Category: Motivation

It Takes Two, Baby…🎶

Depending on what your motivation may be, working out by yourself can suck. Royally. On the other hand, certain activities that I train in, like meditation, learning a new karate form or burning off steam on a punching bag, can work quite well when I’m alone. But it stands to reason that having a partner when you break a sweat can have some measurable, noticeable and unexpected benefits.

When I first started the martial arts, I felt exposed. I’m sure some of you have been there; you walk into an environment where EVERYBODY knows more than you do. Potentially. So even though you happen to be standing at the back of the class, you feel like everyone’s eyes are on you, judging you, watching you excessively sweat and gasp for air as they go through the motions barely showing any effort… Nah? Just me? Whatever… let’s carry on…

According to an online article I found on NBC News of all places, working out in a group has the benefit of others’ healthy habits rubbing off on us. The article states that a 2016 study found that “overweight people tend to lose more weight if they spend time with their fit friends […]” Which can certainly make sense if all the time you spend with said “fit friends” happens to be at spin class, yoga, zumba, cycling and etc.

Certainly, there is a great deal to be said for the accountability factor, where it’s more difficult to skip the workout when it’s part of a pre-organized program with others. And you inevitably end up kicking your workouts into high gear in order to accommodate and keep up with others who are doing the same. The above-linked article touches on these aspects as well.

All of this can certainly be true of karate. After those first few classes, I found myself pushing hard to keep up with the other students. Karate is one of those “keep up or be left in the dust” environments where you’re totally free to move at your own pace, but eventually it just won’t be enough. But the camaraderie that develops once you start holding your own is particular. It’s one of the aspects I most enjoy within the dojo.

Ultimately, working out with a friend or loved one doesn’t just keep you accountable through fewer skipped workouts. It can also encourage you to try out new exercises or activities you may not have thought of and may encourage you to push harder in order to keep going. Surprisingly, you may even catch yourself working out for longer periods as you’ll discover something other than fitness. You’ll discover that working out with a partner is fun.

My wife and I occasionally enjoy some fitness circuits together. She’s a champ and is always a good sport, no matter what I throw at her. I enjoy it a great deal, because it not only helps her to stay fit and get the blood pumping, it also allows me to include her in an important aspect of my life. So working out with your spouse is very important. It doesn’t have to be an all-out sweat storm that flattens you for the next couple of days; I rather save those for my friends whose suffering I enjoy (looking at you, Jayden!).

In closing, working out with a partner can also ensure your safety. If you happen to be doing something like lifting heavy weights or hiking in a remote area, having someone with you can ensure that you’ll have immediate help should something go wrong, which can be an important aspect if you happen to have Diabetes and suffer a low at an inopportune time. Not to mention that a little healthy competition amongst friends or loved ones is never a bad thing. So get out there and challenge yourselves. The only limits are the ones we set ourselves. ☯

To Hit The Ground Running Means Nothing If You Land On Your Face

Nobody “enjoys” waking up… Perhaps some enjoy getting out of bed and facing the day depending on what the day may hold, which for many, isn’t a whole lot given the current state of the world. But waking up refreshed and happy to be doing so is a fleeting thing, and can be pretty difficult to achieve, especially with Diabetes.

During my younger years, I remember distinct mornings when I would wake by slowly opening my eyes, taking stock of the fact the sun was up, have a good stretch and slowly ease myself out of bed. I would smile, crack various joints and start moving towards whatever the day would carry. I would usually feel rested, and I would basically wake when my body told me, “You’ve had enough sleep. You can get up, now.” Yeah… THOSE days are f#$kin’ gone…

These days, I RARELY get a full night’s sleep. Stress over work issues, illness and blood sugar fluctuations usually see to that. I set an alarm, but I very rarely get to actually wake with it. On top of those factors, and infant who seems to have found his voice and choose to hoop and wail consistently every five minutes, coupled with a 5-year old who feels it’s important to remind me that it’s morning, tend to get me out of bed sooner than I would choose.

You know those jokes you read about on the internet, about how you used to stay up all night then go into work to complete an 8-hour shift? And now you have to call in sick if you’ve slept wrong? That’s a bit of what I’m looking at here. And it sucks, because I’m a firm believer that how you start your day will have a direct impact on how your day as a whole plays out.

