Category: Motivation

Do It For Momma…

I frequently write about different holidays that come up throughout the calendar year, and sometimes about anniversaries of specific key events in my life. But one of the most important holidays that comes up every year, especially if you’re part of a typical family dynamic, is Mother’s Day…

Mother’s Day as it’s currently recognized, was first celebrated in the US in 1908 by a woman named Anna Jarvis. She had started campaigning to have Mother’s Day recognized as a holiday three years prior when her mother passed away. In 1914, President Wilson signed Mother’s Day into existence as a National holiday on the second Sunday in May.

Although Mother’s Day is celebrated in different ways around the world depending on culture and background, Canada also observes Mother’s Day on the second Sunday of May, and is usually observed with gift-giving or small celebrations. That being said, the current state of affairs has made it difficult to celebrate this holiday, since restaurants and non-essential businesses are currently closed due to quarantine measures.

There’s still lots you can do to recognize your mother or the mother of your children. Make them a meal, give them an afternoon to themselves to read or relax or chose to do something together as a family at home. Living clear on the other side of the country, the best gift I can give my mother is a simple phone call. And she’s quite happy with this.

Despite all the jokes floating around the internet, being quarantined with my wife has held no negative effects on our relationship. If anything, we’ve been enjoying the increased time to be around each other and as grateful as I am for my two sons, I don’t think I’d survive being around THEM if it weren’t for the timely intervention of my wife. Mother’s Day is well deserved, considering all the weight they carry for their families. Celebrate accordingly…☯

Sip Yourself To Sleep

Recently, I wrote about different types of tea in a post entitled “Let’s TEA Off”where I described the effects of some tea and the myth that some teas such as green tea, are caffeine free.  I had some misfortune in this area, as I foolishly consumed a cup of green tea late one evening, only to have it keep me awake through half the night.  I was NOT impressed!

I’m usually not one for endorsing specific brands and types, but I’ve come upon a blend of herbal tea that I’ve found not only delicious, but completely caffeine-free. Sometimes, it’s nice to enjoy a nice, hot cup of something in the evening while reading or watching a show. And since coffee and traditional teas are out of the question because of their stimulating effect, a natural caffeine-free herbal tea is the best alternative.

This is a can of loose-leafed cinnamon rooibos chai tea that my wife and I received as a gift from our friend Lavina, some time ago. I usually don’t partake of loose-leafed tea, since it requires an infuser of some sort and honestly, who has the time? But I’ve recently taken to using the infuser we do have and I have to say, this blend of tea has really sat well with me.

The cinnamon flavour is almost akin to chewing cinnamon gum, or having a shot of Fireball without the buzzing effect. As you can see from the photo, this particular can was obtained from DAVIDsTEA, which is a Canadian specialty tea store. They sell just about every kind of tea under the sun and stars, and often offer samples of specialty blends that they offer in-store. We have a location here in Regina and two in Saskatoon.

So if you’re looking for a warm, comforting drink in the evening, a steaming-hot cup of herbal tea is the way to go. ☯

When The Way Is Right…☸️

I don’t deny that one could say I became a Buddhist almost by accident. I hadn’t even HEARD of Buddhism when I started martial arts in the late 80’s, yet here I am. Decades later, constant study and trying to follow the right path. A good portion of my story is a prime example of cause and effect. As I progressed in the martial arts, I was introduced to concepts such as Budo, Bushido’s code and my first introductions to Buddhism.

Despite the accidental introductions (or not so accidental, if one believes that all things happen for a reason) there have been a number of measurable benefits to my years of Buddhist study and martial arts. I originally got into martial arts for the purposes of improving my health, and it has turned out to provide more benefit than that scrawny kid ever could have imagined when he set out on the journey…

There’s no denying that the martial arts has provided me with a number of significant advantages.  The physical requirements and exercise has helped to improve my insulin sensitivity and fight off insulin resistance.  The intense training has provided me with better blood circulation, which as most of you likely know, is VERY important to someone with Diabetes.  Measurable improvements in body mass and appetite followed, allowing me to survive well past the window of expectation that most of my doctors had for me in the late 80’s, early 90’s.

  When I started studying Buddhism, some of the most important aspects that I began to work on were mindfulness, meditation and control of my inner thoughts and emotions.  This is not to say that I don’t display emotions (my wife can attest to that), but my practice has allowed me to control how I externalize my reactions and emotions.  Over the years, this has allowed me to deal with problems and face issues in my personal and professional life in an almost detached manner that allows for logic to step in and for the emotion to come out at a later time.

Something I need to point out is that most people automatically associate Buddhism with meditation, but the truth is that you can reap the benefits of meditation on its own.  Not only from a Diabetes standpoint but for people in general, meditation can do a world of good.  This is becoming a well-known fact, and plenty of people are getting on board.  Meditation is offered/taught in some places of work, schools and a variety of classes where different varieties of meditation are taught.

And yes, there are different types of meditation.  Some of the most popular ones are transcendental meditation, focused meditation, mantra meditation and relaxation meditation are but a few, and it all depends on what you’re trying to accomplish with the meditation that you do.  Just like there are a variety of types of yoga and types of martial arts. 

But some of the benefits of meditation can include lowering one’s blood pressure, controlling pain within the body, improving one’s sleep, helps one to focus and increase self-awareness and helps with stress and anxiety.  All of these things can be helpful with the control of blood sugars and overall Diabetic health.  You can find introductory classes on guided meditation in most major cities, and there are plenty of books on the subject as well.  Be sure to keep an open mind, and if it doesn’t feel right to you, don’t be afraid to  seek out different classes as every instructor or teacher may have a different method of imparting the knowledge.

I may have fallen into some of what I do by accident or coincidence, but I’ll never look back.  One of the beautiful aspects of meditation is that you can basically do it anywhere.  All you need is a comfortable place to sit/lie down, whatever your preference may be.  ☯

Breathe Hard If You Have To…

You know, one of the hardest aspects of trying to get/stay in shape, is judgement from others. Let’s be honest… We can say we don’t give a shit what others think until the cows come home. But the reality is that having someone else, even a total stranger, tell us that we’re out of shape or don’t look “ideal” is always a bit of a downer. Which is why I don’t understand why people do it.

The most popular example of this, would be a particularly heavy-set individual going to a public gym in the hopes of losing some weight and improving themselves. Then having one and/or many assholes, in their ignorance, point and laugh, thereby discouraging the person from going to the gym again. It’s a nasty cycle of behaviour against one’s fellow human, and you’d think we’d have surpassed it. Especially in a modern society where everyone is so damned sensitive about the least of things. But I digress…

In my driveway, just back from a quick 20-kilometre bike ride

Last Saturday (May 2nd) I took to the streets for a quick run on my bike. I like biking. Those of you following this blog have likely come to be VERY aware of this. And today was not an exception to that rule, as I decided to go rack up some mileage. As I have been trying to maintain a minimum of three fitness session of any kind every week for my year-long resolution, I had little choice but to do something as I only had two workouts on the books. I know, I know… Bad me!

I was about 10 kilometres in when I decided to do a lap of Mount Pleasant. Now, Mount Pleasant is a rounded hill of grassed landscape that is surrounded by soccer, baseball and football fields. It’s one of the nicer parks of its kind in Regina. It also has a reasonable elevation for someone cycling around its trail. Usually, I cut straight to Mount Pleasant from my home and do a circuit, sometimes two, immediately at the beginning of my journey. On this occasion, I chose to wait until halfway through my intended distance in order to be closer to exhaustion when I climbed the hill. This allowed for a deeper burn and when I cycled down and around the trail back towards the streets, I was bushed. And breathing hard.

As I come around a corner, I spot to young girls sitting on a park bench on the edge of the trail. As luck would have it, the song I was listening to ended just as I passed them and I heard one of them say, “Wow, listen to him gasping for air! He must really be out of shape…” I rode on without commenting, but something deep inside me resented being told I was out of shape, especially since these two little brats had no idea how far I had travelled at that point.

