Happy Valentine's Day

Welcome to my blog. After brainstorming with my son, Matt - who, by the way, is the person solely responsible for getting this blog up and running - I came up with the name "Running Conscience." The name of the blog reflects two of my serious life pursuits - Running (for those who know me, this is obvious) and Character (this piece requires more explanation...).

I plan to write about a lot of things. I'll write about running. I'll right about character and values, especially in the formation of these attributes in young people. First, I think it necessary to tell you a bit about myself so that you can read my opinions in the context of my development. After all, before I became the man I am today, I was a boy and a grandson. Now, I am a son, a brother, a nephew, a husband, an uncle, and a father.... you get the picture.

I grew up somewhere, too, and I've lived in lots of places -- I plan to write about that, too. I grew up in Dover, Massachusetts. The fifth child in a family of ten kids. I have a saintly mother, and I had a wonderful father (Dad passed away in 2004 and I still miss him dearly). I was baptized in the Roman Catholic Church. I attended public schools with excellent teachers. I graduated from Tufts University with a degree in Classical Studies in 1983. One year later I married my classmate and best friend, Kathy. I've had lots of jobs, too. I served my country as an officer in the Marines for five years. I went to Business School and worked on Wall Street for several years. After that, I spent the next four years in various corporate finance positions. Our wonderful twins - Matt and Em - were born in 1996. Ten years ago, I made my most recent career change - I became a math teacher and a track coach. Yep. I haven't looked back.

I suppose some would say that I am self-righteous (aren't all teachers?). Some would say I am conservative (they would be mostly correct). I believe in the Classical Precept Mens sana in corpore sano (a sound mind in a sound body). I like to go to bed every night with a clean conscience. (I find it helps me to sleep.) Let's face it, all the liars and cheats out there know they are liars and cheats. We can have the world's most powerful military, and the best police officers and law enforcement officials, but if people are not generally good and honest on the inside -- in other words, if people are not civilized or able to police themselves -- there is little the rest of us can to do to stop the "bad guys" from doing selfish, dishonest, unethical, or criminal things. It's a fact.

It is my aim to write about the "human condition" from the perspective of a guy who just wants the world to be a good and decent place for as many of its inhabitants as possible. That's why I started the blog on Valentine's Day. I'll try my best to be critical of the "bad guys" and supportive of those who do "good." Sometimes these are the same people. I'll offer suggestions for improvement -- it's not "fair" to point out all the problems without offering solutions. I'll try to make you laugh, but not at some one else's expense.

Since tomorrow is Presidents' Day, I plan to write about one of them -- another imperfect human being who made a big difference. Keep on running and... do the right thing!