Think about it: If you wake up well-rested and enjoy a morning coffee and head off to work in a controlled manner, you’ll likely be in a better mood throughout the day and better equipped to deal with whatever issues arise. But if you wake up feeling like a bag of smashed ass and have spent half the night up adjusting your blood sugars, you’ll likely spend your day in a grumpy funk.

Speaking solely for myself, I often and usually spend a significant amount of time during the dead of night, trying to lower or raise my blood sugars, depending on what my body has decided to bless me with on a particular night. Although my endocrinologist and have examined my overnight basal levels and yes, I do test at night, factors outside my control such as sleep quality, nightmares, stress and kids can still wreak havoc.

Today’s post doesn’t contain a complicated lesson, and maybe I’m just complaining about getting a bad night’s sleep. But the take-home here is that how you start your day will influence the entire thing. So if your feet hit the ground and you already feel a dark cloud over your head, be sure to do something about it. Take a walk. Have a workout. Do something that you enjoy or brings you happiness. All of these will often help to lift the funk. ☯

I Wash My Hands Of It…

Proper hygiene is significantly important, and has always been so even before the advent of everyone finally realizing to WASH THEIR HANDS!!!! Seriously though, good hygiene and cleaning habits are an important part to staying healthy, and can have a significant impact on your overall health and every day life.

For example, did you know that depending on they type and thickness of your toilet paper, it can take up to ten layers to stop fecal bacteria from passing through? Kind of makes you think twice about walking out before scrubbing the ‘ol paws, right? Don’t stress too hard over it; there’s already bacteria on the toilet paper BEFORE you use it anyway. Oh, wait… That’s all the more reason to WASH YOUR HANDS!!!

Good hand washing practices have been pushed for decades, and has in fact been explained as one of the top ways people can easily prevent the spread of germs, bacteria and disease. It’s unfortunate that it took a pandemic for people to lose their proverbial shit and start washing their hands more often, hoarding and slathering layers of sanitizer to boot. If you want my thoughts on hand sanitizer, you can read one my previous posts here: Cleaning? Ain’t Nobody Got Time For That…

Bearing in mind that you should be washing your hands properly and often, whether they’re dirty or not, what is the “proper” method? Well, according to the Centre For Disease Control, one should wash one’s hands for at least 20 seconds or more, using soap and fresh, running water. Close attention should be paid to ensure your scrub all areas of your hands, including between the fingers, back of the palms and under the nails.

The length of time depends on how dirty your hands may be, or what kind of filth they may have been exposed to. But once you’re done scrubbing, they need to be properly rinsed under fresh, running water. This is because soap will help to lift and remove filth, bacteria and germs from your hands, but then need to be rinsed off. Then, be sure to dry your hands properly as germs can be transferred easier on wet hands.

The article provides for both air drying or towel drying, and the jury is out on which one is optimal. Personally, I despise hand dryers in public restrooms as I’m not a fan of whatever bacteria ay be floating the washrooms being heated and blown across my flesh. But the jury is out on which method is optimal. The jury is still out on whether hot or cold water makes any measurable difference, but the reality is that hot water will at least help lift some of the germ-ridden oils from your hands that will remain if you use cold water. Additionally, some of the dirt-lifting properties of soap are deactivate by cold water.

Last but not least, remove rings and jewellery when washing. I once saw a television report where they coated the hands in a UV-sensitive chemical that would light up under a black light. They then had the person wash their hands and expose them to a black light. The hands were mostly clean, except for some spots he forgot to scrub. But when he removed his wedding band, a bright blue band of chemical was still present. The same applies to germs and bacteria.

Just to be clear, you’ll never eliminate 100% of bacteria. Nor should you want to. Your body needs some of that shit (pun fully intended). The biggest challenge I’m facing at the moment is trying to teach my 5-year old son the importance of hand washing. He’s of the opinion that if he doesn’t “touch himself” while using the washroom, he doesn’t need to wash his hands. He’s also terrible at understanding to scrub up when he comes inside from playing. Kids…

As usual, all of this can be easily applied to Diabetics, especially since we tend to be prone to infection and should try to keep clean as much as possible. This is especially important if you still use a traditional blood glucose monitor and prick your fingertips repeatedly throughout the day. You should wash your hands in hot, soapy water before and after testing. No matter the state of the world, everyone should be washing their hands often and properly. Not only for good hygiene and to protect yourself but because it also helps to protect others. ☯

Zen In The Apocalypse

It’s been a long couple of months, with the majority of the world doing their very best at staying isolated and social-distancing, and the small percentage of mouth-breathing idiots who are still letting their children play on public play structures and throwing parties and gatherings (I’m looking at you, Karen!). For the most part, the world has been doing what they have to.