I know I’m not. I’m no 80’s Schwartzenegger, but considering I do multiple bouts of martial arts, cycling and circuit workouts every week (not to mention keeping up with a hyperactive 5-year old), I would hardly fit the standard definition of being out of shape. So why do we care? Why would anyone care what someone else thinks about their physical shape? It all comes down to aspects of social acceptance, being included and feeling valued by the people around us. It stems from an evolutionary need to be included in the pack, or face dying alone.

But the reality is that it doesn’t matter. Breathe hard if you need to. because I’ll tell you something: If you’re not breathing hard, if you’re not sweating buckets and if you’re not struggling to finish that workout… Then, my friend, you aren’t working out hard enough. Even if you are working harder than two little snowflake brats with their yoga apparel that’s likely never seen a drop of sweat and their off-the-cuff opinions of others… But once again, I digress… ☯

Even If All Things Happen For A Reason…

There is a significant balance in life that one needs to acknowledge. For the most part, do well and you’ll live well. If you do wrong, you can expect to eventually crash and burn. This is a pretty basic rule to life that most people adhere to. Hmm… I think that has something to do with that whole karma thing. I’ve long been a firm believer that all things happen for a reason. That reason may not always be clear to some, but I’ve had enough instances in my own life where I’ve been able to trace the cause and effect of those instances to know it to be true.

The important thing to remember is that even though all things may HAPPEN for a reason, it doesn’t mean that it necessarily happens on its own.

“If It’s Meant To Be, It’ll Happen…”

– Lazy, Delusional Fools

I’ve heard the above statement often, from a lot of different people. “If it’s meant to be, it’ll happen…” Mmm, no! Nope! Nada! No, it won’t. Most of the time, this is said by people who are afraid or unwilling to go out and make things happen for themselves. And that’s exactly what NEEDS to be done. You gotta go out and make things happen.

This is an important life lesson, and one that many people in today’s altered society don’t seem to comprehend. There seems to be an almost undeniable belief in today’s society that good things can and will happen for you if you simply sit back and wait Coupled with this is an aggravating sense of entitlement that the most recent generations seem to have developed, where they feel that they should have something coming to them despite barely ever having lifted a finger.

Life doesn’t care about your plan. Light knows, I’ve said that often enough. But life is also like a book. And every book has a start and an end. It’s the chapters in between that are up to you to fill. How full and complete those chapters may be is up to you. Although all things happen for a reason, there’s nothing stopping you from going out and making those reasons happen for yourself. In fact, life can/will be exponentially better if you do. ☯

May The 4th Be With You

Just a quick note to wish everyone a Happy Star Wars Day… All my friends know that I’m a die-hard Star Wars fan, and I’ve had the benefit of enjoying every film and series put out by the brand (Even the horrendous Solo movie, which I can honestly say was terrible!).

The only exception to this has been the most recent release of Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise Of Skywalker. I didn’t make it in to the theatres to see it when it was released, and then the world turned to shit in a hot hurry. I’ve been watching prices for the DVD on the rare occasion I’ve had to venture out for groceries and necessities, but I’ve come to realize that I’m a cheapskate when it comes to non-essentials.

That being said, I recently subscribed to Disney+ for my household to enjoy. Streaming services are usually wonderful because you get access to content on your own schedule that you usually wouldn’t through traditional television services. So I was quite pleased to see that Star Wars Episode IX was released on Disney+ this morning in conjunction with Star Wars day. Guess what I’ll be doing tonight…

So, if you haven’t seen it, I encourage you to have a relaxing movie day on the couch. Hell, why not watch the entire 9-movie saga! If you start right now, you could be done by about 3 a.m. (local Saskatchewan time) Otherwise, Happy Star Wars Day!!! ☯

Almighty Diabetic Sweet Tooth

One of the best parts about being a father is having the ability to allow my child to indulge in the things that I can’t. Namely, food and sweets. Although I try to keep my son on the nutritional straight and narrow, a big part of me is often envious that he can make it through his day by consuming high-carb foods without worrying about his blood sugar levels. A good example would be a few days ago. I woke up and hadn’t gotten any coffee in me yet.

My son had eaten a light breakfast, but expressed his desire to have some eggs. I was taken aback by this, as he is usually opposed to anything that isn’t crackers, bread or wraps. I told him I’d immediately fry him up a couple of eggs, but he corrected me by showing me the small bag of Hershey’s Eggies I had sitting in my workout area from a low I had suffered the day before (BTW, chocolate is absolutely horrible and the worst choice when you’re having low blood sugar, but I’ll save that one for another post!) I ended up shrugging my shoulders and said, “Why not?” and let him consume the five or six eggies that were left in the pouch. It was nine o’clock in the morning. Meinh…

My son has that benefit and his immune system is showing no signs of attacking his beta cells, much to my relief. But what can those of us who suffer from Diabetes do? If you’re anything like me, just HEARING about a specific food will have me craving it. I’ve lost count of the number of times that my wife has spoken the words, “You know what would be good?” only to have me salivate and suffer in silence. Okay, who am I kidding? I never do ANYTHING silent…

Although I am currently on pump therapy and some “experts” may say that the use of insulin allows for the consumption of sugared goods if I so choose, piling on more insulin isn’t a great solution and it has its share of side effects. Depending on the routine of your day, constant infusions of insulin outside of your meal periods can lead to difficulties controlling your overall blood glucose levels. I also don’t need to remind anyone that people with Diabetes can have difficulties with managing body weight and increased insulin definitely doesn’t help with that.

First and foremost, sugar can be addicting. Yes, you read that right. When was the last time you heard of a white powder that WASN’T addicting? But seriously, craving sweets can be an addictive habit where your body seeks the release of dopamine through the consumption of something sugary or sweet. The idea is to try to find some way of curbing that craving without succumbing to it. I can easily admit that I’m a big fan of allowing the occasional indulgence. Doing so not only allows you the occasional treat, it makes it easier to stick to your meal plans and less likely to falter from a diet you may be on.

According to an article posted on HealthLine.com, there are a number of foods that you can consume that will help to curb those nasty sugar craving. Although I won’t list ALL the foods in this article, I’ll point out my favourites and which ones I feel have worked the best for me. Obviously, you want to be able to recognize the difference between a craving and genuine hunger. But here are some options…

  1. Fruit: This is a great alternative since most fruits have a sweet taste. They do also contain sugar, so you want to know how much you’ll have to bolus in order to compensate. The difference is that it’s a much healthier option with fibre and other good stuff thrown into the mix;
  2. Dark Chocolate: My wife and I are both fans of dark chocolate. And it usually refers to any chocolate that is higher than 70% cacao. Dark chocolate has a number of fantastic benefits, which I wrote about in my post Embrace Your Dark Side. But the higher the percentage of the chocolate, the less sugar is usually contained within. Chocolate is still pretty high in fat, however. So, that’s a consideration;
  3. Chewing Gum: Yup, that’s right! Some studies have shown that chewing a piece of sugar-free gum can help to stave off sugar cravings, as well as help to control hunger. They’re sweetened with artificial sweeteners, of course, and not everyone likes that. But it’s certainly an easy way to stave off cravings.

These are just my top 3 and the ones I usually lean on. The chewing gum is actually my most-used method of staving off sugar cravings and/or controlling hunger throughout the day. The article includes 19 foods and does go on to say that if you find yourself constantly craving sugar, you should probably examine your diet and figure out what you’re lacking that might be causing it.

Last but not least, there are plenty of “Diabetes-friendly” desserts out there. Don’t be afraid to do some research and find some recipes, should your craving be for an actual dessert. The Diabetes Canada website has an entire section on recipes and can offer a variety of Diabetes-friendly recipes for not just desserts, but healthy meal options as well. The idea is not to try and go cold turkey, but to be smart about it and recognize the cravings for what they are. ☯

To Chi Or Not To Chi…

Does Chi exist? What is Chi? Chi can go by a number of different names: Chi, Ki or Qi, this energy is said to be the animating force behind all living things. In karate, we learn that our energy comes from the hara, or the belly area. This would be why ritual suicide in medieval japan was done by slicing open the belly as opposed to other “conventional” means.

But… Does it exist? This is the question that has been debated, especially in the Western world, for a very long time. Depending on what culture and/or background you may be referring to, Chi is what gives you the energy to keep going. We all have Chi and each person has the same amount throughout all of our lives. The use of that energy is simply allocated to different aspects as we get older. This would be one of the reasons why my 5-year old seems as though he has an endless pool of daddy-crushing energy while I wake up most mornings wondering if my body will actually get me out of bed.

It’s not magic or wild fantasy… I’ve seen some “scientists” speak about how Chi does not exist, there’s no evidence of it and there’s no way to prove its existence. Hmm. Perhaps they’re right, but some of the concepts behind Chi are also rooted in modern science. For example, the Law of Conservation of Energy teaches us that energy never ceases to exist; it is merely transformed or transferred. The amount of energy within a contained system remains constant.

So, ask yourself an important question: What are you? Are you simply the sum of your physical body? Nothing but a mass of tissue, water and bone? If so, what about the essence that makes you, well… you? The person you are, the sentience, the awareness, your personality and the living being that has put in years of existence in this life… What happens to that after you die? Is it simply a light switch that flicks off, or do you believe that your energy will be transformed or transferred?

Thinking about some of these questions can be scary. After all, no one likes to conceive of their own death. But as my uncle always says, “We only do TWO things in life; pay taxes and die!” The joke is many people get away from paying taxes. But death comes for us all. And the question of what comes after can yield anxious results.

I am totally on board with the fact that Chi isn’t some “magic” energy that can be harnessed. When you see people claiming to be able to push over opponents from behind a wall and shatter stone with the power of their Chi and other wild things, I can understand why people would be reluctant to believe or understand Chi. But just because a few charlatans have demonstrated fraudulently aspects, doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.

That certain “something,” the unspoken quality that makes you sentient and self-aware, can’t be denied. It makes no difference whether or not you believe in gravity; it’ll still keep you firmly rooted to the ground. The same can be said about the energy that makes you who you are. Whether you choose to believe in its existence or not, won’t change the fact that you are still here. ☯

Nothing Is Free

I think it was Ted Hughes who said, “Nothing is free. Everything has to be paid for.” In fact, I’ve been hearing some iteration of that saying all my life. My family and close influences have always told me that nothing in life is free. And in many ways, they’re quite right. All life is a balance, and usually that balance is maintained by taking from column “A” and dropping into column “B”.

This is why I’ve always been fascinated by the term “free time.” To be clear, this is the term used to define the period of time where one is not required to work, or has the time to spare to engage in leisure activities. In recents weeks, people have been finding themselves with loads of “free” time and have often found themselves at a loss as to how to fill it.

Despite the current state of things, your time is certainly not free. Whenever you surrender your time for one thing, it usually comes at the cost of another. Consider this: It’s Sunday afternoon. You’ve followed whatever routine and habits your household adheres to and perhaps you’ve enjoyed Sunday brunch or some pre-planned meal.

Now comes the decision as to what you’ll do with your afternoon. Will you do some household chores? If you’re a homeowner, that list is never complete. Perhaps you could have a workout. Maybe you need to assess your taxes, complete paperwork needed for work on Monday, play with your kids or call you mother. The chances are that whatever choice you make will take away from everything else. If you choose to assess your taxes or focus on paperwork for your job, you’ll be ignoring your kids and sitting on your rump as opposed to getting some exercise.

“Nothing Of Value Is Free. Even The Breath Of Life Is Purchased At Birth Only Through Gasping Effort And Pain.”

