Does running late count as exercise

Posted on May 2, 2019 by Barry

“Does running late count as exercise?”

—Author Unknown

Image from Unsplash by Jens Kreuter

Along with optimal rest and nutrition, exercise completes the trifecta for healthy living. Adequate exercise – which includes aerobics, strength training, and flexibility activities – provide all sorts of benefits to enhance our physical, mental, and even emotional well being.

On the other hand, running late and the stresses induced by this over-adrenalized state bathe our system with cortisol and other chemicals that can have serious, negative consequences over time.

EXERCISE:

Consider adding more buffer and free time in your days. Take the approach of being more focused and effective on fewer priority matters.

Feel free to reply to this post regarding how such strategies help you live a healthier, happier, and more productive life.

No trees were harmed in the transmission of this email

Posted on May 1, 2019 by Barry

“No trees were harmed in the transmission of this email but trillions of electrons were excited to participate.”

Image from Extreme Tech

Where do you stand on environmental issues? What are your thoughts on deforestation, fossil fuels, and the use of plastic straws?

What is your current carbon footprint? Given your awareness of such issues, which direction is it headed?

Today’s quote was at the bottom of an e-mail sent to me by a coaching colleague. Unfortunately, without my full awareness, I printed it out on a sheet of paper to develop this post.

EXERCISE:

How and in what ways are you doing your part to support and perhaps exceed the goals and objectives of the Paris Agreement?

Feel free to use a few trillion electrons to share your current exciting efforts by replying to this post!

A judge is a law student who marks his own examination papers

Posted on April 30, 2019 by Barry

“A judge is a law student who marks his own examination papers.”

—H.L. Mencken, 20th Century American journalist and critic

Image from Flickr

Judging others is fundamental to being human. Consider this list of TV shows:

Judge Judy
The People’s Court
Divorce Court
Judge Mathis
Kid’s Court

This is just a handful of the dozens of court programs over the years. If you add to this list the hundreds of shows that involve the process of judging singers, dancers, and other forms of competitions, you’ll become tired of counting.

It seems that judging others through the interpretation of the law and perhaps by our own standards of right and wrong and good and bad is fundamental to being human.

EXERCISE:

Where are you currently Judge and Jury in your personal and professional life? What standards beyond your own beliefs, opinions, and experiences do you use to guide the decisions and verdicts you hand down to those in your communities?

If you must speak ill of another

Posted on April 29, 2019 by Barry

“If you must speak ill of another, do not speak it. Write it in the sand near the water’s edge.”

—Napoleon Hill, 20th Century American self-help Author

Image from designtuts

Holding one’s tongue is pretty difficult to do, literally and figuratively. In both cases, it can be slippery and make you look bad, or at least silly.

Awareness of our inner voices can provide a few seconds of buffer time before we put those views or opinions on an external speaker. In many cases, prevention is definitely worth a pound of cure.

The same is often true for e-mail and especially texting, given the rapid turn-around on these forms of communication.

EXERCISE:

Where would waiting and allowing more time to pass before you speak or communicate through the written word enhance and improve your personal and professional relationships?

Friday Review Encouragement

Posted on April 26, 2019 by Barry

FRIDAY REVIEW: ENCOURAGEMENT

How encouraging are you to others? How much encouragement do others give you? Here are a few encouragement-related posts you may have missed. Click the link to read the full message.

“Rain and sun are to the flower as praise and encouragement are to the human spirit.”

“Words of encouragement fan the spark of genius into the flame of achievement.”

“Sometimes you just need to be reminded: ‘You Got This!’”

I’ve been afraid of people playing their life away with too many toys

Posted on April 25, 2019 by Barry

“I’ve been afraid of people playing their life away with too many toys.”

—Ray Bradbury, late American author and screenwriter

Image of two toddlers playing with a computer

Image from Unsplash by Jelleke Vanooteghem

Take a trip down Memory Lane and look at the toys you played with as a child. For me, the top three were a used sled for winter, a banana-seat bike for the rest of the year, and of course, a pimple ball for all sorts of games we would invent.

I vividly recall that before the age when I could venture out with friends, my mom would give me a bucket of water and an old paint brush. I would express my artistic talents on the sidewalk before the summer sun erased all traces of my work. It was like an Etch-a-Sketch without the cost!

