Be Careful What You Wish For.

"The beginning of wisdom is the definition of terms" ~ Socrates

It's pretty much a given that most people want Love, Happiness and Success...those are pretty universal themes. These are great things to strive for... I think the problem with their pursuit is that most people don't spend a lot of time actually defining what those things mean for themselves on a personal level. I think we all have a very broad idea of what each of those terms mean... but is that what we really want? A generic version of happiness? Someone else's idea of Love? Whose version of success are you trying to achieve?
Spend some time with yourself and start figuring out exactly what those things mean to YOU. Start writing down YOUR definitions of love, happiness and success. Chasing someone else's dream is not going to make YOU happy... in fact I would venture to say that not only will it not lead to your own fulfillment, you will actually be starting on a journey down a road leading you in the exact OPPOSITE direction of what YOU truly want deep down.
The questions we ask ourselves, determine the type of people that we become.

Be Grateful For What You Have.

"He who is not contented with what he has, would not be contented with what he would like to have." ~ Socrates

This is a particularly important lesson to learn during our rather uncertain economic times. It sounds simple and I suppose it really is...however it seems hard to put into practice sometimes. There is always something pretty and shiny that can catch our eyes and then the next thing ya know we find ourselves saying, "wow...if I had THAT I would be SO happy!!!"
But how many times have we fallen for that before and we've gotten what we thought we just HAD to have in order to ensure our happiness and once the NEW wears off...we're right back to where we were?
There is nothing wrong with setting goals and trying to achieve ... just spend a little time trying to figure out WHY you want to achieve certain things or get certain objects. If it's in accordance with your life vision... go for it. If it's purely ego driven, I would suggest taking a step back and re-prioritizing a couple of things.
That's all for today...

Expand Your Horizons.

"Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel" ~ Socrates

Continuing to educate ourselves is one of the most important things we can do. If we are not learning and growing...why are we here? I don't mean for you to go back to school to get a degree necessarily...unless that is something you NEED to do in order to advance yourself closer to your OWN goals. I am simply talking about reading everything you can get your hands on that interests you. Talking to people with different views than your own. Observing the world and continuing to ask questions for things you don't know the answers to. Find a mentor, people who you admire...who have the qualities you would like to obtain.
Like the box that my North Face boots came in says...Never Stop Exploring!

Know Your Limitations.

" I know that I am intelligent, because I know that I know nothing." ~ Socrates

I am sure we have all dealt with people in our lives who know the answer to EVERYTHING...no matter WHAT the topic...THEY are the worlds foremost authority. Pretty annoying isn't it?
I think the most intelligent people and the ones I respect the most, are the ones that can say to you, "I don't know." The ones that will do the best they can to GET the answer for you but admit they don't know and don't make something up just to stroke their ego or to hear the sound of their own voice.
Not knowing your limitations can be harmful... can you imagine taking life or death advice from someone who's just makin it up on the spot?!?!?
Work within your limitations and then.... sorry, you have to wait until tomorrow!

Step One.

As promised yesterday I was going to, over the next few days, give you 5 simple tips for GREAT living... here is the first installment!
So, as we are sliding into the weekend.... spend some time over the next couple of days thinking about this one and how you can apply it to yourself.

LIVE YOUR VISION.
"Be as you wish to seem." ~Socrates

If you haven't quite figured out what it is you wish to be...that is a challenge for another time...which we will address later. But for those who KNOW what you would like to be, who have a VISION for how you would like to live your life....this is for you.
The power to become what we want to become starts with the DECISION we make to BE! Make a decision, TAKE ACTION...without ACTION nothing happens.

Put what you want in writing! Write down your ideal vision of YOU... all the amazing qualities you would like to possess...

Here I Am!!!

Can you see us!?!? We're next to that one person...in the coat!
What a trip...three days of virtually no sleep, no solid food, freezing temperatures and a few million other people! It was an amazing thing to witness live.

