete who’d achieved the greatest honors in his sport, there was still a fear of the unknown, and until he took a first step towards the unknown, he didn’t get anywhere. Once he did, he was eventually able to reach another mountain top, in this case quite literally. Each of us has the ability to achieve things greater than we could ever imagine, yet sometimes we may ‘get in our own head,’ tell ourselves we aren’t good enough, be scared about a potential outcome, when in fact the best thing you can do is simple, take action, doesn’t matter if it’s small or large. Following his summit, Andre shared, “What I learned: my body and mind are stronger than I thought. If I put my mind and soul to it, I can do everything." This is true for each of us, we just have to be willing to take that first step. Read The Report Stepping on to the Playing Field - Pilgrims Make a Triumphant Return to Football! Read More Sports Coverage at the Eagle Times is Stepping Up!   Read More Positive Profile of the Week: Cindi Woodbury This week we are delighted to highlight a dedicated leader in the greater-Salem, New Hampshire area – Cindi Woodbury. Less than a week ago, the Greater Salem Chamber of Commerce announced a pivotal change in its leadership with the appointment of Cindi Woodbury as the new Executive Director. This ushers in a new chapter for the Chamber, and it is a testament to the organization's commitment to fostering business relationships and community engagement across its service area, which covers Salem, Atkinson, Hampstead, Pelham, Windham and most recently Plaistow. We called Cindi to congratulate her and to also learn more about her journey to this new leadership position. Woodbury's path is a testament to her resilience and dedication. Her career took a turn in 2020 when the pandemic led to the loss of her 22-year-long training, employee engagement and HR position —a job she had initially planned to retire from. Despite the challenges posed by the job market, she was determined not to settle into retirement just yet. "I gotta do it," she declared, acknowledging the uncertainty of the times and her need to stay active. Her extensive experience in community work and volunteering played a crucial role in shaping her decisions. So, it’s no surprise that Woodbury's journey led her to the Greater Salem Chamber, where she took on the Membership and Engagement position with the intention that it would serve as her ‘passion’ job before retirement. As she had hoped, this role would turn out to be a perfect fit, allowing her to flourish and excel. Through her efforts, she has played an instrumental role in expanding the Chamber's membership to over 500 members—a remarkable achievement that showcased her dedication and capabilities. Interestingly, Woodbury's taking on the position of Executive Director was not in her plans. Her contentment in her existing role was evident, and she never anticipated taking on a more significant leadership role. However, circumstances shifted as the Executive Director of 16 years departed, followed by a brief replacement. Woodbury found herself at a crossroads and, driven by her desire to see the Chamber thrive, she expressed her interest in the position to the board. What truly sets Woodbury apart is her passion for community engagement. Her involvement as President of the Salem School District’s PTA and her leadership in the Veterans Appreciation Breakfast reflect her deep-rooted commitment to making a positive impact. The Veterans Appreciation Breakfast, organized by Woodbury, holds particular significance due in large part from listening to her dad’s stories about fighting in a war and the effect on a 19-year old leaving this country to fight for the cause of freedom. This event, which involves sixth-grade students of Salem’s Woodbury School along with veterans and community members, celebrates the service of veterans and highlights their importance through heartfelt speeches (often by the NH Governor, Senators and Woodbury students) and gestures of appreciation. In her new role as Executive Director, Woodbury's dedication continues to shine as evidenced by the fact she was talking with us on her way to a ribbon cutting ceremony along with the Chamber’s Office Manager Liz Tsagaris. Her focus on fostering positive connections within the community, bridging businesses, students, and future leaders, underscores her commitment to building a harmonious environment. Cindi Woodbury's journey from an unexpected career setback to the helm of the Greater Salem Chamber of Commerce exemplifies the power of resilience, community engagement, and the pursuit of one's passions. Her story is an inspiration to us all—a reminder that each step, even the unexpected ones, can lead to remarkable destinations. Through her leadership, Woodbury is steering the Greater Salem Chamber towards a future where businesses thrive, communities unite, and having a positive impact reigns. To learn more about the exciting programs led by Cindi and her team, visit the Greater Salem Chamber's website at Greater Salem Chamber In closing, we extend our heartfelt appreciation to Cindi Woodbury for her unwavering dedication, her ability to transform challenges into opportunities, and her role in making Salem a better place for all. And if that’s not enough, she shared that in order to better meet the growing and changing needs of the overall community - a new name, logo and website will be officially revealed on September 27th - so stay tuned for more great things to come from our Southern NH friends! Quote of the Week "You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great."  - Zig Ziglar     Jay Lucas | www.JayLucas.us  Share This Email Share This Email Share This Email Jay Lucas | 7 Portwalk Pl, Portsmouth, NH 03801 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected]