Things I am giving up for Lent:
1. TV (I did this 2 years ago and it was a very creative and inspiring season)
2. Swearing (this is more about learning the art of sacred silence)
3. Practicing fasting
February 27, 2009
Survival Mindset
I was made aware of a really cool resource that that written to help people get by in our current financial crisis. The really cool thing about this article is that it is written using basic wilderness survival attitudes through the mind of the wolverine! There is a lot to learn from us wilderness folks... even in the financial market sector.
You can read the entire article at the Hawk Circle Wilderness Education site.
If nothing else I wanted to list the attitudes and if you want to go deeper then you can by visiting the site.
1. There's Always Something - there are always new opportunities if you remain open
2. Separate Your Wants from Your Needs
3. Maintain Creativity & Problem Solving Capacities
4. Stay Positive - it helps to have an inspiring mission
5. Pool Your Resources
6. Find Your Animal Medicine - imagine the persistence of certain animals and know your role
7. Look for Helpers, Partners & Allies
8. Do One Thing at a Time
9. Don't Wait to be Rescued - act now, don't sit around waiting for something to happen
10. Pay Attention
You can read the entire article at the Hawk Circle Wilderness Education site.
If nothing else I wanted to list the attitudes and if you want to go deeper then you can by visiting the site.
1. There's Always Something - there are always new opportunities if you remain open
2. Separate Your Wants from Your Needs
3. Maintain Creativity & Problem Solving Capacities
4. Stay Positive - it helps to have an inspiring mission
5. Pool Your Resources
6. Find Your Animal Medicine - imagine the persistence of certain animals and know your role
7. Look for Helpers, Partners & Allies
8. Do One Thing at a Time
9. Don't Wait to be Rescued - act now, don't sit around waiting for something to happen
10. Pay Attention
February 24, 2009
Weight Loss Update
For those who care...
I've lost 10 pounds in 3 weeks.
9 more weeks left in the challenge, I might post another update in 3 weeks.
I've lost 10 pounds in 3 weeks.
9 more weeks left in the challenge, I might post another update in 3 weeks.
What Should it be Called?
(Disclaimer: I am not a hunter nor have I ever hunted in the traditional sense. However, I have been taught the ancient technique of stalking animals, which was used by ancient cultures and still used by some today. I am constantly perfecting this technique and have had instances where I've gotten close to animals (close=10 yards or less). Close enough that I could have harvested them if I was in a survival situation. So I understand the hunting mentality clearly.)
Here's my thought:
I've heard the word "hunting" quite a bit in the past few weeks and it got me thinking...
Can it really be called hunting if (most of the time) the hunter is sitting awaiting his quarry? Can I even use the term quarry since it means "prey that is pursued?"
I think it speaks to our laziness in America that we sit and "bait" our prey.
So here's my point: shouldn't we start calling it "baiting" since that is what we really do?
This isn't a rail against those who enjoy the sport. I'm just seeking to clarify the language.
Here's my thought:
I've heard the word "hunting" quite a bit in the past few weeks and it got me thinking...
Can it really be called hunting if (most of the time) the hunter is sitting awaiting his quarry? Can I even use the term quarry since it means "prey that is pursued?"
I think it speaks to our laziness in America that we sit and "bait" our prey.
So here's my point: shouldn't we start calling it "baiting" since that is what we really do?
This isn't a rail against those who enjoy the sport. I'm just seeking to clarify the language.
February 19, 2009
1,823 days
Its been five years today since I said goodbye to Mom and every year this surreal feeling comes over me. In so many ways, (probably more because so many things have happened) it seems like it has been longer than five years...
Mom, I miss you.
your hugs
your courage
your wisdom
your laughter
your support
your "love packages"
your smile
your faith
your hope
your love.
I miss you.
I wanted to post some lyrics from a song that has helped me thru this time. You can listen to the song by clicking here.
With Hope - Steven Curtis Chapman
we can cry with hope
we can say goodbye with hope
'cause we know our goodbye is not the end
and we can grieve with hope
'cause we believe with hope
there's a place by god's grace
there's a place where we'll see your face again
Mom, I miss you.
your hugs
your courage
your wisdom
your laughter
your support
your "love packages"
your smile
your faith
your hope
your love.