Here in Canada, penalties and fines have been issued against quarantine violators in some of the more serious circumstances, and Provincial borders remain closed at most locations. Slowly but surely, governments are beginning to reopen certain semi-essential services, such as dentists, eye doctors and such, mostly on a Provincial basis. Back in New Brunswick, my family reports restaurants reopening with limited seating and families being permitted to travel to each other’s homes. No such leniency has taken place here in Saskatchewan.

But despite the progress that’s been made, it may still be a while before we can all romp in the outdoors and mingle with members of public like we used to. In fact, many believe that this may be the beginning of a new phase of society that could become permanent, with video meetings and working from home becoming the norm.

Despite the closing of businesses, suspension of many jobs and the financial strain that many are feeling as a result of the current pandemic, the aspect that people seem to be having the greatest difficulty adapting to, is self-isolation. Today’s society in general doesn’t do well with being told they HAVE to do something (a fact I’ve learned all too well over the past ten years), which is why we continue to have people who smoke in public places, litter and use their cell phones while driving. But I digress…

The point is, faced with the difficulty of being cooped up inside their homes on a near-constant basis with spouses and children has begun to take a toll on many, with things like cabin fever and quarantine fatigue becoming very real concerns. Emotions and frustrations are rising and the especially important detail of trying to keep children occupied and entertained when they don’t have school and can’t go play at the park can be a real challenge. And trying to stay Zen throughout it all can feel like scaling a mountain with a shard of glass in your boot…

First of all, people need to understand the difference between “quarantine” and “isolation.” I’ve been hearing folks use them interchangeably, but they both have distinctively different meanings. A “quarantine” is defined as a strict isolation imposed t prevent the spread of a disease. This usually involves isolating people who are known, believed or suspected to have, carry or could spread the disease, whether symptomatic or not.

“Isolation”, whether self-imposed or not, is a bit simpler in terms that it’s the separation of a person from others. That’s it. You don’t have the disease (that you know of) but you’re keeping yourself indoors to prevent its spread. Which is great, but it doesn’t mean you can’t step outdoors and it can have detrimental effects on your health if you don’t take steps for your own mental well-being.

The internet has done what it usually does, when something serious of this nature arises and expressed its displeasure with the propagation of memes, jokes and overall lack of seriousness for the whole thing. But the reality is that some families are ACTUALLY having difficulties being isolated together for long periods of time when the norm has been to have their own separate periods away form one another.

But what’s important to remember is that despite terms such as “quarantine” being thrown around, if you are simply self-isolating and aren’t asymptomatic or trying to recover from a serious illness, there’s plenty you can do to help stem the tide of building pressure within your household. Go take a walk. Many people take this possibility for granted, but there’s nothing stopping you from heading out and taking a nice long walk. Fresh air, alone with your thoughts and some mild exercise, it can go a long way towards saving your sanity.

Even just spending time outside, even if you aren’t doing anything, will be very helpful. Fresh air can be an incredible asset. Meditation and Zen can be difficult in a contained environment, especially with small children involved since they don’t understand when mommy or daddy need some “quiet time.” This is one of the reasons I enjoy cycling. Besides the challenge of racking up as many kilometres in as short a time as possible, the fresh air and the time to be alone with my thoughts allows me to engage in a sort of moving meditation.

So be sure to get out there and find yourself something that works for you. Even if you don’t practice Zen, everyone inevitably NEEDS Zen. Finding some balance and peace during uncertain times is important to everybody, and remember that no matter what responsibilities your shoulders may bear, everybody needs/deserves some time to themselves. Even during a pandemic. ☯

Getting Caught In The Mouse Trap…

I’ve been doing martial arts for a LONG time, as long as the median age of some of my readers. And I’ve had a lot of role models and inspiring people who have helped me along the way. As a child, I would be lying if I said that I wasn’t inspired by some of the on-screen talent that I’ve seen. Some have been traditional, some have been a bit more, shall we say eclectic? And I feel that once in a while, I should pay homage to some of these martial artists, for they’ve done what many have dreamt about through their teens: they became famous.

