Chaos Tamer
I came across this gem recently, and I think it’s very valuable advice to consider during this season of planning and resolutions.
For me, I see a reminder that we all have limits. So, in planning our lives, it’s critical to remember those limits. Some people have no qualms with taking until we’re empty husks. And many more very well-meaning folks simply won’t see the signs that you’re limits are getting hit without explicit notification.
So, my friends, take care of yourself. You are worth it.
It sums up a key idea I’ve been meditating on lately: that we get to define our lives. We get to choose what “success” means to us. We don’t need to be stuck in the destructive loops of our culture’s history. We can find a new way forward. That’s a key beauty of life today.
When I consider Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain’s suicides, I think that there’s something inherently wrong with our culture’s definitions about success. We need to work to define “success” so that we’re feeling fulfilled as we progress. I can’t imagine anything more miserable to achieve everything we’d dreamt of, and feeling empty and miserable.
A good weekend. Got some time in at the gym, which has been lacking. Need to fit in more time. Better/more empowering: want to.
Fitness is important to me. It frustrates me that I’ve allowed weight gain again. Or that I’m overweight at all.
My youth was extremely active. Long-running for hours, for fun. Running, hiking, multu-hour gym sessions, racquetball until getting kicked off the court. During that time I developed terrible eating habits. Oddly, right before I joined the Navy, I was focused on good eating. Galley cuisine destroyed that for me (kinda strange that the culinary focus was more on processed, deep fried junk. Hardly setting us up for elite athleticism).
For several years after the Navy, I biked or walked everywhere. I didn’t own a car for nearly 10 years. But as soon as stopped the heavy biking and walking, my diet took control and drove my weight up. Then the metabolic changes as I moved into my thirties bit me, too.
I also denied what was happening. Crazy, but I still viewed myself as an athlete.
Slowly I grew the exercise back. And some of the weight left. But my diet still doesn’t help me. But I work a little, every day, to move this forward.
Nowadays, my exercises of preferences are taekwondo mixed in with some gym sessions. This is my happy place. That and cycling.
Still, I need to work on my diet. It’s not been helpful with all these high fat foods: cheeseburgers, fries, milkshakes along with candy and cookies. Empty calories, low nutrition, increasing my risks for heart disease and diabetes.
I’ve thought lately that it would be really cook to come up with a meal plan where I 100% of the USDA daily recommendation. I’ve also wondered if such things are possible.
So, I’ll try and see what I can do.
Got any suggestions? Let me know.
All the best, my friends!
I continuously need to recharge the positive side of my life. There’s so much negativity, which wears me done.
I appreciate this reminder to be bold, to have the courage to ask. Asking not only displays your desire, but also holds you accountable. Others now know your dreams, and, if they’re invested in your success, will hold you to your goals. Which is critical for attaining those goals, those dreams.
May your Monday be effective and affirming. And may your Christmas shopping be free of conflict and aggravation.
As you may have noticed, I think very highly of Seth Godin. This blog post gave words to an idea I’ve been considering:
One of the greatest privileges in my life is judging testing in taekwondo. Seeing the growth at times inspires me, sometimes brings me to tears. I’m so proud off all of them. And looking forward to the next round on Monday.
Currently, I find it challenging to deal with all the world’s negativity. Power, control and cache get granted to those who “pwn” the strongest. We relish the putting down, degradation and humiliation of those we deem “enemy” or other.
Long ago, I committed to living life the opposite way. Seeking ways to build up my community, even those I disagree with. Asking how we can find common ground, especially in this age.
After checking the news (inadvisable at times), I feel it important to re-commit to that path. Perhaps even more boldly, with greater energy.
“Let’s find the win-win in this life” I tell myself as the sirens pass by.
Yesterday was spent driving. Meetings in Late Stevens, Everett and Mountlake Terrace. Not at all uncommon. Though I travelled many miles, my body spent the day seated. This hit me at night: I just had to move. I did a little yoga, ran through taekwondo poomsaes, and was eclectic settle down. My body now expects some motion during the day now.
My culture, my community, has evolved to minimize physical effort. Most energy expenditure gets deferred to our cars. Turns out its killing us. Whether the upswelling of type 2 diabetes or the obesity epidemic, our drive for inaction hurts us greatly. This concerns me.
With this mindset: our obsession with speed. Faster! Faster! More and more in less time. Road Rage’s roots are herein. And those folks who get beside themselves in fury because someone is crossing the crosswalk, or being slowed by a cyclist; they’re deeply trapped in that mindset. Really, your blood pressure is going to soar into pathological levels because you need to wait ten seconds?
I’ve wondered how society would look after healing this fracture. Well, first, we’d walk more. Or bike. We’d also have a rational engagement with time. Becoming unhinged over the most minor inconvenience is deeply unhealthy.
As our urban areas are only going to get more dense, we need to start dealing with this stuff now. Or we don’t need to worry about North Korea nuking us: we’ll explode ourselves with self generated fury.