I miss you.
I wanted to post some lyrics from a song that has helped me thru this time. You can listen to the song by clicking here.
With Hope - Steven Curtis Chapman
we can cry with hope
we can say goodbye with hope
'cause we know our goodbye is not the end
and we can grieve with hope
'cause we believe with hope
there's a place by god's grace
there's a place where we'll see your face again
February 10, 2009
Alvin!!
I was working on rewriting a song this morning when something cool happened.
I was gently strumming my guitar and I happened to notice a fox squirrel coming down from the tree to do some collecting. The squirrel then stopped on the tree and I then noticed the squirrel's tail was wagging almost in perfect cadence with my strum. The walls of our home office aren't very thick, so either he could hear me or he could feel the rhythm. So I conducted an experiment.
I stopped playing and his tail stopped wagging! I started strumming again and his tail started wagging to the beat again! My own little Alvin from the Chipmunks!
It's the little things that bring me such joy and a sense of peace and harmony.
I was gently strumming my guitar and I happened to notice a fox squirrel coming down from the tree to do some collecting. The squirrel then stopped on the tree and I then noticed the squirrel's tail was wagging almost in perfect cadence with my strum. The walls of our home office aren't very thick, so either he could hear me or he could feel the rhythm. So I conducted an experiment.
I stopped playing and his tail stopped wagging! I started strumming again and his tail started wagging to the beat again! My own little Alvin from the Chipmunks!
It's the little things that bring me such joy and a sense of peace and harmony.
February 04, 2009
Skeptically Open
I promise that the content of this blog isn't going to be shifting. Unless you solely have a thematic blog (this blog is about 75 percent of the time), you blog about what is going on in your life at the moment. Besides, I think my present journey is one of discovering the Sacred Fire within as I relearn and reignite my quality of life!
One of the cool things about this fitness challenge I am doing is that local gyms have opened their doors for free trial memberships. The gym that is in our town isn't offering a free trial (which sucks, as it is only 4 blocks from our house) but there is one in a town 10 minutes up the road.
So I walked into this gym and noticed that it wasn't a typical looking gym. From what I could see there wasn't any free weights racks or Olympic machines, treadmills, ellipticals, tv's or even mirrors! Gotta have mirrors in the gym don't you? What did they have? Bars, rings, balls, blocks and mats.
This stocky (but built) guy emerges from the back and greets me. We talk and I find out that I am not in a typical gym with a typical trainer and typical tv's. I am in a CrossFit gym.
No idea what CrossFit is? Check it out here or go to YouTube and watch what these folks are doing.
We talked and after hearing what the CrossFit program is, I decided to give it a try. He wanted to do an assessment of where I need to start so he had me do a "Barbara" routine. All the workouts have women's names to them... I have no idea why.
A "Barbara" routine consists of 10 pull-ups, 15 push-ups, 20 sit-ups and 25 squats. What makes CrossFit unique is that it is high intensity! So you do that whole routine as fast and as intense as you can. So I did it. And my time was something like 2:38. Not bad for a guy who has been pretty sedentary for the past 6 months. The trainer says alright take a 3 minute rest/recovery. Then do it again.
Long story short. That "Barbara" routine is done in 5 sets for time. I did 2 sets and was at failure and on the verge of vomiting. Second set time? Closer to 7 minutes. So the trainer says take two days for recovery and come back.
I have had a few (sore) days to do some more research on CrossFit and so far the reviews are split. The pros seem to be that it does a better job of making you better at not one specific thing but a lot of things. It's meant to be broad and inclusive. It's high intensity so you get on average a 30 minute workout that is both cardio and strength training.
The cons seem to be that it is high intensity and it isn't meant for people who aren't already in good shape. Reviewers also state that the workouts should be longer and more varied. There is no real regimen for following the program. The website announces which WOD (Workout of the Day) is performed. The people who swear by CrossFit come off a little cult-ish and some believe that it is The Answer to proper fitness.
So here's my take. Sometimes the thing that doesn't feel like it's right for you might be what's best for you. For years, I've tried to lose weight the way I wanted to do it and look where it has gotten me. I like the fact that it is intense and can be done in less time than a typical workout. I am suspicious of what this workout will do to my heart and body. Is it good to just be that intense when I've not had that intensity for nearly 10 years? Or will it indeed make me stronger, faster. I rarely ever espouse something as the answer and just like other avenues of our lives (church affiliates, sports teams etc..) I expect that if something works for you then you would be boasting about the results. It for us unbelievers that have to be converted. For what it's worth I get six free weeks with the trainer to see if this model is one that works for me. So even though I have a bit of skepticism, I am keeping myself open to the possibilities that CrossFit might be what works for me... especially as it keeps me out of my comfort zone.
If you had to ask my body what it thought... right now you might get answers from parts that haven't been this worked in a long time. In the meantime, I plan to use CrossFit as the supplement to my other cardio workouts which I am doing 6 days a week.
One of the cool things about this fitness challenge I am doing is that local gyms have opened their doors for free trial memberships. The gym that is in our town isn't offering a free trial (which sucks, as it is only 4 blocks from our house) but there is one in a town 10 minutes up the road.
So I walked into this gym and noticed that it wasn't a typical looking gym. From what I could see there wasn't any free weights racks or Olympic machines, treadmills, ellipticals, tv's or even mirrors! Gotta have mirrors in the gym don't you? What did they have? Bars, rings, balls, blocks and mats.
This stocky (but built) guy emerges from the back and greets me. We talk and I find out that I am not in a typical gym with a typical trainer and typical tv's. I am in a CrossFit gym.
No idea what CrossFit is? Check it out here or go to YouTube and watch what these folks are doing.
We talked and after hearing what the CrossFit program is, I decided to give it a try. He wanted to do an assessment of where I need to start so he had me do a "Barbara" routine. All the workouts have women's names to them... I have no idea why.
A "Barbara" routine consists of 10 pull-ups, 15 push-ups, 20 sit-ups and 25 squats. What makes CrossFit unique is that it is high intensity! So you do that whole routine as fast and as intense as you can. So I did it. And my time was something like 2:38. Not bad for a guy who has been pretty sedentary for the past 6 months. The trainer says alright take a 3 minute rest/recovery. Then do it again.
Long story short. That "Barbara" routine is done in 5 sets for time. I did 2 sets and was at failure and on the verge of vomiting. Second set time? Closer to 7 minutes. So the trainer says take two days for recovery and come back.
I have had a few (sore) days to do some more research on CrossFit and so far the reviews are split. The pros seem to be that it does a better job of making you better at not one specific thing but a lot of things. It's meant to be broad and inclusive. It's high intensity so you get on average a 30 minute workout that is both cardio and strength training.
The cons seem to be that it is high intensity and it isn't meant for people who aren't already in good shape. Reviewers also state that the workouts should be longer and more varied. There is no real regimen for following the program. The website announces which WOD (Workout of the Day) is performed. The people who swear by CrossFit come off a little cult-ish and some believe that it is The Answer to proper fitness.
So here's my take. Sometimes the thing that doesn't feel like it's right for you might be what's best for you. For years, I've tried to lose weight the way I wanted to do it and look where it has gotten me. I like the fact that it is intense and can be done in less time than a typical workout. I am suspicious of what this workout will do to my heart and body. Is it good to just be that intense when I've not had that intensity for nearly 10 years? Or will it indeed make me stronger, faster. I rarely ever espouse something as the answer and just like other avenues of our lives (church affiliates, sports teams etc..) I expect that if something works for you then you would be boasting about the results. It for us unbelievers that have to be converted. For what it's worth I get six free weeks with the trainer to see if this model is one that works for me. So even though I have a bit of skepticism, I am keeping myself open to the possibilities that CrossFit might be what works for me... especially as it keeps me out of my comfort zone.
If you had to ask my body what it thought... right now you might get answers from parts that haven't been this worked in a long time. In the meantime, I plan to use CrossFit as the supplement to my other cardio workouts which I am doing 6 days a week.