There’s something of a stigma against on-screen martial artists. And this is for good reason. A lot of what we see on screen isn’t genuine, and is usually choreographed and arranged before being filmed. But once in a while, a little light shines through. And by “little,” I am referring of course, to one of my childhood idols, Michele “The Mouse” Krasnoo…

Due to licensing and copyright laws, I won’t be sharing an image of Krasnoo, but she can be found easily by Googling her name. Krasnoo is originally from California and began studying the Korean art of Tang Soo Do in 1980 when she was just 6 years old! She reached black belt level by her early teens, which although I’m typically not a fan of, she made it work for her.

Over the years that followed, Krasnoo studied and became proficient in a few other styles of martial arts (sound familiar?). She got into acting and became known for her intricate martial arts forms and the colourful use of uniforms. In 2006, she was inducted into the Black Belt Hall of Fame. She’s also proficient in various weapons.

I first saw her on screen in the mid-80’s when No Retreat, No Surrender was released on tape (it was probably Beta cassette, just in case you’re interested in guessing how old I am!) I’ve seen her in a handful of other films, and she became a favourite of mine. I found myself able to relate to her because of her dedication, her study of multiple styles and the fact that she gained her nickname (The Mouse) due to her short height of 5 feet. Considering I’ve felt small through a good portion of my life.

As of the early 2000’s, Krasnoo held a 5th-degree black belt in Tang Soo Do, 1st-degree black belt in Shorin-Ryu, which is a similar style to my own Uechi-Ryu, 1st-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and a black sash in Wushu Kung Fu. She holds a ridiculous number of championship titles and despite her on-screen time, is a traditional martial artist in the most rudimentary of ways.

Krasnoo has moved on in her life, married with children and all. But she still does some acting and has been a source of inspiration for this martial artist for years. I still watch Kickboxer 4 on occasion and enjoy watching her kick the crap out of people three times her size. We find our role models in the least likely of places, but we take ’em where we can get ’em! ☯

Diabeetus

This year will mark thirty-seven of fighting my way along with Type-1 Diabetes. For the most part, I’ve been fortunate. But I would be lying if I said that I hadn’t made some significant mistakes along the way. Ignorance, lack of education and simply being too young to properly understand, has often put me in a tight spot, as far as proper Diabetes management.

These days, I generally enjoy a slightly shocked look from individuals to whom I reveal my condition. This is mostly because I don’t “fit” the assumed image of someone with Diabetes. I have all my digits and limbs, I’m not obese and I’m not cursed with a plethora of visible symptoms or side-effects for people to pick out and say, “Wow, he must have Diabetes.” (Cue the Wilford Brimley jokes, here!)

But it doesn’t mean that I haven’t been subjected to the typical questions and stereotypes that most people with Diabetes face at one point or another. I remember when Starbucks released their Unicorn Frappucino, back in 2017. Besides the ridiculous appearance of the drink, the carbohydrate count for it was astronomically excessive…

An example obtained from BeyondType1.org

BeyondType1.org posted a really good article about the drink when it came out. They display the above-included meme and some others, and goes on to explain how the internet basically lost its mind and started in on how sugar causes Diabetes. It. Does. Not. Period. But it sure doesn’t keep people from thinking it does and making fun of it. And 80 grams of total carbs? Whew, I feel my blood sugar rising just looking at that photo. I read a good joke while researching this post, about how the physical cup has less artificial ingredients than the drink does! But I digress…

The above is another meme I found. Seriously, poor Wilford Brimley! The man does one infomercial for Liberty Medical and the world’s been using his face as the butt-end of internet Diabetes jokes, ever since! But you can find memes like this aplenty, simply by searching “Diabetes memes” on Google. And the inaccuracy is astounding.

Consuming large amounts of sugar, having weight issues and a poor life style doesn’t CAUSE Diabetes! Some of those can certainly contribute to the onset of Type-2, but the jury’s out on even some of those aspects. I can guarantee that if you consume 29 candy bars, you’ll succumb to much different and immediate health concerns before Diabetes ever comes into the picture.

