Man Huffs And Puffs To Inspire

By Craig Day, The News On 6

MUSKOGEE, OK -- A Canadian television crew was in Green Country on Wednesday.  They were documenting an attempt to break a world record.  It involved a weather balloon, a powerful set of lungs, and a positive message.

The Muskogee High School gym was full of fans and cheerleaders.  But, it wasn't an athletic competition, although you could consider it an athletic feat.  Brian Jackson attempted to break a Guinness World Record.

"The deal is we're afraid somebody is going to laugh at us, so we don't do things.  We're afraid somebody will make fun of us, so we don't do things.  I'm going to at least try," said Brian Jackson.

Jackson hopes to inflate a weather balloon to eight feet in diameter faster than anyone has ever done before in 42 minutes.

The attempt was taped by a Canadian film crew for a TV show called "TV Made Me Do It."

"it gives me a good platform to show people it doesn't matter how big or small you are.  I'm only five feet five and three quarter inches tall and 199 pounds, yet I compete against some of the biggest and strongest men in the world for what I do," said Brian Jackson.

The hot air heroics, sponsored by the Cherokee Nation, are part of Jackson's "I believe" program that includes as many as 100 motivational speaking engagements each year.

He talks about his past troubles with alcohol and drugs and the value of good decisions and second chances.

"A lot of times we get a second chance, sometimes we don't.  What we do with that second chance is completely up to us," said Brian Jackson.

Jackson has done this kind of thing before.  A couple of years ago, he set a world record for inflating a hot water bottle until it burst.  That took less than 52 seconds.

On Wednesday night, a man short in stature, but long on lung power was putting his talent to the test. 

With the clock ticking, Jackson puffed and puffed and didn't give up. 

Though he fell short, Jackson says there is still a lesson in that as well.

"Not every world record attempt I've ever tried, I've obviously not done, but at least I tried.  And, when you go through life, you can either have a whole bunch of I should haves, or hey, I gave it my best shot, and I guarantee you'll feel better about yourself saying I tried," said Brian Jackson.

And he'll keep trying to break records and influence young people with every breath he takes.