I used to run a lot of 5K races. I never won any, but I enjoyed running as fast as I could for just over the three miles that those races cover. I’d race against other runners, but in actuality, I would really be racing against myself.
A few weeks ago, I ran my first true 5K race in six years.
Continue reading “Just Be You”
I don’t want to do this. I am dreading doing this.
The NYC Marathon is 8 weeks away and my training has not gone well. I did 12.3 miles earlier today. That might sound nice, but I should be up to 15 or more miles by now.
I’m struggling with the long runs. I just don’t have the endurance.
I’m also running out of time. 8 weeks isn’t a lot of time.
My body is sore and tired. My legs are heavy.
I do not want to do this.
But, I’m going out for a run. I need to get a few more miles under my belt.
If I’m going to comple the NYC Marathon, I need to get comfortable being uncomfortable.
I wish there was another way…
I am among the first generation of Sesame Street kids. I grew up (in a sense) with (and even on) Sesame Street. Ernie, Bert, Oscar the Grouch, Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch, Kermit the Frog, Bob, Maria, Mr. Hooper, and the others were all a big part of my childhood. I felt like Sesame Street was part of my suburban neighborhood in northern New Jersey. The characters were my friends, even if I didn’t know them personally.
I learned a lot by watching Sesame Street. While I credit the wonderful picture book Crash, Bang, Boom for teaching me first how to read, I did learn a lot about the alphabet and numbers, and so much more, from the people, the monsters, and the other characters on Sesame Street.
Continue reading “Getting To (and Giving To) Sesame Street”
As we progress through life, our priorities change – sometimes dramatically. As we age, we gain wisdom and make decisions, big and small, placing different values on things that we determine to be important. Some things that might have seemed important at one time no longer are. As life changes, priorities change.
And this is good and necessary and important.
Continue reading “The Greatest of All Time!”
I Love running.
I run, a lot.
I have been running for decades.
I have completed 25 marathons. This fall I’ll be running the New York City Marathon (for the 11th time) and then, in January, I’ll do the Dopey Challenge at Disney World.
Tomorrow, I turn 56-years-old.
I still play baseball as a pitcher. I exercise every single day, usually twice a day. This (of course) includes a lot of running.
I run, a lot.
Continue reading “28,433 (When Is Enough… Enough?)”
Here is the Podcast link: https://ksje.podbean.com/e/write-on-four-corners-with-delsheree-gladden-interview-with-paul-semendinger-1719863217/
Click on the image below for link to purchase the book:
From the Write On Four Corners Podcast:
“Dr. Paul Semendinger returns to the show this week to discuss his newest book, “365.2: Going the Distance: A Runner’s Journey,” which details his effort to run every day for an entire year. He talks about the challenges he faced on his quest to achieve his goal and how he motivated himself to keep moving forward. “
I have been told that I have a great voice for speaking.
I am often asked to read scripture in church. I have a daily radio column on WRKC (Wilkes-Barre, PA) where I read “Word of Inspiration” for their Radio Home Visitor program. I have been doing this for decades, remotely, from New Jersey.
I also have two podcasts…
I do a lot of public speaking…
And so forth.
But, until last week, I had never done “professional work” in a professional recording studio.
I have now. It has been a blast!
Continue reading “The “Voice Talent””
June 1, 2024
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There is a common adage that one of the best things about bring a grandparent is that you get to say “goodbye” when you’re tired and give the kids back to their parents. There is this sense that walking away is great.
That adage is wrong.
They are wrong!
Today we said goodbye to our new grandbabies to head home after spending a few wonderful days with them.
Saying goodbye isn’t the best thing about being a grandparent. It’s the worst.
I want to stay with those little angels forever. I’m counting down the minutes until we see them again…
Saying “Hello” is what I’m looking forward to!
May 24, 2024
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Throughout our lives we are given many different names.
When I first came into this world, I was given a name – Paul Russell Semendinger. Along with that, I was also a brother, a son, a nephew, a cousin, and a grandson. The names came quickly at the start.
As we grow up, we’re then given other names including nicknames, and such…
Paul became, at times, Paulie. Among the kids, I became Sem. That one stuck with me, in various forms, even to the present day.
When I became a teacher, I was very quickly, Mr. Sem. Years later, as a principal, with a new degree, I earned the title Dr. Sem. Even later, as college instructor, I became Professor Sem.
All great titles.
Of course, in the years in between, I started to become known by other great names. I became a husband. That’s a great name.
And not many years after, I became Daddy.
I have always loved being Daddy. I cherished (and still cherish) the years that my boys were young and I heard that name countless times a day. It was the best. The more mature, Dad, is also a great name and one I also cherish.
But the other day, I was given a new name. I can’t even think of this name without smiling and being overcome with absolute joy and happiness. And wonder.
The other day, I became Grandpa.
And that just might be the greatest name of them all.
It’s been a busy few weeks.
It’s been a busy few months.
It’s always busy.
And that’s a good thing.
Life is good!
And I’m saving the best news until the end of this article…
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Continue reading “Life…Is Good!”
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