Although someone with Type-1 needs to focus on staying physically fit, eating well and minding their overall health, evidence to the contrary does not mean they have Diabetes. And seeing someone who has all of the above, physically fit, eating well and healthy, doesn’t mean that they do not. After all, even if you don’t see any casualties, it doesn’t mean the war isn’t happening. ☯

Traditional vs. Modern Learning

Have you ever read Romeo & Juliet? I haven’t. Granted, I attended and graduated from a French high school and it likely wouldn’t have been part of the curriculum. But what if you have read it? Did you consider it useful? Or was it something you felt was a waste of your time? And most importantly, was it a waste of your time because you simply didn’t enjoy it? Or was it a waste because you felt you should be spending your time learning something more valuable?

Throughout the past decades, there’s been a trend where students (and adults) have a tendency of saying things like, “Why am I learning this? I’ll never use this later on…” Especially when it comes to subjects like algebra, advanced physics and even history, students feel that there is a significant lack in material taught in schools that could be more valuable to them in the future.

In some cases, many of them are right. Let’s say that you HAD read Romeo & Juliet. What value would it serve you, in your adult life? Well, if you chose to study something or venture into a career that involves literature, creative writing, philosophy or even journalism, it may have served an important purpose to your future plans. However, if you go into business, law of public service, the story of two star-crossed lovers bringing their respective families together through their deaths likely taught you nothing (hey, I may not have read the book, but I know the story!)

But many believe that there is an inherent value in ALL learning, regardless of it’s purpose or reasoning (I’m one of them). School is meant to provide a person with the basic skills and knowledge required to move on to their adult lives and pursue whatever careers they choose. In case you missed it, let me highlight the important word, there: basic. BASIC!!! A book such as Romeo & Juliet can teach a variety of important life skills that the reader likely never becomes aware of. Things such as enrichment of language, study of the human condition, and last but not least, time-management since you know damn well that some time-crunching teacher gave you a deadline to finish the book.

These are all valuable skills that you WILL use later on in life, regardless of what vocation you choose. But typically, we fail to realize those “unspoken” lessons and focus solely on our struggles of the moment and struggling to stay awake through class. It’s comparable to the Karate Kid, where Mr. Miyagi teaches Daniel by having him wax cars and paint fences. You know, the whole “wax on, wax off” thing? The protagonist totally didn’t understand why he was doing those things until it was shown to him in practical terms.

Don’t get me wrong; The Karate Kid is an excellent movie and reminds me of my childhood in many respects. It’s a feel-god story about the good guy winning, but it’s total bullshit. You can’t learn to block properly by waxing cars. Still a great movie. Jus’ saying… And I only use Romeo & Juliet as an example because it was one of the first that came to mind.

Something that I’ve often heard, from adults especially, is that they would have seen more value in learning things like how to draft a decent resume, write professional letters or how one does one’s taxes. But the problem is that these skills can and usually are, taught in post-secondary environments such as college and university. I remember when I was in college, we had whole classes just on how to properly apply for jobs, how to make our resumes look neat and professional and how to send correspondence. The material and lessons you learn through grade school and high school are meant to lead into that, since typically-speaking the learning is never SUPPOSED to stop.

Unfortunately, when one is competing against the likes of a society where people make a living and occasionally even get rich by being a “social media influencer” or having millions of YouTube or Twitter subscribers, learning proper math can seem a little mundane and may not have you seeing the value of what you’re learning. But the important lesson here is that in everything that is taught, there is something to learn. If you find yourself in the learning environment and wonder why in the hell you need to know this stuff, try and look beyond the immediate lesson into the skills and knowledge that may be hiding underneath. You may be surprised at what you find. ☯

When You Never Throw The First Punch…

We live in a society where bullying has a very hot, bright spotlight shining on it. Back in the early 2000’s, anti-bullying initiatives started to take the world by storm and all sorts of different things, such as pink shirt day and anti-bullying day became a thing. Since then, heavy awareness has been brought against this pointless activity (the bullying, not the initiatives), even if it’s something that has always been around. This spotlight hasn’t done much to eliminate bullying, despite things like celebrity endorsement and attention, and the many valuable resources that have been allotted to it. And why is that?

