What is reality? Does it really exist or is it something we made up to fool ourselves into thinking everything is ok?
I believe it exists and when you find it life makes sense again.
During my pilgrimage to Europe last week I had the opportunity to return to reality. Ironically enough this happened because I was pulled out of my day to day routine. Whether I was visiting sacred sites, running through the French countryside, or dealing with the inevitable mishaps that accompany any great journey, I was continuously reminded that I was “there”. This brought me into a heightened state of presence and helped my mind understand I wasn’t in Kansas anymore. I felt awake, really awake, for the first time in a long time.
On the return flight this sense of presence lead me to another meeting with reality. This time in the form of Byron Katie’s teaching on questioning the mind to bring you to reality. In short, Byron was a miserable human being who had a great awakening and now leads an extraodinary life. She went on to develop a process for questioning and turning around thoughts that cause suffering which she calls “The Work”. From experience it really does work. You begin by identifying and writing down a thought, how it makes you feel, who you would be without it, and finally turn it around and think about it’s opposite. This process helps you both “rewire” your thinking as well as bring yourself back to the here and now also known as reality.
The lesson? Life really is here and now. Only your thinking can go into the past or future where you have no reality because you do not exist. Staying in the here and now brings you back to reality and it’s the only place you can ever be. It’s here and now that you find your peace and joy because it’s the only place you can truly exist and make a difference. It's also where you find God and the miracle of life.
Here’s the final scene from Peaceful Warrior that highlights this lesson.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Losing Control
It’s amazing how things just work out when you stop trying to work them out. As I write this I’m travelling by train through the French countryside on my way to Lourdes. Getting on this train has been a wild adventure that I never could have planned.
When we arrived in Paris we asked a taxi to take us to the train station. He told us in French there were five. I told him in English, “We’re going to Lourdes.” He didn’t understand and gestured to get in the car and he would call someone to figure it out. All was going well until a car almost side swiped us. Our driver flipped out and yelled what seemed like some French obscenities at the top of his lungs. When we finally pulled into the train station a tour bus was blocking the entrance and our driver flipped out once again. This time he jumped out of the car as he yelled words similar to the ones he had shared a moment earlier. This whole thing was actually hilarious and as I left I patted the driver on the shoulder and we both shared a laughed.
Inside the train station the adventure continued. After trying a couple of tellers we found one selling tickets to Lourdes. The clerk said all departures from that station were full and we would have to transfer to a different train station. This time around the taxi driver was cool and just didn’t say a word. At the second train station we put our luggage in a locker (after spending something like 20 minutes figuring out how to operate it). We had a few hours to kill so we grabbed lunch at a local hotel restaurant. One great thing about this trip is that I am eating incredible food. At lunch I was enjoying myself so much that I feel asleep. A cappuccino later and I was restored. Since we had more time to burn we decided to go for a walk and as I turned the corner there staring back at me was the Eifel Tower. Wow! How many times in life does that happen? Without any plans or direction I ended up at the Eiffel Tower. A brisk walk later and I’m standing under it. Crazy huh?
The lesson? Let life lead the way and you just might end-up doing things you could never have planned.
This morning I awoke at 4:45 am to catch a plane from Turin to Paris. The night before I barely slept because there was some kind of block party in front of my hotel. Italians like to party. When I arrived at the airport I tried to check in at an e-ticket kiosk but it didn't work. Out of nowhere a kind lady from Air France approached me and figured out that my e-ticket number was off by one number. Soon thereafter I made my way to the plane.
When we arrived in Paris we asked a taxi to take us to the train station. He told us in French there were five. I told him in English, “We’re going to Lourdes.” He didn’t understand and gestured to get in the car and he would call someone to figure it out. All was going well until a car almost side swiped us. Our driver flipped out and yelled what seemed like some French obscenities at the top of his lungs. When we finally pulled into the train station a tour bus was blocking the entrance and our driver flipped out once again. This time he jumped out of the car as he yelled words similar to the ones he had shared a moment earlier. This whole thing was actually hilarious and as I left I patted the driver on the shoulder and we both shared a laughed.
Inside the train station the adventure continued. After trying a couple of tellers we found one selling tickets to Lourdes. The clerk said all departures from that station were full and we would have to transfer to a different train station. This time around the taxi driver was cool and just didn’t say a word. At the second train station we put our luggage in a locker (after spending something like 20 minutes figuring out how to operate it). We had a few hours to kill so we grabbed lunch at a local hotel restaurant. One great thing about this trip is that I am eating incredible food. At lunch I was enjoying myself so much that I feel asleep. A cappuccino later and I was restored. Since we had more time to burn we decided to go for a walk and as I turned the corner there staring back at me was the Eifel Tower. Wow! How many times in life does that happen? Without any plans or direction I ended up at the Eiffel Tower. A brisk walk later and I’m standing under it. Crazy huh?
The trip back to the train station was another misadventure. We waited around for a taxi that never arrived and just as we decided to run back a taxi shows up. At the train station all was alright until I decided to study my train ticket and realized it doesn’t clearly say which train we were to take. After a few unsuccessful attempts at communicating with some people I finally located a woman who spoke English and she told me to look up at the ticker board. There I would be told what rail number the train was on 20 minutes before it departed. It actually turned out to be more like 10 minutes and we had to run to the section of the train we had been assigned. To be honest we barely made it before they closed the door. Everything worked out and now it’s time for me to relax until the next great adventure. Right now we don’t officially have a hotel room booked so I guess I’ll figure that out when I get to Lourdes.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Looking Within
Today I was taken captive against my will in Italy.
Today was a blessed day and I am grateful beyond words. I am still charged tonight soaking in all that has happened and that’s tonight’s lesson. Remember that life is full of beautiful moments if you allow yourself to live them. You don’t need to be in Italy to do this. Being here just reminded me that life is a journey and when you soak it in you find God within.
This morning I was abruptly awoken and forced to enjoy a delicious kabob brunch. Then I was marched to a local café and told I must enjoy an authentic Italian cappuccino. Soon there after I forced to take a scenic drive to Savona, Italy, a majestic city on the Ligurian Sea, and there I was further abused. When we arrived, I had to take off my shoes and enjoy walking in the cool and clear water while studying the beauty of an Italian city on the coast. Then by accident I ended up at an Old World fortress on the beach and met a man who reminded me to look within to find God. He then pointed me towards a local piazza and church. Before arriving I was forced to buy my wife and sister “authentic” Italian gifts I know they will love (sorry about the bill Babe). The church was closed so I was forced to head back to a beachside restaurant for dinner. As if I had not already had enough torment, I was forced to eat one of the tastiest pizzas I have ever had in my life, followed by a fresh seafood risotto, and toped off with a deliciously grilled and sliced steak. In between I was told I must drink fine Italian wine. Before I could leave I was abused on more time - I was made to taste both a deliciously creamy caramel cake and authentic tiramisu.
Tomorrow, I will actually be forced to wake up after 5 hours of sleep. I also have to run again. That might actually hurt.
