OK, it's late, and I've got a drive ahead of me tomorrow, so this will be short.
Yesterday I melted down, the full blown, "Why don't I ever get time for myself, to run my errands and just relax. Why is always someone else's wants or needs in front of mine!" In all honesty, I think you can throw one mild expletive (are there mild expletives)into the sentence. Anyway I ruined an entire afternoon and evening.
This morning I left the gym and decided to catch the taped sermon broadcast of one of the local churches.(7:30-8:00 am, Southeast Christian, if you live in the Louisville area and are interested). Well what do you think the sermon was on. No, not expletives. Service, and of course the supporting scripture was Jesus washing the disciples feet and the ensuing instructions.
Here's the passage if you want to read it.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=50&chapter=13&version=31&context=chapter
Anyway, work was a day filled with, you guessed it serving others. Clients, my subordinates, and as I was driving home, a phone call to help get my boss set up in a room, because he had forgot to do so and I thought it was better for me to make the call than for him to stay at work and miss out on time with his kids before he traveled.
Anyway, I'm no saint, as my rant proves, but as much as I hate it when things pile up and I don't seem to get "my stuff" done, (I still haven't made it to the store to get the things I went out for Saturday night), I like how it feels to know I helped someone out. I'm sure someone will tell me that the scripture above has deeper meaning and implications, but a day after my meltdown, I'll settle for the warm fuzzies, and pick up with the deeper stuff tomorrow.
As I wrap this up, Jina just got up to see why one of the little guys woke up crying, you mothers have to know what I'm talking about in this blog, you've got never ending jobs, but doesn't it feel good when the tears stop and the smiles come out?
Maybe more running stuff tomorrow or Wednesday when I'm on the road and have time to think. Until then I'll settle down, log some gym time, clean up my language and see what happens next.
14 January 2008
09 January 2008
Looking for a Leader
Funny, I used to get worked up and agitated about the presidential campaign, now it seems to be a foot note to my busy life. Don't get me wrong I still have opinions and stances to take on issues, but I'm beginning to get a bit jaded and wonder whether it really matters.
Perhaps you're convinced that one or more of the current crop of candidates is destined to lead us to greatness, I'm not. Perhaps you've become so jaded you don't even vote anymore. I'm not, nor do I feel that I'll ever be that disenfranchised. Voting is a right that I'm proud to exercise, because many people died throughout the years to secure and preserve it for me.
Anyway, that's about as political as I'm going to get on this blog. If you've found promise in one of the potential candidates, I'm happy for you. To date, I'm undecided and bored with the whole mess. I'm putting myself to sleep typing this. Hey, doesn't anyone know, Do any of the candidates know how to make ends meet on a middle class salary? What it's like to wonder about your kids future education? Has any of them made a job decision based on the availability, or lack thereof of health care benefits?
That's probably asking too much. At least as Christians we're following a leader who walked in our shoes and leaves us trying to follow in his foot steps.
Perhaps you're convinced that one or more of the current crop of candidates is destined to lead us to greatness, I'm not. Perhaps you've become so jaded you don't even vote anymore. I'm not, nor do I feel that I'll ever be that disenfranchised. Voting is a right that I'm proud to exercise, because many people died throughout the years to secure and preserve it for me.
Anyway, that's about as political as I'm going to get on this blog. If you've found promise in one of the potential candidates, I'm happy for you. To date, I'm undecided and bored with the whole mess. I'm putting myself to sleep typing this. Hey, doesn't anyone know, Do any of the candidates know how to make ends meet on a middle class salary? What it's like to wonder about your kids future education? Has any of them made a job decision based on the availability, or lack thereof of health care benefits?
That's probably asking too much. At least as Christians we're following a leader who walked in our shoes and leaves us trying to follow in his foot steps.
07 January 2008
It's my choice...
Seems like forever since I've posted. I wasn't sure why I didn't seem to have anything to write. Then this morning it hit me. Things have been going well, but in a mellow sort of way.
Writers, whether talented, or hacks like me, need motivation. That motivation comes from our emotions. Whether writing about the weather, politics, or posting family pics, it's about what you're mad about, passionate about, or even happy and overjoyed about. In any case you want to share it and spread it.
So, for me, I've been pretty mellow lately, niether high nor low, not fired up about anything or overly excited about anything. It's kind of nice. Cruise control.