I was bullied in my youth. And no, I don’t mean the typical, snowflake version of bullying that bothers most kids these days where someone has made fun of your clothing or appearance. Not to belittle their experiences, you understand. Every person’s threshold for bullying can be different, but I was bullied in such a way where I was often physically thrown into school showers, fully clothed. I was then forced to finish my day soaking wet with no way to get dry or obtain a change of clothes (sometimes in the depth of winter).

I had my lunch taken from me, numerous times. This doesn’t sound especially harmful, but when you happen to have Diabetes it can actually be detrimental to your health. There were days when I had to make my way home and forfeit the remainder of my school day, otherwise I’d suffer blood sugar issues that I knew my school was unprepared to deal with, as a result. I’ve had groups of four or five guys actually surround me and pound me to the ground until I prayed and wished to either black out or have a teacher come along to help. One never did.

“Courage Is Fire, And Bullying Is Smoke”

– Benjamin Disraeli

I even remember the one day where, once class had let out, I walked out to the student parking lot to find my car firmly wedged between two trees on the grassy median between the student and teacher parking lots. I was incensed, and immediately went to the principal’s office where the police were promptly called to attend. Of course, nobody spoke up to identify who did it and it wasn’t the sort of crime where the cops would dust for prints and call in CSI, so the school custodian had to count down one of the trees to release my vehicle so I could drive away. I never found out who did it.

Now if you’re clever enough to do the math, the fact that I had a car at school meant that I was at least 16. I had been studying karate since I was about the age of 10. So, many of you may be asking the question, Why didn’t you do something? Oh, trust me! That day came soon enough… But until my breaking point, I had been studying martial arts with the purpose of improving my health and overall well-being. Despite the study of a fighting art, I had never used the skills I had learned in a genuine fight, as was not my way. I was not enthused at the prospect of harming another person, even if it was in defence of myself. That all came to a screaming halt, one fateful spring morning.

I walked into a late-morning language class, which ran right before lunch period. I was almost ten minutes early, as it was my custom to typically avoid recess and the crowds of people it involved. There were a couple of students in the class who had also arrived early. Three guys, whom I recognized as being some of my most frequent oppressors, walked into the classroom and immediately spotted me at the back.

The taunting started almost immediately, with all three crowding down the row and heading slowly towards me. Some of their typical tactics took place; my books were scattered to the floor, I was grabbed out of my seat and shoved hard against the wall. You know, typical bullying behaviour. The lead bully’s taunting took a different turn when, out of nowhere he pulled out a pocket knife.

Now, to prevent any thoughts that I’m exaggerating, I feel it’s necessary to describe this “knife”. It was a small, folding 1-inch blade; the kind with a small loop and chain on it meant to be used as a keychain. It was hardly a bowie knife or a short sword, and there was no thick Australian accent telling me that “this is a knife!” But even the smallest blade can be deadly, depending on the intent of the user.

The bully smiled devilishly and held the open blade at my stomach and not only questioned what I was going to do about it, but my ability to do anything. Although it came out sounding more like “Whut are ya gonna do? Nothin’! Because you can’t…” I didn’t hear anything of what he said next as my world turned red. This was my breaking point. I had been threatened, beaten, my personal property had been vandalized and my formative years that should have been pleasant and educational for me were some of the worst of my life. Like a pressure cooker with a ruptured seal that finally blew, years of bullying and abuse finally surfaced. And it was directed against this young offender who chose to make himself feel like a big man by belittling someone else.

“Just Pretend The Guy Is Like A Balloon. If You Pop ‘Em Hard, These Guys Just Go Away…”

– Tommy Gunn, Rocky V

I moved. The movement was quick and semi-precise, and to this day I don’t recall EXACTLY what I did as I responded on instinct born from years of repetitive fight training. But when my red haze cleared, the boy was sprawled on the classroom floor with a couple of desks pushed aside. His wrist was broken and there were blood drops all over the floor. It took a moment for the adrenaline to die down enough for me to feel the sting against my flesh that made me realize that the blood was mine. I looked down and saw blood dripping from my wrist, where the blade had sliced. There was also a small cut in my pants, on the inner side of my knee, where the blade had apparently visited my leg as well. A physical shred of proof that shows that when bullying happens, EVERYONE gets hurt…

