Dreams on Tap?

I'm sure I'm not alone when I say that things changed drastically post op.

It was a drag attempting to recover. Finding myself out of breath just going out to the car. Or what about not feeling physically or mentally at the top of my game any longer? Talk about struggling. Yeah, it shook me up. That's the understatement of the year.

But, I had plenty of time to think about life and what I REALLY WANTED TO DO and why I hadn't actually just done it. Then I could start moving in that direction.

Anybody else out there relate? Had a similar experience? Let me know--post it here. And perhaps we can encourage each other...

Or tell us about your dreams and what you've always wanted to do but for whatever reason just haven't started down that road yet--maybe we could help each other. Who knows?

Either way, as 2006 slips into the past and another year takes it's place, may you find the time to consider if you're "doing what you love while being who you are" as you look forward to 2007. (More on that later)

HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!

What It's Like to Be Superman...

Life ever thrown you a curve ball?

Man, sometimes it's really strange. Not that I'm old or anything, but I remember when I was younger. Ok, just two years ago really. No problems I couldn't handle, everything going great, my health was fine and life was grand.

And then BOOM! Suddenly I realized that I wasn't God. Or Superman either.

I know that this wasn't any major revelation. But what I mean is that I suddenly understood that it just wasn't really possible for me to control everything and have it go my way. Always.

And then a week ago another subtle reminder. Enough already.

I was in ER again with the most excruciating pain I've ever experienced. Friends called it "male child-birth." If that's really the case, it's a wonder we have population growth. I discovered to my joy and amazement I had kidney stones. In a word, wonderful! But I won't further burden you with this fun.

Anyone else have similar experiences that changed you somehow? Let me know.

The bottom line--what did I learn? I don't know yet, I'll keep you posted. I just know that these last few years have been a blow to my self-confidence and belief in myself.

I've begun to have much more compassion and understanding with others. I think they call that grace. My perspective on life has also changed drastically.

What I think is important these days is completely different than even 5 years ago. And yes, I'm not nearly as cocky, self-sure or thinking of myself as someone who can do anything and everything all the time.

Can you relate? What's your story?

Spicy Schezwuan: Got Religion?

A little over a year ago, I had quite the moving experience.

But it's not what you think. I'm talking about my gut. I ate at my usual neighborhood chinese joint, ordering my fav kungpao chicken. Only this time around it didn't agree with me. Two days later I woke up to the fact that I probably didn't have food poisoning, but something much more serious.

Hours later I was screaming in pain having never thought anyone outside a mother giving birth to twins could experience such unbelievable agony. After enduring the impossible--you know--the frightening wait in the ER not knowing what was going on, they finally gave me the good news.

"You were hours away from being dead." No joke. Not exactly my favorite memory. I was told that I needed emergency surgery cuz my appendix had burst. I was a mess inside and felt like it.

Since I'm here writing this you've probably gathered I made it thru.

And I have to say that as horrible as everything was (go ahead...YOU try sucking gourmet hospital food thru an IV or getting pain meds from Nazi Nurse), I had what I would term a "religious experience." Don't be afraid, I'm not a religious nut and it was actually pretty cool.

What I discovered was how precious life was and how little time we all have to live out our dreams.

Whatever that looks like for you, do you really know how much time you have to GET IT DONE? Probably not.

I know it was a huge wake-up call for me and as weird as this sounds, I'm glad it happened. I wouldn't have gotten back on track if it didn't.

Exercise & Nutrition as Blackmail

Ok, I didn't really get blackmailed, but it felt like a set-up nonetheless. As it goes, my wife and I were at our chiropractor and she's like, "oh, yeah, they're having the 'body for life' thing tonight. Let's stay." I'm an avid planner and my next step was food--I was starving. So, during the presentation I went and grabbed something.

And, actually, I'm so excited that we will be eating more healthy and exercising, together! I believe that we'll feel better in no time and look back on this commitment as something that was life-changing, positioning us to live out our lives, the way we want. This can happen to you, as well, if you make the decision. I encourage you to consider it. (Better health & nutrition, that is).

Now, I want to set the record straight. For those of you who aren't familiar with the Body for Life Challenge, it's a national contest where people compete for prizes and money, to see who can put together the best physique, have the greatest weight loss and achieve the most results over a 3 month period. Check it out: www.bodyforlife.com.

Physical, Emotional, & Spiritual Balance: Living the Life of Your Dreams

If you've always wanted to be a competitive bodybuilder or achieve that body that others would die for, go for it. For me, I have modest goals: I just want to feel better (all the time). That way, I can live the life of my dreams, with no limits. For me (as I mentioned in a previous post), that lifestyle encompasses physical, emotional and spiritual health--what I refer to as life-balance. And really, I'm just getting started.

At present, I'm a "apprehensive exerciser" at best, since over the last few years I've struggled with my health. But that is about to change. Honestly, it's been years since I've consistently been to the gym and decided to eat healthy as a lifestyle. So, I face this with mixed emotions, if not somewhat muted excitement.

Oh and thanx to diynaturally at http://diynaturally.wordpress.com/ who got me thinking in the right direction. Then, before I knew it--it all came together--and here I am (gulllppp!)

Do It To It!

"Just do it!" Nike's familiar slogan sounds great in theory. However in terms of personal application, practically speaking it may not fly.

I know for me, I like to understand and know why I'm doing something, so blind action is not usually my strongpoint.

For others, its easy to just get something done by an act of sheer willpower. Still, there are others who seem defeated before they even start. And they don't understand why. On the surface, many people have great goals and desires, but when it comes right down to it, they're stuck. They have significant blocks that keep them from achieving the success they desire and living the life they want.

The reason? Subconscious beliefs. I touched on this in an earlier post. These types of beliefs aren't easy to change, though it is possible.

Dr. Norman Vincent Peale wrote the book, The Power of Positive Thinking. Honestly, it was the first thing that made sense to me in the midst of all the other self-improvement books out there. But it was incomplete. I tried thinking positively. I attempted affirmations and reading positive books--none of it really took--nor had the lasting affect I was going for.

Most everyone knows of Napolean Hill, who wrote Think and Grow Rich. He has this great quote that goes like this: "Whatever your mind can conceive and believe it can achieve." Now this makes sense to me--focus on the word believe.

If in the deepest part of who you are, you do not really believe you deserve success or money or whatever, its never going to happen for you, regardless of how hard you try.

Why?

Because your subconscious is busy making sure your circumstances match your beliefs, whether you know it or not.

So, what do you do? What works? I stumbled upon something that is a surefire method to lasting change. I'll let you in on it in my next post.