Rich Dixon is riding in Colorado this week. But that didn’t keep him from writing:

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Last time ended at “winners live with clear eyes.”

“Now think about people who care about you: family, friends, teammates. What’s it like when you let them down? Didn’t keep commitments or do your best. Didn’t hustle. Didn’t show up.

“And suppose nobody noticed.

“When you face them around the dinner table or in the locker room, where does that hurt?”

I pointed to my head. No. Hand on heart. Heads nodded.

“Now think about the locker room when everyone gave it everything they had. How it feels when you know you kept your promise when it was hard, when you made a tough play for a teammate.”

Lots of smiles. “Where does that feel good?”

Several kids pointed to their chests.

“That’s a ‘full heart.’ A full heart is about love.

“It means you’re connected, willing to sacrifice for their benefit, for some goal bigger than self-interest. A full heart means it’s not about you.

“When you play and live like that, you fill your heart with love. That’s what winners do. Winners live with full hearts.

“If you play – if you live – with clear eyes and a full heart, you’re a winner.

“You may not always win. You don’t control the scoreboard. But you can always – always – be a winner!

“And be certain – we’re created to be winners, to live with clear eyes and a full heart.

“We all know losers sometimes win in the short term. But clear eyes and full hearts make us winners in the long run.

“That’s what matters.”

Clear eyes. Full hearts. Can’t lose.

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I thought a lot about clear eyes/full hearts during the ride. Becky and I made mistakes and missed opportunities. The scoreboard might argue whether we won or lost. Like the game, win or lose lies mostly beyond our control.

But when you take a God-sized risk and follow a dream, you hit the pillow each night with clear eyes and a full heart.

Can’t lose.

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The FREEDOM TOUR is climbing mountains this week. Colorado Mountain Tour will climb four beautiful routes in the mountains west of Colorado Springs.

I’m going to ride at least one day (GULP!). Hopefully the team won’t leave me too far behind on the mountain slopes.

Thank you to everyone who has donated to support the kids at the Home of Hope. If you’d still like to get in on the fun:

Join Rich’s team