Mark Cartoon Welcome to Take on life. The blog is a place for me to share with you ways and people who take on life every day with passion and purpose. Join the mailing list or RSS.

Take on life wants to know... what gets you out of bed each morning? Posted from Facebook 11 days ago

Take on life hopes you're making this week a great one! Posted from Facebook 13 days ago

The Best Chili

The best chili has lots of beef and provides a little kick. You’ll find this chili thick and hearty with lots of flavor. Nothing beats a good chili and Sunday football. Quick and easy. Don’t forget to try it with the toppings. Recipe serves 10.

Chili Ingredients

2 pounds lean ground beef
46 ounces of canned diced tomatoes
28 ounces of canned tomato sauce
15 ounces of canned light kidney beans
15 ounces of canned pinto beans
1 1/2 cups of chopped onion
1/4 cup chopped green bell pepper
1/8 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1/4 cup chili powder
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon salt

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Written on 10 January 2010 by Mark Lewis.

Take on life Never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat. - F. Scott Fitzgerald Posted from Facebook about one month ago

Take on life hopes everyone brings in the new year with a roar! Posted from Facebook about one month ago

Take on life wishes everyone a Merry Christmas! Posted from Facebook about one month ago

Christmas in the Square

Every year our little town throws a holiday celebration called Christmas in the Square. As a youngster, I always found the night to be fun and full of joy; also, I often found good Christmas gift ideas in the local businesses. This year was the first time we have gone to the celebration in many years. It was amazing.

The square was packed, so packed that we never made it onto Main Street. We arrived just in time to see Santa appear with fire engine sirens a blazing. I imagine others around me could not tell the difference between me and a 10-year-old boy. I was taken back to a time of innocence when Santa was both real and scary.

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Written on 22 December 2009 by Mark Lewis.

Take on life is feeling the love and Christmas cheer! Posted from Facebook about one month ago

Take on life The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. - Eleanor Roosevelt Posted from Facebook 2 months ago

Take on life hopes you feel the joy too. Have a great weekend! Posted from Facebook 2 months ago

Take on life As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live... Posted from Facebook 2 months ago

Sailing Lessons in Life

During my Paralympic sailing campaign for Beijing in 2008 I wrote articles for my local newspaper. An extract from one of those articles conveys how sailing has taught me a few things to achieve success in other areas of my life.

Sailing teaches many lessons in life. If life is like a box of chocolates, sailing is a learned skill that helps you navigate these chocolate covered wonders. I have to admit, I don’t like the movie, but I have a yearning for some Tawny Port and dark chocolate as I write.

In sailing you must always be aware of the environment and its changing conditions. You begin to learn what to look for in a wind shift or wind velocity change. Developing this skill will help you in the ever changing business world.

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Written on 25 November 2009 by Mark Lewis.

Take on life wants to remind you that there's no such thing as a bad day! Posted from Facebook 2 months ago

Take on life We don't stop playing because we grow old; We grow old because we stop playing. - George Bernard Shaw Posted from Facebook 2 months ago

Take on life wants you to begin the week with a big smile :-) Posted from Facebook 2 months ago

Study Abroad Programs

Preconceived notions of college have always emphasized the campus and classroom environment. If you’re one of the lucky ones you stumble upon an opportunity to build on your knowledge and experiences beyond campus borders. I was lucky to learn about international studies and work abroad.

It was my sophomore year of college and I was moving into my new on-campus apartment for the semester. It was a two-bedroom apartment with a common area and shared kitchen. My roommate was new to the room as well but our suite mates had been friends and already living in the apartment when we moved in.

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Written on 12 November 2009 by Mark Lewis.

Take on life wants you to have a kick arse weekend! Posted from Facebook 3 months ago

Take on life Sooner or later those who win are those who think they can - Richard Bach Posted from Facebook 3 months ago

Important Things in Life

I was lying in a Johannesburg, South Africa hospital bed with my brother leaning overhead to clear the obstruction from my nose. The gastric tube in my nose made it difficult to breathe and breathing with my mouth open only made matters worse, creating a sore throat as the tube shifted from side to side. It was 48 hours since I broke my neck on the beaches of the Seychelles.

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Written on 02 November 2009 by Mark Lewis.

Take on life They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself. - Andy Warhol Posted from Facebook 3 months ago

Take on life thinks there are grand opportunities; you just have to take action! Posted from Facebook 3 months ago

Interview with Shelley Seale: Travel with a Purpose

Take on life by changing the world one passion at a time. Shelley Seale, author of The Weight of Silence and contributing author to The Voluntary Traveler, eloquently shares her passion for travel and how she’s making a difference.

A must-read interview for anyone who wants to get more out of their travels. Thank you Shelley for taking the time to chat with me and share your inspiring story.

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Written on 22 October 2009 by Mark Lewis.

Take on life Live as if your were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever. - Gandhiji Posted from Facebook 3 months ago

Take on life hopes you have an awesome weekend! Posted from Facebook 3 months ago

Take on life believes this will INSPIRE you! Posted from Facebook 3 months ago

Take on life You can’t always control the wind, but you can control your sails. - Anthony Robbins Posted from Facebook 3 months ago

Love Affair with Wine

My love affair with wine began in Belfast, Northern Ireland when my new employer held a welcome dinner. I had just arrived a week earlier and hadn’t even found a place to rent. I was living out of a dorm room at Queens University.

Little did I know that I would discover my passion for wine. Seriously, who would’ve thought that I would learn about wine in Ireland? I had anticipated switching from light beer to full beer, but wine?

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Written on 13 October 2009 by Mark Lewis.