Today was a blessed day and I am grateful beyond words. I am still charged tonight soaking in all that has happened and that’s tonight’s lesson. Remember that life is full of beautiful moments if you allow yourself to live them. You don’t need to be in Italy to do this. Being here just reminded me that life is a journey and when you soak it in you find God within.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Movie Moments
I was going to go silent this week but so much interesting stuff has happened I decided to jot it down so I don’t forget. Local time in Turin, Italy is 11:43 pm and I have not slept since Tuesday night. Here’s a snapshot of the journey so far.
Left D.C. on Wednesday afternoon and something surreal happened. Suddenly night crept up on me and in a flash it was morning. Stewardess tried to feed me breakfast at 1:30 am EST. Landing in Rome provided an amazing view of beautiful villas with vineyards. Ate real Italian gelato at something like 3:30 am EST. Became delirious for a moment there. Flew over to Turin and decided it’s best to stay up. After checking into the hotel I jumped into my running gear and headed for a nearby river walk and park. Also learned that you should not just run through a strange city without first checking things out. A car jumped out of a hidden entrance and I was literally 6 inches away from becoming an Italian sausage. After that I decided to walk to the park. The park was amazing and I felt blessed to be running there. Honestly, it was unbelievable – something straight out of a movie. I was so lost in the moment I ran for something like 1 hour on the pavement which I have never done before. On the return trip I accidently stumbled across an architecture school in an old castle (I went to architecture school myself so this was a unique blessing). Met some students and told them to keep in touch. Then I ended up in some horticulture park where a construction worker befriended me. His name was Nemo I believe – like the fish. On the way back I lost my bearings and ended up walking around for 2 hours before I returned to the hotel. I failed to remember the name of my hotel so no one could help me find it. I started to feel anxious (it’s crazy you can still get lost like that at my age) and prayed to St. Anthony to help me out. He did and I finally found the hotel. Next, I met up with my travelling partners, enjoyed a delicious Italian dinner, and headed for the Shrine of John the Baptist to see the shroud of Turin. It was am amazing experience. Hard to describe in words. Once again something straight out of a movie. On the way back our taxi driver flipped out because we did not remember the street address to our hotel and he could not read the map we were showing him (he needed reading glasses). In the end John the Baptist must have interceded on our behalf because we made it back safely.
That’s about it and tonight’s lesson is a quick one (I have to go to sleep even though its 6:04 am EST). Trust the journey. It will take you places you could never have imagined. And when you get there you will be blessed with “movie moments" you will never forget. Now I just need to bring my family back here so we can do all of this together. I'm enjoying the journey but without them here with me a piece of my heart is missing.
Here’s the song that motivated me to keep pushing on today, even after I became lost.
Left D.C. on Wednesday afternoon and something surreal happened. Suddenly night crept up on me and in a flash it was morning. Stewardess tried to feed me breakfast at 1:30 am EST. Landing in Rome provided an amazing view of beautiful villas with vineyards. Ate real Italian gelato at something like 3:30 am EST. Became delirious for a moment there. Flew over to Turin and decided it’s best to stay up. After checking into the hotel I jumped into my running gear and headed for a nearby river walk and park. Also learned that you should not just run through a strange city without first checking things out. A car jumped out of a hidden entrance and I was literally 6 inches away from becoming an Italian sausage. After that I decided to walk to the park. The park was amazing and I felt blessed to be running there. Honestly, it was unbelievable – something straight out of a movie. I was so lost in the moment I ran for something like 1 hour on the pavement which I have never done before. On the return trip I accidently stumbled across an architecture school in an old castle (I went to architecture school myself so this was a unique blessing). Met some students and told them to keep in touch. Then I ended up in some horticulture park where a construction worker befriended me. His name was Nemo I believe – like the fish. On the way back I lost my bearings and ended up walking around for 2 hours before I returned to the hotel. I failed to remember the name of my hotel so no one could help me find it. I started to feel anxious (it’s crazy you can still get lost like that at my age) and prayed to St. Anthony to help me out. He did and I finally found the hotel. Next, I met up with my travelling partners, enjoyed a delicious Italian dinner, and headed for the Shrine of John the Baptist to see the shroud of Turin. It was am amazing experience. Hard to describe in words. Once again something straight out of a movie. On the way back our taxi driver flipped out because we did not remember the street address to our hotel and he could not read the map we were showing him (he needed reading glasses). In the end John the Baptist must have interceded on our behalf because we made it back safely.
That’s about it and tonight’s lesson is a quick one (I have to go to sleep even though its 6:04 am EST). Trust the journey. It will take you places you could never have imagined. And when you get there you will be blessed with “movie moments" you will never forget. Now I just need to bring my family back here so we can do all of this together. I'm enjoying the journey but without them here with me a piece of my heart is missing.
Here’s the song that motivated me to keep pushing on today, even after I became lost.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Introspection
On every journey there comes a time to look within so that you might see anew. That time has come. See you in one week my friend (or maybe less).
The lesson? Take time to let life show you the way. Look. Listen. Reflect. Act. This is the essence of the journey.
Maybe what I’m seeking has been there all along and all I really need is a new set of eyes to see it.
Check out what the Hubble Space Telescope sees. Beautiful huh?
The lesson? Take time to let life show you the way. Look. Listen. Reflect. Act. This is the essence of the journey.
Maybe what I’m seeking has been there all along and all I really need is a new set of eyes to see it.
Check out what the Hubble Space Telescope sees. Beautiful huh?
Monday, May 17, 2010
Step by Step
Today a couple of events reminded me that everything in life is a process.
Next month my son will read a book in front of his Kindergarten class as a final assignment. He goes to a Montessori school and his teacher is one of the most talented educators I have ever come across. Part of her teaching method is to involve her students in fun projects that introduce them to the concept of process. The assigned projects take time and effort to complete and culminate in a presentation to the class and parents. This not only builds the child’s self confidence, it also builds their self esteem and concretely demonstrates that seeing a process through has inherent value.
So tonight my son threatened to rip apart the book we bought yesterday and which he is practicing to read to his class. Why? Because he became frustrated at doing something new. Some quick thinking on my part (and I’m not always good at this) helped me redirect his attitude. I asked him to think back to his first day at Taekwondo school. At first, he did not want to participate and wanted to go home because it was all new. Now he has earned a white belt, several tips, and is on his way to earning a yellow belt. He loves his class and has learned the value of focus and practice (he actually noted all of this himself). I told him he just needs to apply the same approach to this book reading assignment and by June he will have it mastered.
He agreed, studied the book a few more times, and then went downstairs to exercise. He likes to test his speed on the treadmill and his muscles on the home gym (I wish I was like that at 5 years old and probably so does my wife - remember that buff body thing I mentioned in past posts).
Inspired by my son’s positive spirit I set out on my own journey again – running outside now that my knee is feeling better. It felt good to run in the rain and I made an interesting observation. To run all you have to do is put one foot in front of the other. On occasion you will come across obstacles, like puddles, that can't be avoided - you just have to splash through them. With time you can go faster and farther (maybe more than you ever thought you could). The trick is to keep at it. That simple. And that’s tonight’s lesson. Keep at "it", whatever "that" is for you.
And to drive this lesson home, let's once again turn to my beloved Rocky.
