As I type this Neil Armstrong is preparing to take his first steps on the moon.

Forty years ago that is. I have been listening to the “live” broadcast of the Apollo 11 Flight for the 40 year anniversary of the historic event. I have been listening at wechoosethemoon.org at work since liftoff last week. This is probably one of the finest things I have experienced on the Internet.

Earth view from the moon by the Apollo mission

The Apollo astronauts are true heroes.

Things were not as smooth and prepared as you might think. They were really taking a chance. They also had a very intense preparation for the trip. They did the work equivalent to gaining 2 doctorate degrees in their preparation to travel to the moon. In other words, going to the moon was not easy or safe. I was once honored to meet Apollo Astronaut James Erwin (I even have an autographed photo of him with my father).  It was truly an honor. They are men that deserve respect.

Today, we hardly notice when the space shuttle goes up.

I think somehow, we have lost our goals. Our desire to compete. To excel. Maybe things are too easy. Or maybe, we are just too easily entertained. It’s easy to sit back and  watch TV and vote for your favorite on a phone.

I don’t mean everyone needs to be an astronaut to be a hero.

I just mean we all should push the envelope once in a while. Strive to be more. To learn new things. To go beyond. At least stop being a couch potato (or couch tomato as my wife says).

If you missed it, the website above says you can follow the mission broadcast at your own time. If you have kids, it might be something worth studying with them. Give them something to shoot for. Give yourself a hero to motivate you to do something more.

“One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”

A giant step for mankind

Where will your next step take you?