I was able to squeeze in some reading during the trip however and will be posting 5 simple tips over the next few days that will lay the groundwork for you to start living YOUR best life...The Life You Intended!

So, be sure and check back for that! Until then... I am going to catch up on a little sleep and see if I can find something to eat.

Peace,
S.

Washington Bound

Today is going to be a long day of travel... we are currently sitting at O'hare in Chicago for about 4 hours and then it's on to Baltimore. One step closer to the nations Capital! We'll be picking up a car in Baltimore and driving on down to Virginia. Tomorrow is the big day, ushering in an era of change. I am hoping a change of inclusion, togetherness and equality.

Treadmill 101

yet ANOTHER fine example of what NOT to do on a treadmill. I can't help but to post these once in a while.... partly because I am just amazed at how stupid people can be and partly because I am just AMAZED at how STUPID people can be.

Keep It Movin'

For those of you who are interested...HERE is the article about circuit training the Tulsa World did with me. I look kinda goofy in the picture but other than that it's great!

How Big Are We Going To Get?!?!?

WE WENT FROM MERELY OVERWEIGHT TO OBESE!!!

I would like to know...do YOU exercise?!?! I don't mean do you exercise your judgment, or your choices... I am asking you whether or not you PHYSICALLY exercise? Is there a REASON why you are not? I don't mean is there an excuse...i mean do you have a sound MEDICAL reason to NOT exercise?

The unnerving reality of it is, now matter HOW MANY or HOW COMPELLING you 'think' your excuses are...unless you are physically disabled or impaired, there is no good reason for not exercising. PERIOD.

Now I would like to give you a list of benefits of exercise that SHOULD help eliminate your excuses!

1. Increased productivity...simply put, you have MORE ENERGY to perform other activities.
2. Consistent exercise will help you to have a more positive outlook and less emotional ups and downs.
3. You will lower your risk from many health problems such as diabetes, cancer heart disease etc...
4. Superficially...you will just LOOK better.
5. You will be stronger and have more endurance.
6. You will increase the overall quality of your life as well as extending the length of it.

All of that can be accomplished by just spending 30 minutes a day increasing your activity. Think you don't have an extra 30 minutes a day... how much TV did you sit on the couch and watch last night?

Make this be the year of NO MORE EXCUSES!

Cheers!
S.

Don't Say, "I Can't"

Your Fitness Is Up To YOU!

It almost seems wrong for me to be writing this for the simple fact that I make a living by making people exercise and helping them on their way to their fitness goals... but it also seems to make perfect sense too. Is that what they call a paradox? When I was in college (yes...i did...can you believe it!?!?) I had two professors that were married to each other and their email address was PairADocs@somethin'orother.com but I'm digressing now.

The point I am trying to make is that ultimately YOUR fitness is up to YOU. It is a CHOICE you make. You can read everything in the world that TELLS you that you need to workout, you can listen to your doctor, your friends or even ME for that matter telling you how important it is or how fun it can be or whatever. BUT...no matter what, it still has to be your choice! You are the one that must CHOOSE to do some form of exercise, to move your body, to sweat. You can choose when to do but you must choose...on a daily basis to do it, or not.

Fitness isn't something you go out and buy...it's a way of life. It has to do with setting goals, it has to do with what you choose to eat, what you choose to drink. Whether you want to go for a run or meet the gang at the bar and knock back some pints and a basket of buffalo wings...it's all a choice.

So as we start the new year and you have your resolutions fresh in your mind...start paying attention to all the little choices you make on a daily basis and ask yourself...does this take me CLOSER to my goal...or farther away.
Cheers,
S.

One Less Excuse!

YOU have what seems to be a really bad cold. You are coughing and sneezing, and it is hard to breathe.

Should you work out?

And if you do, should you push yourself as hard as ever or take it easy? Will exercise have no effect, or make you feel better or worse?

It is a question, surprisingly enough, that stumps many exercise physiologists and infectious disease specialists.

Read The Rest Of The Article Here...

Cheers,
S.