Next month my son will read a book in front of his Kindergarten class as a final assignment. He goes to a Montessori school and his teacher is one of the most talented educators I have ever come across. Part of her teaching method is to involve her students in fun projects that introduce them to the concept of process. The assigned projects take time and effort to complete and culminate in a presentation to the class and parents. This not only builds the child’s self confidence, it also builds their self esteem and concretely demonstrates that seeing a process through has inherent value.
So tonight my son threatened to rip apart the book we bought yesterday and which he is practicing to read to his class. Why? Because he became frustrated at doing something new. Some quick thinking on my part (and I’m not always good at this) helped me redirect his attitude. I asked him to think back to his first day at Taekwondo school. At first, he did not want to participate and wanted to go home because it was all new. Now he has earned a white belt, several tips, and is on his way to earning a yellow belt. He loves his class and has learned the value of focus and practice (he actually noted all of this himself). I told him he just needs to apply the same approach to this book reading assignment and by June he will have it mastered.
He agreed, studied the book a few more times, and then went downstairs to exercise. He likes to test his speed on the treadmill and his muscles on the home gym (I wish I was like that at 5 years old and probably so does my wife - remember that buff body thing I mentioned in past posts).
Inspired by my son’s positive spirit I set out on my own journey again – running outside now that my knee is feeling better. It felt good to run in the rain and I made an interesting observation. To run all you have to do is put one foot in front of the other. On occasion you will come across obstacles, like puddles, that can't be avoided - you just have to splash through them. With time you can go faster and farther (maybe more than you ever thought you could). The trick is to keep at it. That simple. And that’s tonight’s lesson. Keep at "it", whatever "that" is for you.
And to drive this lesson home, let's once again turn to my beloved Rocky.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Metamorphosis
Thanks to my mom, my family and I got to live a fairy tale moment today. A few weeks ago she brought home three-dozen caterpillars and since that time we have patiently watched a magical journey, known as metamorphosis, unfold. This afternoon that magical journey culminated in a beautiful moment as thirty-six or so recently hatched butterflies swarmed around us before flying off into the unknown. This awesome moment reminded me that everyday magic still exists and I felt blessed my kids were able to experience this unique event (sorry TOAB but I took video and photos for you).
It also reminded me of a story I heard a few years back.
One day a man was looking outside his window and saw a caterpillar turning into a chrysalis (called a cocoon when referring to moths). Day after day the man would look at the chrysalis for evidence of change. Finally, he saw a butterfly starting to emerge. He watched it closely and noticed it was struggling to break free. His heart went out to this poor struggling creature so he decided to help. He grabbed a pair of scissors, went outside, and cut the tip of the chrysalis off. He felt good about his charitable act and went back inside. The next day he went outside to see if the butterfly had flown away. Instead he found it lying on the ground dead. You see, the struggle butterflies go through while emerging from their chrysalis causes blood to flow into and strengthen their wings so they can fly. Avoiding this struggle left the butterfly unable to fly and thus live.
The lesson in all of this is that everyday magic still exists, but it is generally preceded by a struggle. Avoid the struggle and you might not gain the strength to venture into the unknown. Why would you want to venture into the unknown? Because it's where you discover your life’s purpose.
Here is a video illustrating a type of everyday magic known as metamorphosis.
It also reminded me of a story I heard a few years back.
One day a man was looking outside his window and saw a caterpillar turning into a chrysalis (called a cocoon when referring to moths). Day after day the man would look at the chrysalis for evidence of change. Finally, he saw a butterfly starting to emerge. He watched it closely and noticed it was struggling to break free. His heart went out to this poor struggling creature so he decided to help. He grabbed a pair of scissors, went outside, and cut the tip of the chrysalis off. He felt good about his charitable act and went back inside. The next day he went outside to see if the butterfly had flown away. Instead he found it lying on the ground dead. You see, the struggle butterflies go through while emerging from their chrysalis causes blood to flow into and strengthen their wings so they can fly. Avoiding this struggle left the butterfly unable to fly and thus live.
The lesson in all of this is that everyday magic still exists, but it is generally preceded by a struggle. Avoid the struggle and you might not gain the strength to venture into the unknown. Why would you want to venture into the unknown? Because it's where you discover your life’s purpose.
Here is a video illustrating a type of everyday magic known as metamorphosis.
Friday, May 14, 2010
When in Rome
Funny how life plays out when you embrace the unknown. Last night I received an invitation to travel to Italy and France next week. In the past I would have thought things through and maybe even talked myself out of going, but not this time. My response was a simple, “Yes.” I made sure this decision was cool with my wife and work, and thankfully everyone was supportive. I'm still amazed at how life can take such interesting twists in a moment.
Next thing you know I’ll be running in the streets of Rome, Turin, Paris, and Lourdes and wondering how I ended up there.
Actually, I think I know how I ended up here. Beyond running this whole journey I’m blogging about has been my attempt at opening myself up to the unknown. It looks like the unknown just invited me on a European adventure and I am truly grateful. I wonder if Clark Griswold had anything to do with it. More than likely it was Saint Don Bosco, another one of my heroes.
So how am I going to prepare for this trip? I’m not. I’m simply going to pack light, put my mismatching running gear, camera, and laptop in a backpack, and trust that everything will work out. Not my usual style but I’m not my usual self lately, and that’s a good thing. I’m sort of starting to enjoy this whole flying between the trapeze bars experience (see blog post “In the Moment”).
If you’re wondering how you too can get invited on great adventures I will share this with you. Take the first step towards doing something different in your life. Pick something that is challenging and at the same time adding value to your mind, body, spirit, and emotions. Commit to it, hang on, and push forward. With time a random occurrence that leaves you amazed will appear – I promise. And when it does be ready to say, “Yes!” This is tonight’s lesson.
One of the things I will be seeing when I get to Italy is the Shroud of Turin. It's believed to be Jesus' burial cloth and was not supposed to be on display for another 25-years, but as fate would have it, it's on display next week - amazing. Here’s an interesting video on it.
Next thing you know I’ll be running in the streets of Rome, Turin, Paris, and Lourdes and wondering how I ended up there.
Actually, I think I know how I ended up here. Beyond running this whole journey I’m blogging about has been my attempt at opening myself up to the unknown. It looks like the unknown just invited me on a European adventure and I am truly grateful. I wonder if Clark Griswold had anything to do with it. More than likely it was Saint Don Bosco, another one of my heroes.
So how am I going to prepare for this trip? I’m not. I’m simply going to pack light, put my mismatching running gear, camera, and laptop in a backpack, and trust that everything will work out. Not my usual style but I’m not my usual self lately, and that’s a good thing. I’m sort of starting to enjoy this whole flying between the trapeze bars experience (see blog post “In the Moment”).
If you’re wondering how you too can get invited on great adventures I will share this with you. Take the first step towards doing something different in your life. Pick something that is challenging and at the same time adding value to your mind, body, spirit, and emotions. Commit to it, hang on, and push forward. With time a random occurrence that leaves you amazed will appear – I promise. And when it does be ready to say, “Yes!” This is tonight’s lesson.