The other two guys backed away and checked on their friend, who was crying and cradling his arm. I sat quietly at my desk and didn’t move. The adrenaline dump and shock basically shut me down and all I could do was sit there. As luck would have it (my luck, at least), this was about the time the teacher walked in and saw all the chaos. My wounds were patched up. Visits to the principal’s office. Calls to the parents. A week’s suspension ensued. Not my shining moment…

Over the years when retelling this story, I’ve received a lot of mixed comments from people who believe I could have done many things differently. I could have implored my classmates for help, as there were a few people there. My response is usually that they saw the entire ordeal play out and stood by and did nothing. I’ve even had some people state that I shouldn’t have allowed myself to “suffer in silence” for so long and should have gotten faculty and parents involved. Trust me, I had done that a number of times by that point, which yielded negative results.

There are a number of reasons why people decided to bully others. And that’s the key factor; being a bully is a choice. Whether it’s for power or popularity, as a means of retaliation, seeking popularity or because one is venting the pain from being bullied themselves, none of the reasons are good. And eventually, an active step needs to be taken to make it stop. This is especially true in some of the extreme circumstances we’ve seen in recent decades where some kids have ended the pain through suicide.

I’m obviously not an advocate of violence. But the unfortunate reality is that sometimes, the only way to effectively stop the bully is to strike back. That’s the reality I faced over twenty years ago, and the same is true for many kids today. I plan on teaching my sons the same lesson that a friend of mine has taught his children. When someone does you wrong or bullies, always start by communicating with them. Ask them to stop. If that doesn’t work, the next step is to seek out a teacher or adult to help brings matters to an end. But if and when all those things fail, you still need to stand up for yourself and make the suffering stop. You should never be the first to throw a punch. But you should never accept to receive a second.

Psychology Today has a good article on the reasons behind bullying. It’s one of those things that has always been around. And unfortunately always will. Whether intentional or not, there will always be those who seek personal advantage at the suffering of others. The key is to protect oneself and in doing so, ensuring that one does not slip off the edge and become a bully themselves.

My experiences changed me. Decades later, I still have two physical scars of that encounter, and a number of emotional ones that have steered some of the decisions in my life. There have been a number of opportunities where I could have easily BECOME the bully. But bullying is a weakness, and it takes and creates more personal strength to be kind and understanding of others than it does to be a thug. ☯

Don’t Be Afraid To Mix It Up…☕️

I love coffee. If you’ve read some of my posts, you’re likely all aware of this fact. And although the current state of the world has prevented me from enjoying some of my more commercially-enjoyed coffees from chains who shall remain unnamed, I still have the benefit of enjoying coffee at home.

Our Keurig machine recently died on us (There Is No Keurig In The Apocalypse), which left me with a bulk box of K-cups sitting in our cold room. My wife usually makes a pot of coffee first thing in the morning, but our preference of coffee blend/strength differs enough that I usually favour an energy drink as opposed to a traditional cup of coffee.

But a few days ago, I found myself staring at an empty coffee pot. I decided to peel open a few K-cups and brew the grounds like a traditional pot of coffee. My bulk box is Kirkland’s Pacific Bold coffee, which packs a strong flavour and aroma. I absolutely love this coffee, even if it’s not the only blend I drink. I grabbed three K-cups from the box and headed upstairs. (I’ve done this with K-cups before and knew that 3 cups would be adequate)

Despite being a 110-cup bulk box that was three quarters full, I somehow managed to grab THE ONLY TWO K-CUPS THAT WEREN’T PART OF THE BOX!!!! As much as I hate how lazy it makes me sound, I was already upstairs and didn’t feel like running back down to switch them up. So I used the three cups I had.

The three K-cups I used included a Kirkland Pacific Bold, Van Houtte Colombian Dark and Van Houtte Original House Blend. I believe the last two came from my most recent hotel stay where I didn’t have the opportunity to make coffee. Despite the strange odds of me grabbing three different cups, I cut them open and brewed a full pot.

I gotta say, it came out pretty good. I had a couple of cups, and my wife even tried it. Depending on where you purchase, blending coffee is an excellent way to enhance and complement the flavours of each. You can do this with any two or more blends. Surprisingly, most chain-store coffees are a blend of some sort and you probably enjoy it and wonder why it’s so damn good, compared to your home brew, BECAUSE it’s blended.