I've implemented a new workout regimine, but I'm going to give it a month or so to see if it is accomplishing what I want to accomplish, so not much to write in the fitness area. In all honesty, spiritually, I'm on cruise control. At first I was inclined to "kick" myself for being in that state of mind, I'm reaccessing that opinion. I don't plan on staying in cruise control, but for now, just as recovery days allow runners to heal and recuperate, I feel like I'm resting up and recovering spiritually, so I'm not going to push it for now and therefore I don't have an opinion on anything in that category either.
Now after all my rambling, back to the post title. I have a choice each day to make it a good day or a bad day, to smile or frown, to laugh or to grump. Even when my mood swings one way or the other, I can conciously decide how I'm going to be for the day. I had to put that into practice this morning, and to be honest, the first couple of good mornings were fake and over the top, but by the time I got to work, I was feeling pretty good. Nice to know I have a choice. Note to James: Remember that tomorrow.
Writers, whether talented, or hacks like me, need motivation. That motivation comes from our emotions. Whether writing about the weather, politics, or posting family pics, it's about what you're mad about, passionate about, or even happy and overjoyed about. In any case you want to share it and spread it.
So, for me, I've been pretty mellow lately, niether high nor low, not fired up about anything or overly excited about anything. It's kind of nice. Cruise control.
I've implemented a new workout regimine, but I'm going to give it a month or so to see if it is accomplishing what I want to accomplish, so not much to write in the fitness area. In all honesty, spiritually, I'm on cruise control. At first I was inclined to "kick" myself for being in that state of mind, I'm reaccessing that opinion. I don't plan on staying in cruise control, but for now, just as recovery days allow runners to heal and recuperate, I feel like I'm resting up and recovering spiritually, so I'm not going to push it for now and therefore I don't have an opinion on anything in that category either.
Now after all my rambling, back to the post title. I have a choice each day to make it a good day or a bad day, to smile or frown, to laugh or to grump. Even when my mood swings one way or the other, I can conciously decide how I'm going to be for the day. I had to put that into practice this morning, and to be honest, the first couple of good mornings were fake and over the top, but by the time I got to work, I was feeling pretty good. Nice to know I have a choice. Note to James: Remember that tomorrow.
02 January 2008
MY APFT
Just completed my Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT).
My baseline Stats for 2008 are:
Push ups: 41 reps = 59 points
Sit ups: 57 reps = 80 points
2 mi run: 13:15 = 100 points
Total Score = 239 points
I scored about as I expected. Weak on the upper body strength, good in core strength, and a bit better than expected on the cardio. I actually had some room to spare on my 2 mile time.
Now the secret is figuring out how to go about getting those scores up, because my current workout regimen is maintaining my fitness level, but not improving it.
I know that some (like my wife) may read that statement and think I'm a bit obsessive. "Why not be content with where I'm at?" It's because I'm a firm believer that there is no such thing as "sustaining". You're either moving forward or falling back.
I've seen this borne out in everything from business, to sports, to relationships. In fitness it's the same. I'm going to get slower and weaker and heavier, it's a proven fact. It's part of the aging process. Waiting until I was 31 to have my first kid means that when he's 15, I'll be 46. When the other two reach 15, I'll be 50. That is my motivation, that is why I push myself, and yes maybe even obsess at times. I don't want to sit and watch my kids' lives from the sidelines. I want to be an active part of it.
My baseline Stats for 2008 are:
Push ups: 41 reps = 59 points
Sit ups: 57 reps = 80 points
2 mi run: 13:15 = 100 points
Total Score = 239 points
I scored about as I expected. Weak on the upper body strength, good in core strength, and a bit better than expected on the cardio. I actually had some room to spare on my 2 mile time.
Now the secret is figuring out how to go about getting those scores up, because my current workout regimen is maintaining my fitness level, but not improving it.
I know that some (like my wife) may read that statement and think I'm a bit obsessive. "Why not be content with where I'm at?" It's because I'm a firm believer that there is no such thing as "sustaining". You're either moving forward or falling back.
I've seen this borne out in everything from business, to sports, to relationships. In fitness it's the same. I'm going to get slower and weaker and heavier, it's a proven fact. It's part of the aging process. Waiting until I was 31 to have my first kid means that when he's 15, I'll be 46. When the other two reach 15, I'll be 50. That is my motivation, that is why I push myself, and yes maybe even obsess at times. I don't want to sit and watch my kids' lives from the sidelines. I want to be an active part of it.
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