One of the things I will be seeing when I get to Italy is the Shroud of Turin. It's believed to be Jesus' burial cloth and was not supposed to be on display for another 25-years, but as fate would have it, it's on display next week - amazing. Here’s an interesting video on it.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Seek First to Understand
In his popular book, “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People”, Stephen Covey gives a vivid account of a paradigm shift. One day Covey was riding the train and lost his cool with some unruly kids and their nonchalant father. Annoyed he asked the man to control his children. The man apologized and explained that his wife, the children’s mother, had just passed away. He said the kids were not sure how to take the news and neither was he.
Instantly, Covey’s paradigm shifted from one of annoyance to one of empathy and shame for being so inpatient.
Something like this happened to me tonight.
As I was pulling up to my house a car riding behind me sped up and tried to pass me on the left. Instantly, my anger got the best of me and I yelled at the driver as she drove by. Years ago they connected my neighborhood to an adjacent development which turned my street into a convenient cut-through. People tend to speed through risking the lives of neighborhood kids and this really upsets me. That paradigm is what made me lash out the way I did.
Then my paradigm shifted.
As the woman drove by she looked at me frantically and apologetically and said, “I’m really sorry, I’m trying to get my baby to the hospital.” My anger instantly turned to concern and shame. Later I called the hospital to see what happened. Unfortunately, they will not release any information unless you have a name, which I didn’t. I remember her personalized tags and have seen the car before so I will continue my search with some police friends. Honestly, I feel miserable about this whole thing. I pray everything is alright.
Tonight’s lesson is borrowed from Covey’s book. “Seek first to understand, then to be understood.” This just may save you some serious shame and worrying in the future.
Here is a clever summary of Covey’s book in 5 minutes that also introduces you to a mnemonic (memory technique) for remembering the "7 Habits" in detail. You will be amazed at how this works.
Also, here is a link to order Covey's book from Amazon if you're interested.
7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Instantly, Covey’s paradigm shifted from one of annoyance to one of empathy and shame for being so inpatient.
Something like this happened to me tonight.
As I was pulling up to my house a car riding behind me sped up and tried to pass me on the left. Instantly, my anger got the best of me and I yelled at the driver as she drove by. Years ago they connected my neighborhood to an adjacent development which turned my street into a convenient cut-through. People tend to speed through risking the lives of neighborhood kids and this really upsets me. That paradigm is what made me lash out the way I did.
Then my paradigm shifted.
As the woman drove by she looked at me frantically and apologetically and said, “I’m really sorry, I’m trying to get my baby to the hospital.” My anger instantly turned to concern and shame. Later I called the hospital to see what happened. Unfortunately, they will not release any information unless you have a name, which I didn’t. I remember her personalized tags and have seen the car before so I will continue my search with some police friends. Honestly, I feel miserable about this whole thing. I pray everything is alright.
Tonight’s lesson is borrowed from Covey’s book. “Seek first to understand, then to be understood.” This just may save you some serious shame and worrying in the future.
Here is a clever summary of Covey’s book in 5 minutes that also introduces you to a mnemonic (memory technique) for remembering the "7 Habits" in detail. You will be amazed at how this works.
Also, here is a link to order Covey's book from Amazon if you're interested.
7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Faith and Love in Action
On every journey the gremlins of the past, present, and future will show up after a breakthrough to kick the living crap out of you for daring to change. They have names like hurt, shame, rage, anger, resent, bitterness, and unforgiveness. If you allow them to, they will destroy you.
Tonight they almost did me in.
All was well until bedtime when the kids weren’t cooperating and neither my wife nor I had the patience to endure. That event triggered a storm in me that has been brewing for a while. It has nothing to do with my wife or kid’s but instead with lack of sleep, unresolved issues of the past, demands of the present, and worries of the future. Tonight I failed to be a great husband and dad and I can only ask my family’s forgiveness.
The storm settled down then another gremlin paid me a visit to stir things up again. All I could do was shut off my computer, complain to my wife, and get into bed. Then the spirit of Rocky spoke to me and said, “It ain’t about how hard you can hit, it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward… how much you can take and keep moving forward. Get up. Get up!”
No more B.S. I will change. I will become a great dad even though I’m not sure how to do so. I will destroy the gremlins of the past, present, and future. They will not destroy me. I will strike back to the tune of running 40 minutes non-stop, which I did. This isn’t much but it’s more than I ever thought I could do right now.
Tonight’s lesson? To reach your life’s dream you must face and overcome the gremlins that stand in the way. Don’t externalize them because they live inside of you. Either you will destroy them or they will destroy you. How do you destroy them? Through faith and love in action. And after you destroy the gremlins? Show others what life looks like without them.
Here’s a a movie clip that resonates with this lesson.
Tonight they almost did me in.
All was well until bedtime when the kids weren’t cooperating and neither my wife nor I had the patience to endure. That event triggered a storm in me that has been brewing for a while. It has nothing to do with my wife or kid’s but instead with lack of sleep, unresolved issues of the past, demands of the present, and worries of the future. Tonight I failed to be a great husband and dad and I can only ask my family’s forgiveness.
The storm settled down then another gremlin paid me a visit to stir things up again. All I could do was shut off my computer, complain to my wife, and get into bed. Then the spirit of Rocky spoke to me and said, “It ain’t about how hard you can hit, it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward… how much you can take and keep moving forward. Get up. Get up!”
No more B.S. I will change. I will become a great dad even though I’m not sure how to do so. I will destroy the gremlins of the past, present, and future. They will not destroy me. I will strike back to the tune of running 40 minutes non-stop, which I did. This isn’t much but it’s more than I ever thought I could do right now.
Tonight’s lesson? To reach your life’s dream you must face and overcome the gremlins that stand in the way. Don’t externalize them because they live inside of you. Either you will destroy them or they will destroy you. How do you destroy them? Through faith and love in action. And after you destroy the gremlins? Show others what life looks like without them.
Here’s a a movie clip that resonates with this lesson.
Breakin' the Rules
In an effort to bring a smile to wife’s face I decided to assemble my Bio Force home gym tonight (trying to deliver on that buff body concept). I love putting things together and actually enjoyed the whole experience. In the end I was left with a huge mess and a two large cardboard boxes, so of course I got to thinking. Hmmm… What can you do with two large cardboard boxes?
Breakdance on them of course! Now I just need some duct tape, an old school boombox, and Puma’s with fat laces (all still in my closet).
Over the last couple of years I have busted out a few B-Boy moves at some parties, and though my friends are kind, I know their thinking, “Ohhh... at least he's trying.” This needs to stop and I need to be able to once again pop-and-lock like Ozone and spin a windmill like Crazy Legs (not that I was ever actually able to do that but a guy's got a right to dream). To get this you need to watch Breakin' and Beat Street which I’m sure you will thank me for later!
So now my running journey has taken on another new twist – cardio dance workouts with the potential of breaking my bones. I love it! and so will my kids when they see old pops throwing down to “Breakers Revenge”.
The lesson in all of this is to keep doing things you love regardless of age, people’s opinion, or the potential of breaking your bones (ok, you might want to take it easy with this last part). Who knows, you might just enjoy yourself and also wow your friends at parties (if you don't throw out you back and make them laugh instead).
Here are two of my favorite breakdancing movie clips from the ‘80s. Now I just need to find a Puma windbreaker, parachute pants, and a Kangoo hat.