– Robert Heinlein, author of Stranger in a Strange Land

At the end of the day, it all comes down to proper time management. Being able to decide how to accomplish things through the course of your day in conjunction with keeping deadlines is invaluable, whether it’s for your home or your work. Believe it or not, there is no such thing as multitasking.

Don’t believe me? Think about it… No matter how many tasks you think you’re doing simultaneously, you’re only ever actively doing one thing at a time. Even when you have two things on the go, one of them is usually progressing on its own while you’re attending to the other.

My job uses a colourful term referred to as “task sequencing.” This follows on the coattails of what I mentioned above, where you aren’t so much doing two things at once but doing one thing after another respectively, based on their importance. I may be getting on a bit of a rant here, and being a bit too specific and/or technical. My only point is that even in the midst of all this “free” time, one should be mindful of how their time is put to use.

If you do find yourself with some of this so-called free time, be sure to use it constructively. After all, idle hands lead to idle minds. It may be the perfect time to get to that book you’ve been dying to read or try and learn that second language. Online learning and courses are become all the rage, especially as a semi-permanent after-effect of a self-isolated world. Either way, when one is not exercising the body, one should be exercising the mind. So be sure to fill your time constructively. Not only will it pass the time, you will be all the better for it. ☯

I Apologize For This Post…

I’m sorry. That doesn’t seem difficult to say, does it? Yet, most people are reluctant, even hesitant, to say they’re sorry and apologize, even when the situation warrants it. And why is that? As reasonable, rational people, should apologizing be so difficult? For most people, it certainly is.

I found myself thinking about this recently, when I had a small confrontation with my 5-year old son. I had woken and got my first caffeine of the morning with the intention of sitting and enjoying it before having to deal with matters of the day. My son was playing nicely on the floor with his baby brother, Alex. When I came down to the floor to check on the baby, Nathan and I got into a playful wrestling match. Once it was done, I started to stand, but he was holding firmly to my leg.

When I finally convinced him to let go, I stood and took the first step towards my morning coffee. He grabbed my leg once again, shifting my balance and forcing me to bring my foot down hard to stabilize myself. I very nearly stepped on the baby’s leg. I was not impressed. I sternly told him never to grab someone’s leg when they were walking as he could have tripped me and harmed the baby.

He took direct offence to this, and started pouting. Without getting into unnecessary details, the interaction ended with Nathan being sent to his room for talking back and being the basic little brat he occasionally enjoys being (I blame his damned cartoons!) I instructed him not to move from there until he was ready to apologize and be good.

It took well over an hour before he finally emerged from his room and presented me with a scribbled piece of construction paper. The scribbling apparently was a written apology, which he delivered verbally as well. (Doesn’t it tug your heart strings?) I freed him from his imprisonment and as an afterthought, I apologized as well…

Did I do anything wrong? Did I need to apologize? Maybe not. But I got angry with my child. I raised my voice and I doled out punishment. And I was sorry for both of those things. So I voiced as much. We exchanged a hug and he carried on with his day. I’ll admit that I felt better for apologizing.

So, if it makes one feel better, why does it seem so hard to do? According to an article posted by PsychologyToday, people who fall under the category of “non-apologists” will avoid or refuse apologizing, even in the most required of circumstances. The reasons for this may include trying to separate actions from character, feeling shame from having to apologize, fear of further conflict and assuming full responsibility for the situation.

But even if you’re not a non-apologist, saying that you’re sorry, even when you may be responsible, can be difficult for most people. For some, apologizing can be difficult because it makes them feel vulnerable or humiliated. For others, it can be a matter of self-image as apologizing for something can make a person feel inadequate or lacking in something, since apologizing can often be interpreted as assuming fault or responsibility. Even if that’s not necessarily the case.

Saying that your sorry can be the easiest thing that is so hard to do. But there’s no denying that there would likely be less suffering in the world if we could all swallow our pride and simply say “I’m sorry” when it is asked of us. Whether wrong or not, sometimes it can mean all the difference. Maybe even to yourself. ☯