For the most part, it can be difficult to get an adequate supply of a singular coffee blend to allow distributors to meet demand, so most commercially-bought coffees are also blended. Blending your coffees can be a great way to explore and develop a unique coffee flavour for yourself, whether you mix beans before roasting and/or grinding them, or simply mixing purchased grounds before putting them in the coffee machine. Don’t be afraid to mix it up! ☯

Time For “The Talk”

Having children is an experience all its own. Some good, some bad and some memorable, they make life interesting in ways that nothing else can. Most parents dread the day that they’ll need to have “the talk” with their kids. The “talk” referring mostly to the birds and the bees and where babies come from. With my oldest son Nathan, I’ve been fortunate enough that he’s been able to observe my wife’s pregnancy and his baby brother’s gestation through to his birth. So he’s very aware that babies grow in mommy’s tummy, although not what GOT him there. (One battle at a time, people!)

But the talk I’m referring to, is the one where Diabetes needs to be explained. For someone afflicted with Type-1 Diabetes, having children brings on its own batch of concerns and worries. For example, the prospect that your child may have Type-1, as well. I’ve been fortunate thus far that my oldest son, Nathan, is showing no signs of being diagnosed with Type-1 Diabetes. He certainly eats like he hasn’t got a care in the world!

But one of the issues I’ve had to face in recent years is explaining Diabetes and the reason behind it. I started pump therapy while Nathan was still an infant, so in the years that followed I had to start being mindful of his grubby little paws clawing at my tubing and grabbing at the pump. We’ve come to humorously refer to my pump as my “ouchie”, and Nathan has grown up understanding not to touch it under any circumstances and to be mindful not to sit/step or grab on or around it when we’re horsing around.

A few days ago I was behind my house doing some yard work. Nathan was playing contently in the dirt and it was a beautiful day. As luck (and bad timing) would have it, I started experiencing a low, right when I was in the middle of doing a task. I tested using my Freestyle Libre and sure enough, I was in the mid 3’s!

As is his norm, it took him less than five minutes to realize I had left the back yard and to seek me out in my home office. He immediately noticed that I was feasting on some jelly beans to treat my low. He asked if my blood sugar was low, to which I replied that it was. He asked me if he could have some jelly beans as well. Not wanting to have a five-year old Tasmanian Devil bouncing off the walls, I declined to let him partake… which pissed him off to no end!

He got upset and said it wasn’t “fair” that I got to eat candy whenever I wanted and he couldn’t (which is ironic as it’s pretty much the opposite). This is when it dawned on me that although he understands to be careful around my medical devices, he may not be inherently aware of why I have them. I decided that it was now time to explain why I wear a pump and exactly what Diabetes is.

I started by using Google to bring up a diagram of the human body with the pancreas highlighted. I explained that when someone eats, the pancreas works to control the amount of sugar in the blood (a bit on the simplistic side, but come on! He’s five!) If you have too little or too much sugar in the blood, the pancreas adjusts it for you. But my pancreas doesn’t function properly, so the pump does the job for my pancreas.

Since the pancreas is a natural part of one’s body, it knows how to adjust and balance things. Since my pump is a machine, sometimes mistakes are made, which is why I have to occasionally eat sugared foods to bring my blood sugar up. And jelly beans are usually the easiest and fastest way for me to do it. If I allowed Nathan to consume my jelly beans, I wouldn’t have them in the event that I suffered a low, which was why I couldn’t share them.

To my surprise, he took everything I told him pretty well. He even repeated some details back, which indicated his understanding. All in all, I was pretty happy and proud that he understood. We also briefly discussed that if he ever saw Daddy going to sleep suddenly or being unable to move, to run for Mommy right away for help. His attention and understanding were rewarded with the sharing of one jelly bean from my pile, which made him happy and sent back on his way.

It can be hard to give kids credit where credit is due. We assume that because of their young age, they may not necessarily understand. But allowing oneself to provide even a rudimentary explanation can take some of the anxiety and concern away, especially if your kids ever see you in the throws of a bad low or having to call for help. It won’t eliminate the worry of seeing a parent carted off in an ambulance, but explaining can at least stem some of it. If the sex talk turns out to be this easy for Nathan, I can breathe easy… Although somehow I doubt I’ll be THAT lucky! ☯