TOAB, maybe Ozone will invite me to a BBQ at his house. ;-)
Breakdance on them of course! Now I just need some duct tape, an old school boombox, and Puma’s with fat laces (all still in my closet).
Over the last couple of years I have busted out a few B-Boy moves at some parties, and though my friends are kind, I know their thinking, “Ohhh... at least he's trying.” This needs to stop and I need to be able to once again pop-and-lock like Ozone and spin a windmill like Crazy Legs (not that I was ever actually able to do that but a guy's got a right to dream). To get this you need to watch Breakin' and Beat Street which I’m sure you will thank me for later!
So now my running journey has taken on another new twist – cardio dance workouts with the potential of breaking my bones. I love it! and so will my kids when they see old pops throwing down to “Breakers Revenge”.
The lesson in all of this is to keep doing things you love regardless of age, people’s opinion, or the potential of breaking your bones (ok, you might want to take it easy with this last part). Who knows, you might just enjoy yourself and also wow your friends at parties (if you don't throw out you back and make them laugh instead).
Here are two of my favorite breakdancing movie clips from the ‘80s. Now I just need to find a Puma windbreaker, parachute pants, and a Kangoo hat.
TOAB, maybe Ozone will invite me to a BBQ at his house. ;-)
Monday, May 10, 2010
Make a Difference
After every breakdown comes a breakthrough. Tonight I had a small breakthrough in the form of running 30 straight minutes with no walking. Honestly, I was tired of blogging about my BS bum knee situation and figured it was time to get over it.
In the past weeks I have been running with bravado, but tonight I made a conscious effort to adhere to the proper running mechanics and it was fantastic. I’m not sure if I’m doing things right just yet, but my running felt much more natural and exerted less strain on my knees.
On June 12th I have committed to running my first ever 5k event to raise money for the Cool Kids Campaign (please see link at right of screen). “The Cool Kids Campaign is an organization dedicated to improving the life for pediatric oncology patients and their families while they are going through the trauma of a cancer diagnosis and its treatments.”
My cousin-in-law is one of the event coordinators and it would be great if you would consider signing up. I would love to see/meet you there. Note, you don't have to run, there is a 1 mile walk.
Tonight’s lesson sort of ties together a few of the last lessons presented. One, sometimes you just need to get up and make it happen. Two, caring will inspire you with the courage and strength to do the impossible. Find something you truly care about and use it to drive you into action.
Here is a quote by Mother Teresa that resonates with this lesson.
“It is not the magnitude of our actions but the amount of love that is put into them that matters.”
Also, here is a music video to keep you going when you feel like you have nothing left to give.
In the past weeks I have been running with bravado, but tonight I made a conscious effort to adhere to the proper running mechanics and it was fantastic. I’m not sure if I’m doing things right just yet, but my running felt much more natural and exerted less strain on my knees.
On June 12th I have committed to running my first ever 5k event to raise money for the Cool Kids Campaign (please see link at right of screen). “The Cool Kids Campaign is an organization dedicated to improving the life for pediatric oncology patients and their families while they are going through the trauma of a cancer diagnosis and its treatments.”
My cousin-in-law is one of the event coordinators and it would be great if you would consider signing up. I would love to see/meet you there. Note, you don't have to run, there is a 1 mile walk.
Tonight’s lesson sort of ties together a few of the last lessons presented. One, sometimes you just need to get up and make it happen. Two, caring will inspire you with the courage and strength to do the impossible. Find something you truly care about and use it to drive you into action.
Here is a quote by Mother Teresa that resonates with this lesson.
“It is not the magnitude of our actions but the amount of love that is put into them that matters.”
Also, here is a music video to keep you going when you feel like you have nothing left to give.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Lost and Found
I feel blessed to be where I am and totally scarred of where I am going. The future is clear and blurry at the same time. What if I fail? What if I succeed? Am I doing God’s will? Why do I feel anxious? Why do I feel excited? I seem to know something, but do I really know it? I want to go to sleep, but I want to stay up and do things. Should I push forward? Should I take a break? God, Father, please help me. I am a heap of dichotomies.
The lesson? Sometimes it’s ok to be lost. It might help you find yourself.
Here’s a song from the movie Cars that resonates with this lesson. Gotta love the power of Country music.
"Live for someone else." Maybe that's the trick to life.
The lesson? Sometimes it’s ok to be lost. It might help you find yourself.
Here’s a song from the movie Cars that resonates with this lesson. Gotta love the power of Country music.
"Live for someone else." Maybe that's the trick to life.
Courage in Motion
Here is a tale of passion and running that inspires me to keep pushing forward. I hope it inspires you too.
Friday, May 7, 2010
Caution Ahead!
There is a sticker on my bike that says, “Warning – Night riding is dangerous.” Ignoring that warning almost cost me my life tonight. As I was coming to an intersection an oncoming car swung around a little too fast and the driver must not have seen me because his headlights were headed straight for me. A quick swerve on my part and some hard braking from the driver kept my wife from becoming an instant millionaire (life insurance you know).
This got me thinking. I love the whole "dive in" thing, but a healthy dose of caution might save my life so I can actually make it the Army 10-Miler.
And so I have to confess. Last week when I tweaked my knee I was being careless. I was too tired to run but pushed myself anyway and while running I sort of dozed off, lost my balance, and landed on my right foot at an awkward angle. This explains my bum knee.
I learned from all of this though. Intensity and desire to do something is great, and makes for interesting blogging, but not really knowing what you’re getting into or what you're doing can have its price.
The trick to making it in the unknown is to balance passionate action with logical thinking. Act and think, think and act. This will increase your chances of success and help you avoid unnecessary setbacks like a bum knee or getting hit by a car. That is tonight's lesson.
I’m heeding my own advice and here’s a video to prove it.
Dad, if you’re reading this blog I made the whole thing up.
This got me thinking. I love the whole "dive in" thing, but a healthy dose of caution might save my life so I can actually make it the Army 10-Miler.
And so I have to confess. Last week when I tweaked my knee I was being careless. I was too tired to run but pushed myself anyway and while running I sort of dozed off, lost my balance, and landed on my right foot at an awkward angle. This explains my bum knee.
I learned from all of this though. Intensity and desire to do something is great, and makes for interesting blogging, but not really knowing what you’re getting into or what you're doing can have its price.
The trick to making it in the unknown is to balance passionate action with logical thinking. Act and think, think and act. This will increase your chances of success and help you avoid unnecessary setbacks like a bum knee or getting hit by a car. That is tonight's lesson.
I’m heeding my own advice and here’s a video to prove it.
Dad, if you’re reading this blog I made the whole thing up.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Get a Laugh
“A sense of humor is a major defense against minor troubles.”
~ Mignon McLaughlin
In light of my melancholic state yesterday and the quote above, tonight I’m going in a new direction. I’m no poet but I’m going to lay down a poetic tribute to another one of my childhood heroes, Clark Griswold, of National Lampoon's European Vacation fame.
