Ryan Star Blog

My "11:59" is the moment before my first student walks in September...

ok My 11:59 was when I wrote this and then it happened..Things in life always change but how we react to those changes is how we are judged in life by our friends and family. Once the choice is made there is no going back to change it there is no delete or undo or rewind in life, so the choice we make now affects us for the rest of our life and we can never take it back. Things are always in motion around us we have choices to make in life and there aren't always easy to make, but once there made we must live with them.. so when we must make choices in life think them through very well never just pause and go, stop and seriously think about it because not only will it affect you but all those around you that love you and care about you. So always stop and give a serious thought to what you may do or say to a person. Your words or actions may have life altering affects upon them for the good or the bad. Chose with a clear mind and heart don't let your heart affect your decision totally let it be a guide, your mind should be what you rely upon you want to reason through most decisions in life. "the heart is treacherous and who can know it".

J.M.L
10-12-09

I went down south over night to Help a old friend out. I lived with her and got her back on her feet, but I left every one and everything behind. I stayed for 3 months I did everything for her, and she knew that I cared deeply for her..but then she turns around less than a month after I leave and gets married to a guy she barley knows. I don't regret moving there I just regret staying that long and putting that much emotion behind my actions. It caused to much pain to agony for me and my family. If I were given the choice I might make that flight down south again. But perhaps not

Jeremiah M.L

Well in Sept. 2009 I was Overweight, turning 50, lost my job and my only child was going away to college. My 11.59 started right then ----I have since lost 89lbs I love being in my Fiesty Fifties and as for my daughter, she just left for college and me and my huby gave each other a high 5 - life is wonderful again. Now if I can just find a job I could BREATHE, LOL - but life is wonderful.

Love ya Ryan
Took my daughter to see you in NYC - CD party it was awesome.........

For me, 11:59 is a combination of all the little moments that make life worth living. Hanging out with my friends when everything is going great, the first drop on a roller coaster, the smell of a new book, the cd's I ordered online finally showing up at my door, a first kiss, the first time holding a guys hand. I just wish 11:59 wasn't just all of the little moments, but my whole life.

There are alot of 11:59's that I have. The best one is that I fulfilled a dying wish of my grandfather's, to visit the family in Poland (which I recently returned). I had such an emotional trip, meeting all my family, seeing alittle bit of europe. On the plane ride back, my grandfather told me (in spirit) that he was proud of us that I went. I ended up crying for a whole 15 minuets. Being 37,000 feet in the air and almost touching the heavens, I felt his presence. That trip, that moment is my 11:59.

My 11:59 is when the world stops spinning long enough for me to float.

My 11:59 is very simple. My two loves, travel and my daughter. When we get in the car, get on the road, turn up the music that we both love, sing at the top of our lungs with the windows down and the sunroof open. Neither of us can sing very well, it doesn't sound good, it causes many laughs but I wouldn't take away those moments for anything. We've traveled many states doing this and I just hope there are many more years of this with her. Nothing else matters at this point, and life couldn't be better....me, her, the MINI, the open road and half the time, your music at the center of it all.

My 11:59 isn't a huge significant moment like birth of a child or a near death experience, just a small minor one that impacts my everyday life. A year ago I started running, I've always been an active person but never a runner. I was inspired by a friend and her marathon endeavors. My 11:59 moment was during a 5km run (mind you I was walking most of it at this point) on my secluded backwoods road here in cottage country Ontario. I had been doing a 10 minute run, 1 minute walk and struggling, but this run was a breakthrough, it was my moment. I did my 5 minute warm up (to Breathe like always) and then started running and I ran straight through and didn't stop. The moment was when So Ordinary came on my running playlist, it was always used at a point when I slowed my pace to a walk and the lyrics made me want to start running again. I didn't need that for this run and I literally started crying tears of joy. I didn't feel 'ordinary' anymore, I felt like a runner.

From that 'moment' running is something I HAVE to do...it isn't a chore, it is my 'breath', I need to run to 'breathe'. Since then I have participated in a 10KM run, and City Chase (a full day urban event like Amazing Race), I have plans to do another 10KM run this fall and am working up to a half marathon for Spring 2011. When Ryan tweets about his running it makes me smile and I wonder if he has had those moments when running that 'moment' of emotional surge when you just let go and you feel that 'high'. My head always goes numb at that point. LOL.