Fast forward to today and look at the toys you and your children or grandchildren play with. How many are digital? How many can be and are often used alone, instead of with friends or family?

EXERCISE:

Where would taking more of a “The Best Things in Life are not Things” approach help you lead a simpler and more satisfying life?

Don’t close the book when bad things happen

Posted on April 24, 2019 by Barry

“Don’t close the book when bad things happen in your life. Just turn the page and begin a new chapter.”

—Author Unknown

Image from Unsplash by socialcut

Did you know that the average Social Security payout for retirees is just 29 months?

Although most of us think of retirement as our “Golden Years,” and while we continue to hear of all sorts of fantastic new medical breakthroughs to extend the quality and length of life, this statistic is shocking. But it improves considerably when three critical factors are present:

Friends, family, community
Financial stability – a nest egg
A future-oriented mindset

The level of engagement and overall life purpose can diminish with retirement. Retirees often find much less meaning in life and a reason to get up in the morning when their vocational years are over.

EXERCISE:

What relational, financial, and mindset factors can and will you put in place to keep writing each new exciting chapter in your life for many more healthy, and happy years to come?

when we step back from a single brushstroke

Posted on April 23, 2019 by Barry

“It’s when we step back from a single brushstroke, that we can see the whole painting.”

—Tamara Levitt, Author and Mindfulness Instructor

Barry and Rachel at Hamilton

When was the last time you attended a concert, a major sporting event, or perhaps a Broadway play? Where were you seated in the theater or stadium? Were you up front practically on the field or stage, back in the bleachers, or up in the balcony?

Recently I had the opportunity to see the touring group of Hamilton, with my wonderful daughter Rachel, who came to Michigan with our grandson Weston.

Our seats were in the balcony section. Surprisingly, we enjoyed both the show and this particular vantage point, which gave us the opportunity to take in the show’s entire spectacle. In some moments, we chose to zoom in on certain scenes with a pair of binoculars.

EXERCISE:

Where in your personal or professional life would there be great value in stepping back from the daily brushstrokes of life and take in more of the painting of your entire world?

If you see someone without a smile

Posted on April 22, 2019 by Barry

“If you see someone without a smile today, give them one of yours.”

—Dolly Parton, American singer, songwriter, and actress

Image of the book Be the Sun not the Salt

Image from Amazon

How much time each day do you spend reading for enjoyment and personal growth? For many people the answer may be, “Not much,” with the add-on phrase, “Who has the time?”

If this is the case for you, or even if reading is a significant part of your daily routine, I suggest a wonderful smile-inducing book called, Be the Sun Not the Salt by Dr. Harry D. Cohen.

A key concept he shares is the idea of being heliotropic, which is the tendency for all living systems to be drawn to the energy that sustains its life. Throughout the 71 pages of this book, I hope you will find yourself nodding and smiling at its many nuggets of wisdom.

EXERCISE:

How and in what ways can you be more heliotropic and a more positive influence on others in your life?

Consider sharing a big genuine smile with others as a good place to start.

“Does running late count as exercise?”

—Author Unknown

EXERCISE:

“No trees were harmed in the transmission of this email but trillions of electrons were excited to participate.”

EXERCISE:

“A judge is a law student who marks his own examination papers.”

—H.L. Mencken, 20th Century American journalist and critic

EXERCISE:

“If you must speak ill of another, do not speak it. Write it in the sand near the water’s edge.”

—Napoleon Hill, 20th Century American self-help Author

EXERCISE:

FRIDAY REVIEW: ENCOURAGEMENT

“I’ve been afraid of people playing their life away with too many toys.”

—Ray Bradbury, late American author and screenwriter

EXERCISE:

“Don’t close the book when bad things happen in your life. Just turn the page and begin a new chapter.”

—Author Unknown

EXERCISE:

“It’s when we step back from a single brushstroke, that we can see the whole painting.”

—Tamara Levitt, Author and Mindfulness Instructor

EXERCISE:

“If you see someone without a smile today, give them one of yours.”

—Dolly Parton, American singer, songwriter, and actress

EXERCISE:

FRIDAY REVIEW: SHARING