The sun broke through my window
And shined its light on my soul
My thoughts rushed back to times of friendship and family
The years have passed but the memories remain
Simple days when the moment felt like years
Days warmed by the summer sun’s rays
And the humor of a man on a journey
Through trial and struggle he created a way for his family
Through the European countryside he traveled
The day came when his manhood was challenged
A handful of drunk dancing buffoons with violence on their mind
Slap after slap they tested his resolve
Until there was no more to take
Finally our hero could take no mo’
He reached back like a pimp and knocked out the bro
The humor is not for the faint of heart
It takes courage to laugh in the face of terror
For this I will watch my hero again
And you can too by clicking below
Oh, the lesson in all of this? Remember to laugh. It's the anecdote for a discouraged spirit.
And I did run again today.
~ Mignon McLaughlin
In light of my melancholic state yesterday and the quote above, tonight I’m going in a new direction. I’m no poet but I’m going to lay down a poetic tribute to another one of my childhood heroes, Clark Griswold, of National Lampoon's European Vacation fame.
The sun broke through my window
And shined its light on my soul
My thoughts rushed back to times of friendship and family
The years have passed but the memories remain
Simple days when the moment felt like years
Days warmed by the summer sun’s rays
And the humor of a man on a journey
Through trial and struggle he created a way for his family
Through the European countryside he traveled
The day came when his manhood was challenged
A handful of drunk dancing buffoons with violence on their mind
Slap after slap they tested his resolve
Until there was no more to take
Finally our hero could take no mo’
He reached back like a pimp and knocked out the bro
The humor is not for the faint of heart
It takes courage to laugh in the face of terror
For this I will watch my hero again
And you can too by clicking below
Oh, the lesson in all of this? Remember to laugh. It's the anecdote for a discouraged spirit.
And I did run again today.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
The Dark Path
I don’t know what to say tonight. Life is complicated right now.
Previous blog entries seem to mask what I’m really dealing with – major life change. Maybe this running and blogging thing is all a front for not saying what I really want to say and not knowing how to say it.
I tend to try and see the positive side of life, but life is not feeling so positive right now. Hold on and be patient I’m told. But holding on when you’ve been hanging from a moving plane for so long is not so easy.
Rocky, Cru, and Rick (see previous blogs) all have something in common. They are fictional characters and their life journeys take all of 1.5 hours. My life is real and the journey feels like forever.
But all hope is not gone. I rode my bike this morning and evening and the knee is getting better day by day. I should be able to run again soon.
Melancholy. Is that what I’m feeling? What happen to the “runners high”? It’s still there but this is real life not a movie. Maybe the melencholy is a side effect of the estrogen injections my sister has been giving me.
Here goes tonight's lesson.
Every journey ventures into a dark forest where the path you’ve been walking on fades into the earth. Yes, you need to stop and look around, but you also need to keep moving forward. God only knows where you’ll end up, but you need to trust it’s exactly where you need to be.
Here’s a clip from the movie Saint Ralph that captures the spirit of this lesson in the movie's climatic end - a marathon.
Previous blog entries seem to mask what I’m really dealing with – major life change. Maybe this running and blogging thing is all a front for not saying what I really want to say and not knowing how to say it.
I tend to try and see the positive side of life, but life is not feeling so positive right now. Hold on and be patient I’m told. But holding on when you’ve been hanging from a moving plane for so long is not so easy.
Rocky, Cru, and Rick (see previous blogs) all have something in common. They are fictional characters and their life journeys take all of 1.5 hours. My life is real and the journey feels like forever.
But all hope is not gone. I rode my bike this morning and evening and the knee is getting better day by day. I should be able to run again soon.
Melancholy. Is that what I’m feeling? What happen to the “runners high”? It’s still there but this is real life not a movie. Maybe the melencholy is a side effect of the estrogen injections my sister has been giving me.
Here goes tonight's lesson.
Every journey ventures into a dark forest where the path you’ve been walking on fades into the earth. Yes, you need to stop and look around, but you also need to keep moving forward. God only knows where you’ll end up, but you need to trust it’s exactly where you need to be.
Here’s a clip from the movie Saint Ralph that captures the spirit of this lesson in the movie's climatic end - a marathon.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Wave by Wave
Bowflex opted not to return my email requesting sponsorship so I opted to buy a Bio Force instead. My intent is to build-up strength in my legs, but my wife is praying a novena for a buff body promised a long time ago. Let’s see what happens.
This evening I continued my training by taking my two sons out on our first ever father-son bike ride. It was great. My oldest son crashed into his brother and went flying over the handle bars. Soon thereafter, my youngest son lost control, planted both of his feet on the ground, and proceeded to fly into the air over the handle bars as well. After a hug and words of encouragement, I put them both back on their bikes and said, "Let's keep going." It hurts me to see them hurt, but I need to teach them resiliency so they can preservere and eventually take off their training wheels.
That is something I am learning all over again with this whole running and blogging thing. Nothing worth attaining in life is ever just given to you. You really have to step out in faith and work for it.
This theme brings me to one of my other childhood heroes, Rick Kane. Rick was just an ordinary guy surfing wave tanks in Arizona, but he had a big dream. Too bad for Rick his dream was truly disproportionate to his abilities. Rick dreamed of surfing the big waves of the North Shore in Hawaii. An impossible feat for even the best surfers, but especially impossible for a surfer from Arizona. Rick persevered though, and made it to the North Shore after winning a wave tank surfing competition and earning enough money to buy a plane ticket to Hawaii.
Once at the North Shore, Rick attacked his first wave – one the locals called a “toilet bowl ripple” - with reckless abandon. With his confidence boosted he moved on to a much larger and powerful wave. It almost killed him. As luck would have it a beautiful Hawaiian girl, Kiani, saved him from further calamity by rubbing aloe on cuts inflicted by poison coral reef he had scraped across.
Destiny was on Rick’s side and he met one the coolest dudes ever, Turtle, as well as a surfing master and surfboard shaper, Chandler. Chandler took Rick under his wing and trained him in the art of “soul” surfing. Rick was an obedient student and little by little he progressed in his abilities. After an an ass whooping or two, a romantic affair, and a break-up/make-up, Rick self actualized and entered a pro surfing competition. In the final showdown its Rick against the world surfing champion, Lance.
The difference between Rick and Lance is Rick is a “soul” surfer and Lance is a "shredder". Rick and Lance have a brief chat during the final moments of the competition. Rick is laughing to himself and Lance annoyingly asks him what he is laughing at because they are both about to lose the competition (no waves in sight). Rick simply replies, "I'm just glad to be here." Then a wave rolls in and Lance, the bastard, cheats Rick out of the title by pulling on Rick's surfboard leash just as he is standing.
Not to worry though. Lance is caught on camera and makes the local newspaper headline. Rick leaves Hawaii and his new love to go to art school in NY, NY. Chandler sends him off with a custom made surfboard.
The lesson in all of this? Dreams require patience and at times a lot of personal growth before they can be realized. And when you do achieve them, remember it was the journey that mattered most. My "soul" friend from Thailand always tells me, "Savor the journey not just the destination." Great advice in line with tonight's lesson. Thanks G.
On a side note, here is a clip from North Shore - another one of the finest movies ever produced in the ‘80s. In this clip Rick is learning to surf the North Shore wave by wave and board by board (add a few wipeouts here and there as well).
If you like the song here is a link to download it from iTunes.