I am tempted to put on my helmet cam and run with it so I can enter the contest. As much as I would love the personal phone call I don't think I could talk and run at the same time, and I'm a little camera shy. But if ever in my neck of the woods Ryan perhaps we can lace up and run together :)

I would have to say my 11:59 was the day I got into a car accident. It was a horrible day, my car was totaled my husband and I were both injured. we were taken out on stretchers in an ambulance. it was scary. moments b4 the crash I had just told my husband how short and precious life is and that I loved him and was glad we found each other ( we were coming home from a funeral) Then BOOM . accident.. while in the hospital getting all of the tests done, they said we would be ok, however ,They found a small tumor/cyst in my brain and that I need to see a Neurosurgeon when I was feeling better and then discharged us. I was in shock...I left there feeling worse emotionally then physically. My body was bruised , i could barely walk, but having that news scared me . I have 3 small children, what if it was cancer. it was a life changing moment. I saw the neuro-surgeon, had all the tests run and the Dr. said it wasn't cancerous.But I need to have it checked every year bc it could cause problems if it grows any larger and I would need brain surgery.. I swore from that day on that I would Live each day like it was my last and that I would stop being afraid of life. That was 2 years ago and I have done more in my life in the past 2 years than I had in 10 years. so I would say that was my 11:59 ! it was a day that changed my life forever and for the better.

My 11:59 began about 2 years ago...I have arthritis and was getting down about the pain and limitations in my walking. I thought..is this the way the last 15 years of my life will be going down for me??

I was listening to David Cook and "Time Of My Life" and decided that this could really be the time of my life if I let it!!! I started walking listening to music and then started swimming as exercise..I gradually lost 20 lbs! Letting music into my life after many years has been life-changing!! I started looking younger and dressing younger! I followed David Cook on his Declaration Tour and met Ryan finally(after seeing him perform at 15 concerts) at Kean University when he opened for David!!

I have followed you, Ryan, through your musical journey-from Super Nova to now!! No one has worked harder than you for what you want! You are very talented and have such a good heart! We all have many 11:59's through out our lives and this is your very deserved 11:59!!! Drink it all in and make sure you are present and remember the feelings!!

If I had to pick one 11:59, it would have to be the day I saw my grades for the spring semester 2010. Eleven days before classes started I lost my brother. I was going to drop out for the semester because I felt like I couldn't do it and I would end up failing my classes. With the help of my mom giving me little pep talks here and there and telling me my brother would be proud of me, I ended up with a 3.3 GPA. Now I look back and realize that if I can go through the crap I went through and pull out those grades I can do anything that comes my way.

My 11:59 would be the day my father passed away. He was my best friend and I relaized how much time I had wasted with pointless arguments and self indulgence. I realized precious every second was and how much I had more to spend with him. I realized even though we will always wish for more time, that I did not want my 2 daughters to ever think that they wasted time that they spent with their father, me. That is the day I realized that we truely must live every day we have like it is our last; take nothing for granted and cherish every moment.

My 11:59 is when I talk to my babies or they run up and throw their arms around my neck or give that belly laugh. Hanging out with my best friends and just laughing about stupid things. Hiking in God's blessing. Listening to a really good love song or one telling a story. My favorite team winning an important game.

Life is my 11:59.

my favorite 11:59 is when wendy and i were friends in collage we both had boyfriends back then but now my friend wendy has a boyfriend who she's been dating for past 3 yrs and i still don't have one. she and i been through so much together and we're still going through it!! it's just hard to keep a friendship going after all these yrs. she's like a sister i have never but she's also my best friend. but what's worries me is that i feel like i'm going to lose another friend like i did 8 yrs ago. he was one of my closest friend....how can you get over something like losing a friend who meant so much to you it still breaks my heart that he's not here anymore. life is so short you just have to make wants best for you. don't waste anytime with it. go out and do what you can before it's to late.

As you note, life is a journey. If there is ONLY one "11:59" in one's life, perhaps the journey is short or, worse, lacking richness.
It the moment surviving combat or realizing what is cost you to survive? Is it saving a patient or losing a patient? Is it going through pregnancies with women and helping them bring new life into the world and watching that life grow and become an individual? Is it opening yourself to love and all the risks and potential joys that brings? Is it the first time you hold your own child? Is it the last time you old your spouse? Is it meeting people who may become your friends? Is it doing something for someone you don't know and may never meet, because they need help and it is the morally right thing to do? The list of possible "11:59" moments goes on.
Ryan, you get my respect, you get my support for you and yours, but...alas, I can't give you a video on this. My life has been rich beyond my wildest dreams and there is no ONE moment.
Best Wishes & Take Care--Phil