Welcome, May!

-
Image
The past few weeks have been stressful. Training new employees, dealing with difficult customers, not sleeping well, not exercising (I’ve gained 20 pounds in the last two years), getting through family drama (two life-threatening events in the same day, 2000 miles apart: my dad’s heart attack in NM and a 9 year grandchild starting the rest of his life with Type 1 Diabetes) . . .  My CrossFit lifestyle withered into oblivion when I lost my job at the University in 2020, as Covid got going. Deep depression brought me to a standstill as I took a few months to try to reset. Since then, my physical status has been on steady decline. Now my daily schedule looks something like this: Work 3-11 pm (on a good day), Go to bed at 4 am, get up between 10:30 am and noon, get booted up and go back to work. If I get one day off a week I’m fortunate. At least I don’t have to work all night for now. That was the worst.  So I haven’t had time or energy to do much, even read, much less write. And since my

31 Days Of An Ultimate Fitness Challenge: Day 3 "Get Strong"

-
Here's my fitness regimen for today, in three parts. I am enjoying a solid week of pure strength training. Do you know what strength training is? It's not merely "lifting" or "lifting heavier." Strength training is a mental exercise that begins by having a made-up-mind to get up and move. Once that happens, the mental strength lines up with physical strength and things really begin to move!  So here's what was on my lunch menu for today (I'll say a word about #1, in a moment).

1. Range of Motion Drills followed by 30-20-10 reps of:
  • Jumping Jacks
  • Squats
  • Arm Circles
2. Strength Training: 5 reps x 5 sets of Strict Press
3. Work: 
Yes, all the above was accomplished in 30 minutes, on my lunch-break.

You may say, "I can't do that." That's not the point.  I am sharing my journey as you enjoy yours.
The point is: do something. 10 minutes of "something" is better than nothing. A mile is a mile whether you finish it in 8 minutes or an hour.

So, about #1, the 30-20-10 of Jumping Jacks, Squats and Arm Circles. If you would like to try and it still sounds challenging, make up your mind about what you are doing. Don't think of it as "training" or "working out." Instead, "play hard." This should take you no more than 5 minutes.
  1. Here's a suggested modification for the Jumping Jacks if it's "been a while." 
  2. Use a chair for squats. We do them all day long--we just don't think about it. Just sit down and get back up again!
  3. Stand with your arms out and circle them around. 
  4. So do 30 Jumping Jacks, 30 squats, and 30 arm circles. When finished, do 20 of each, then 10. 
There! Now you did something! Anything! Just get out there and play hard!

Popular posts from this blog

“Men and women who saw God in the Bible: Why did they not all die?”

-
July 2004 I went to Kenya, Africa to speak in two Pastor’s Conferences on the subject of Man, Sin and Salvation. At the end of each day I left just over an hour for questions (half the time were questions touching the subject of my lectures, and the other half for “open questions”; that is, people could ask anything). For the next few weeks, I will be sharing the questions that were asked of me, and my answers—and believe me when I say these people really know how to think! Question from Kenya #1: “Men and women who saw God in the Bible: Why did they not all die?” [“ But He said, ‘You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live! ’” (Exodus 33:20) was the basis of the student’s question]. Answer: First, consider those who did see God—how did they respond when they saw Him? They were instantly aware of their sinfulness, and God’s holiness and righteousness (to name a few. And notice also that each responded in an attitude of worship, bowing down): Abraham built altars, wors
Read more

A Sonnet

-
“My God, where is that ancient heat towards thee, Wherewith whole shoals of martyrs once did burn, Besides their other flames? Doth poetry Wear Venus' livery? only serve her turn? Why are not sonnets made of thee? and lays Upon thine altar burnt? Cannot thy love Heighten a spirit to sound out thy praise As well as any she? Cannot thy Dove Outstrip their Cupid easily in flight? Or, since thy ways are deep, and still the fame, Will not a verse run smooth that bears thy name! Why doth that fire, which by thy power and might Each breast does feel, no braver fuel choose Than that, which one day, worms may chance refuse. Sure Lord, there is enough in thee to dry Oceans of ink; for, as the Deluge did Cover the earth, so doth thy Majesty: Each cloud distills thy praise, and doth forbid Poets to turn it to another use. Roses and lilies speak thee; and to make A pair of cheeks of them, is thy abuse Why should I women's eyes for crystal take? Such poor invention burns in their low mind Wh
Read more

Finished Reading: “De origine et situ Germanorum [On the Origin and Situation of the Germans]”

-
Image
  “In the day of battle, it is scandalous to the Prince to be surpassed in feats of bravery, scandalous to his followers to fail in matching the bravery of the Prince. But it is infamy during life, and indelible reproach, to return alive from a battle where their Prince was slain. To preserve their Prince, to defend him, and to ascribe to his glory all their own valorous deeds, is the sum and most sacred part of their oath. The Princes fight for victory; for the Prince his followers fight. . . .  In the place of pay, they are supplied with a daily table and repasts; though grossly prepared, yet very profuse. For maintaining such liberality and munificence, a fund is furnished by continual wars and plunder. Nor could you so easily persuade them to cultivate the ground, or to await the return of the seasons and produce of the year, as to provoke the foe and to risk wounds and death: since stupid and spiritless they account it, to acquire by their sweat what they can gain by their blood.”
Read more