Gary Wright - "Am I the One"
This evening I continued my training by taking my two sons out on our first ever father-son bike ride. It was great. My oldest son crashed into his brother and went flying over the handle bars. Soon thereafter, my youngest son lost control, planted both of his feet on the ground, and proceeded to fly into the air over the handle bars as well. After a hug and words of encouragement, I put them both back on their bikes and said, "Let's keep going." It hurts me to see them hurt, but I need to teach them resiliency so they can preservere and eventually take off their training wheels.
That is something I am learning all over again with this whole running and blogging thing. Nothing worth attaining in life is ever just given to you. You really have to step out in faith and work for it.
This theme brings me to one of my other childhood heroes, Rick Kane. Rick was just an ordinary guy surfing wave tanks in Arizona, but he had a big dream. Too bad for Rick his dream was truly disproportionate to his abilities. Rick dreamed of surfing the big waves of the North Shore in Hawaii. An impossible feat for even the best surfers, but especially impossible for a surfer from Arizona. Rick persevered though, and made it to the North Shore after winning a wave tank surfing competition and earning enough money to buy a plane ticket to Hawaii.
Once at the North Shore, Rick attacked his first wave – one the locals called a “toilet bowl ripple” - with reckless abandon. With his confidence boosted he moved on to a much larger and powerful wave. It almost killed him. As luck would have it a beautiful Hawaiian girl, Kiani, saved him from further calamity by rubbing aloe on cuts inflicted by poison coral reef he had scraped across.
Destiny was on Rick’s side and he met one the coolest dudes ever, Turtle, as well as a surfing master and surfboard shaper, Chandler. Chandler took Rick under his wing and trained him in the art of “soul” surfing. Rick was an obedient student and little by little he progressed in his abilities. After an an ass whooping or two, a romantic affair, and a break-up/make-up, Rick self actualized and entered a pro surfing competition. In the final showdown its Rick against the world surfing champion, Lance.
The difference between Rick and Lance is Rick is a “soul” surfer and Lance is a "shredder". Rick and Lance have a brief chat during the final moments of the competition. Rick is laughing to himself and Lance annoyingly asks him what he is laughing at because they are both about to lose the competition (no waves in sight). Rick simply replies, "I'm just glad to be here." Then a wave rolls in and Lance, the bastard, cheats Rick out of the title by pulling on Rick's surfboard leash just as he is standing.
Not to worry though. Lance is caught on camera and makes the local newspaper headline. Rick leaves Hawaii and his new love to go to art school in NY, NY. Chandler sends him off with a custom made surfboard.
The lesson in all of this? Dreams require patience and at times a lot of personal growth before they can be realized. And when you do achieve them, remember it was the journey that mattered most. My "soul" friend from Thailand always tells me, "Savor the journey not just the destination." Great advice in line with tonight's lesson. Thanks G.
On a side note, here is a clip from North Shore - another one of the finest movies ever produced in the ‘80s. In this clip Rick is learning to surf the North Shore wave by wave and board by board (add a few wipeouts here and there as well).
If you like the song here is a link to download it from iTunes.
Gary Wright - "Am I the One"
Monday, May 3, 2010
Remembering When
Tonight I almost went to the dark side of the moon (simply meaning I was going to go quiet for a while). Why? Because I’m feeling a bit guilty. Guilty about what? Taking on so many projects that I’m not spending as much time with my kids as I would like to. This whole journey has one purpose for me. To make me a better dad and I don’t want to become a distant one in the process.
However, as fate would have it, I found one more blog within me (but I might still go silent for a while because every journey requires time for introspection). Inspired by Cru Jones (see blog "Time to Get Rad"), I bought a mountain bike (not sure how to pay for it yet), jumped on it the moment I got home (I have never ridden a bike with gears), peddled like a maniac for 1.5 miles around my neighborhood in the dark with no helmet on, ripped my jeans at the cuff, splashed mud all over myself, and LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT!
So this journey has taken on a new twist – cross training on a mountain bike to condition my bum knee. It’s been so long since I've ridden a bike I forgot how good it feels to fly down a hill with the wind blowing against your face. I would not recommend doing this at night, but then again, riding in the dark adds a dose of suspense (like running into a pothole, flying through the air, and knocking out two front teeth).
WOW! I just had a flashback to junior high when I rode my bike to a girl’s house one night and… that’s another story. Ok, in the spirit of transparency here’s the full story. A friend of mine (a girl from school) invited me over to meet her friend (I guess that’s how things worked back in the day), we met and exchanged pleasantries, she told me she was leaving to Europe the next day, we promised to write each other, I rode home and snuck back into my house, I listened to a lame '80s love song over and over again, we wrote once, we never talked again, I never thought about that night again until now. The end.
So what’s tonight’s lesson. Remember to do things you loved doing as a kid. There is a reason you loved them. So what if the neighbors think you're crazy? Do it anyway as long as it doesn’t lead to imprisonment, poor health, listening to lame love songs from the '80s, pointless letter writing with girls that move away to Europe, growing a mullet like Richard Marx, etc…
If you either want to become nostalgic or laugh at my youthful foolishness, here is the love song noted above (with Spanish subtitles). And if you’re wondering, only one woman truly owns my heart – my wife (like the shout out Babe?). However, there is another woman in my life who is my heart - my daughter. And the woman who gave me my heart - my mom of course.
There is one more woman though. The one who has been pushing me to follow my heart lately (and injecting estrogen into it on a daily basis) - my sister. The estrogen injections explain the video below.
However, as fate would have it, I found one more blog within me (but I might still go silent for a while because every journey requires time for introspection). Inspired by Cru Jones (see blog "Time to Get Rad"), I bought a mountain bike (not sure how to pay for it yet), jumped on it the moment I got home (I have never ridden a bike with gears), peddled like a maniac for 1.5 miles around my neighborhood in the dark with no helmet on, ripped my jeans at the cuff, splashed mud all over myself, and LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT!
So this journey has taken on a new twist – cross training on a mountain bike to condition my bum knee. It’s been so long since I've ridden a bike I forgot how good it feels to fly down a hill with the wind blowing against your face. I would not recommend doing this at night, but then again, riding in the dark adds a dose of suspense (like running into a pothole, flying through the air, and knocking out two front teeth).
WOW! I just had a flashback to junior high when I rode my bike to a girl’s house one night and… that’s another story. Ok, in the spirit of transparency here’s the full story. A friend of mine (a girl from school) invited me over to meet her friend (I guess that’s how things worked back in the day), we met and exchanged pleasantries, she told me she was leaving to Europe the next day, we promised to write each other, I rode home and snuck back into my house, I listened to a lame '80s love song over and over again, we wrote once, we never talked again, I never thought about that night again until now. The end.
So what’s tonight’s lesson. Remember to do things you loved doing as a kid. There is a reason you loved them. So what if the neighbors think you're crazy? Do it anyway as long as it doesn’t lead to imprisonment, poor health, listening to lame love songs from the '80s, pointless letter writing with girls that move away to Europe, growing a mullet like Richard Marx, etc…
If you either want to become nostalgic or laugh at my youthful foolishness, here is the love song noted above (with Spanish subtitles). And if you’re wondering, only one woman truly owns my heart – my wife (like the shout out Babe?). However, there is another woman in my life who is my heart - my daughter. And the woman who gave me my heart - my mom of course.
