Dare Greatly!

Karen and Jay celebrate the positive energy and wonderful spirit of Teddy Roosevelt!

Vigor. Enthusiasm. Bold adventure. Boundless energy. An infectious spirit. These are the attributes that define our 26th President Teddy Roosevelt. And we are especially excited to be highlighting the indomitable spirit of this man today, as October 27th is actually his birthday. Born in 1858, Roosevelt would be 165 years old if he were alive today – and my guess is that if he were alive today, and in his prime, he could make a great contribution to our nation – in so many ways.

He was a champion of conservation and the environment, creating more than two hundred parks and bird sanctuaries, along with helping to save the American buffalo. He was a world leader for peace who brought the war between Russia and Japan to an end through the historic Peace Treaty, signed in Portsmouth, NH, and for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize. He was a tireless fighter for the common man – known at the ‘trust buster,’ in taking on the monopolies, trusts, and special interests. All marvelous attributes and areas where a good dose of Teddy Roosevelt today, could certainly go a long way in support of America.

As the youngest man ever to assume the Presidency, Teddy Roosevelt never deviated from his convictions, passions, and promises. As a young man with asthma, people said he would live a short life, with much of what he wanted to achieve out of reach because of his poor health. Through the power of the human spirit and an extensive exercise regimen that he maintained at his father’s gym, Teddy grew to face his health challenges head on and made fitness a priority. I recall a story where Roosevelt hosted a delegation visiting from France by scheduling a day of exercise, physical events, and more. Following the series of events, a member of the delegation said he was too tired to debate any issue and would never question the good intentions Roosevelt held.

When tragedy struck and his mother and wife passed away at almost the same time, he did not retreat. He regrouped and moved on with steadfast courage. He chose not to simply enjoy the ‘comfortable life,’ but instead embraced what he called the ‘strenuous life.’ He consistently took risks and engaged in daring and potentially dangerous initiatives – for example, his founding of the Rough Riders - a cavalry regiment that fought heroically during the Spanish-American War. He put his love of country ahead of his own well-being and returned home as a hero.

Our national park system saw one of its greatest expansions under Roosevelt, protecting over 230 million acres of public land. His administration helped lay the groundwork for many of the environmental and conservation innovations that allow us to drink clean water, enjoy state and national parks, and benefit from the incredible topography our nation has to offer. Roosevelt's legacy as a reformer, conservationist, and advocate for a government that works for the people has had a lasting impact on American politics and helped set the stage for future regulatory reforms that shaped the 20th century and the growth of our nation.



Very surprisingly, and thankfully, I even had the opportunity to appear with Teddy recently – impromptu – when on a run in New York City, I happened to come across him at his birthplace. You might enjoy taking a quick look at this video – and listening to what Teddy has to say.

Teddy Saves the Buffalo in NH!

Teddy Roosevelt - The ‘National Parks’ President