There is one more woman though. The one who has been pushing me to follow my heart lately (and injecting estrogen into it on a daily basis) - my sister. The estrogen injections explain the video below.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Trying New Things
Tonight I had the pleasure of sampling braised pig’s ear and steamed jelly fish at a Taiwanese restaurant in Rockville, MD. Why would I do such a thing you might ask? Has this running and blogging thing made me mad? The simple answer is no. I did so because of two powerful forces - passion and friendship.
You see, tonight I enjoyed a meal with two old friends and mentors. One of them, a Zen master from Taiwan (at least that’s how we think of him and he really is from Taiwan), has a passion for exotic cuisine. As he described these delicacies with such intensity and enthusiasm, also known as passion, I became convinced I needed to step out of my comfort zone and try something new. We also ate a few other interesting dishes and finished off the meal with a delicious desert made of shaved ice lathered in lychee juice, a caramel like sauce (I’m not sure what it was made of), and softened peanuts. The passion my friend shared with me encouraged my agreement but it was the friendship we share that ultimately motivated me to follow through. Much to my surprise braised pig’s ear taste like beef jerky and steamed jelly fish has a similar taste and texture to calamari. I highly recommend you try them if ever in a Taiwanese restaurant with a Zen master.
Tonight’s lesson builds on the concepts of passion and friendship. Passion is a powerful force that can inspire you to do things you never thought you would do (this can be good or bad though). The idea is to become passionate about things that enrich your life and the lives of those around you, like trying new foods, jumping out of planes, dancing like a lunatic when you are home alone, etc… Passion wakes you up in the morning and inspires you to get in motion. If you feel you lack passion in you life you might want to ask yourself why. One easy way to get some passion is to spend time with passionate people and say, "Yes," when they offer you braised pig’s ear and steamed jellyfish. This is where friendship comes in. Passion pushes you into action, but caring about people fills you with the courage to act. Tonight I was blessed to see all of this manifested in an exotic meal with two great people.
Here is an inspiring tale of passion and avant-garde cuisine. This is a must see.
Chef José Andrés on 60 Minutes
Also, here is an intro to Zen if you're interested.
You see, tonight I enjoyed a meal with two old friends and mentors. One of them, a Zen master from Taiwan (at least that’s how we think of him and he really is from Taiwan), has a passion for exotic cuisine. As he described these delicacies with such intensity and enthusiasm, also known as passion, I became convinced I needed to step out of my comfort zone and try something new. We also ate a few other interesting dishes and finished off the meal with a delicious desert made of shaved ice lathered in lychee juice, a caramel like sauce (I’m not sure what it was made of), and softened peanuts. The passion my friend shared with me encouraged my agreement but it was the friendship we share that ultimately motivated me to follow through. Much to my surprise braised pig’s ear taste like beef jerky and steamed jelly fish has a similar taste and texture to calamari. I highly recommend you try them if ever in a Taiwanese restaurant with a Zen master.
Tonight’s lesson builds on the concepts of passion and friendship. Passion is a powerful force that can inspire you to do things you never thought you would do (this can be good or bad though). The idea is to become passionate about things that enrich your life and the lives of those around you, like trying new foods, jumping out of planes, dancing like a lunatic when you are home alone, etc… Passion wakes you up in the morning and inspires you to get in motion. If you feel you lack passion in you life you might want to ask yourself why. One easy way to get some passion is to spend time with passionate people and say, "Yes," when they offer you braised pig’s ear and steamed jellyfish. This is where friendship comes in. Passion pushes you into action, but caring about people fills you with the courage to act. Tonight I was blessed to see all of this manifested in an exotic meal with two great people.
Here is an inspiring tale of passion and avant-garde cuisine. This is a must see.
Chef José Andrés on 60 Minutes
Also, here is an intro to Zen if you're interested.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Loss and Triumph
Last night my sister, family, friends, and I went to a presentation by Isabel Allende, a prominent Chilean writer and all around inspiring woman. Her personal story is one of loss and triumph - she lost her daughter and then found herself. In finding herself she discovered powerful truths about life she now shares with the world. Listening to her last night I picked up on some of these truths such as it’s ok to hurt, it’s ok to laugh, it’s ok to be yourself, and it’s ok to share your life's journey with others. She also talked about truths that resonate with my running journey. Asked what it takes to be great at anything she simply said it requires hard work. For example, when she's working on a book she spends 10 hours a day, 6 days a week writing. While writing her last book she became seriously ill, but that did not stop her from pushing forward. As soon as she finished the book she was miraculously healed.
This last part makes me think of my sister. Following her stroke last year, on my birthday, she was forced to ask some seriously hard questions about life for someone her age (she was only 29 at the time). These included wondering why God created her and why He gave her a second chance on life (literally). I never fully understood the seriousness of her stroke until last night when I read a section of a book she is finalizing. My God, I could have lost my sister, but thank God I didn’t. And now we are on a great journey together. Running is only the beginning.
You may be wondering what conclusions my sister has reached following her stroke. You will soon find out. She is working to complete a book that fuses prose and poems while chronicling her life’s joys and heartaches (including her stroke story). Having survived a stroke has blessed her with insight most people never attain (almost dying will do that for you). I jokingly tease her that supporting her book writing efforts raises my estrogen levels, but you know what, I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I have a daughter to raise and if supporting my sister's journey helps me be a better daddy, I’m all for it.
The lesson in all of this is difficult to capture (you kind of have to live it) but allow me to put this out there. Life really is in the living. You have to take the good with the bad and thank God for it all. It’s not easy to understand why seemingly bad things happen at times but you always have a choice. You can roll with it or you can get rolled over by it. My sister and other great people choose to roll with it.
If you’re interested in Isabel Allende here is a presentation she gave at TED. She’s cheecky but in a down to earth way.
This last part makes me think of my sister. Following her stroke last year, on my birthday, she was forced to ask some seriously hard questions about life for someone her age (she was only 29 at the time). These included wondering why God created her and why He gave her a second chance on life (literally). I never fully understood the seriousness of her stroke until last night when I read a section of a book she is finalizing. My God, I could have lost my sister, but thank God I didn’t. And now we are on a great journey together. Running is only the beginning.
You may be wondering what conclusions my sister has reached following her stroke. You will soon find out. She is working to complete a book that fuses prose and poems while chronicling her life’s joys and heartaches (including her stroke story). Having survived a stroke has blessed her with insight most people never attain (almost dying will do that for you). I jokingly tease her that supporting her book writing efforts raises my estrogen levels, but you know what, I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I have a daughter to raise and if supporting my sister's journey helps me be a better daddy, I’m all for it.
The lesson in all of this is difficult to capture (you kind of have to live it) but allow me to put this out there. Life really is in the living. You have to take the good with the bad and thank God for it all. It’s not easy to understand why seemingly bad things happen at times but you always have a choice. You can roll with it or you can get rolled over by it. My sister and other great people choose to roll with it.
If you’re interested in Isabel Allende here is a presentation she gave at TED. She’s cheecky but in a down to earth way.
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