Category: Motivation

The 3,600-Kilometre Walk Of Shame

All things considered, I decided to hit the sack pretty early last night.  Given everything that had taken place that day, I thought I should err on the side of caution and keep the evening simple. After over an hour of tossing and turning, with my mind running a mile a minute, I finally gave up and turned on the lamp in my hotel room.  I watched a total of two movies and didn’t get back to bed until about 3:30 this morning.  Then I woke up at 7:00 to start my long journey home.  So much for getting a good night’s rest. I’m just a “little” bit tired!

I stayed at the same hotel I used when I travelled to New Brunswick last September. The nice thing about this location is the complimentary breakfast that’s offered, which normally includes eggs, variations of toast and a meat option.  I stepped into the dining room to find flat, fried eggs sitting in an inch of water in a warming tray.  I stuffed myself with a piece of toast and a handful of sausage links and packed up my room to check out.

I drove to Fredericton International Airport with my rental vehicle, intent on returning it well ahead of my flight to avoid any complications.  This was likely a good thing, as I walked into the rental trailer and found the front counter unmanned.  This wasn’t unusual, as these folks are human too, meaning that washroom and food breaks must and do happen.  But when twenty minutes elapsed and no one showed up, I started to wonder what was happening.  Honestly, patience is a virtue.  But since yesterday, it rather seems as though every yahoo and their dog is hell bent on making me wait unreasonable periods of time for simple things.

An employee from my rental agency’s competition explained that she believed the guy working this counter had gone into the city, but that he should be back in about twenty minutes.  I checked the time.  I had been waiting almost twenty minutes already.  I decided to be proactive and looked up the rental chain’s primary office and call. I was directed to a call center.

I totally understand that call centers make sense.  For the company.  For customers, they often present an obstacle that needs to be overcome in order to achieve one’s goals with that particular business.  I explained my situation in great detail to the person on the other end, who ultimately provided that she would direct me to a supervisor.  I was on the phone for over ten minutes before I gave up and hung up the phone. My rental agency’s competition jokingly mentioned that had I rented from their company I’d be in the airport by now. I was not amused.

By this point, I had been waiting at the counter for almost half an hour.  Under normal circumstances, car rental locations have drop boxes that a person can drop their keys when arriving outside of normal business hours.  But this WAS the workday, and I had arrived two days earlier than my rental contract indicated.  I didn’t want to take the chance that they would bill me all the way to Saturday, so I felt I should be dealing with someone in person. There had to be something else I could do.

A quick Google search provided three local branches of this same rental agency in the city.  Ah, good ‘ol Google comes to the rescue!  I phoned the first one that listed a local number as opposed to a 1-800 number that would direct me to a call center.  THAT phone call lasted for less than a minute.  The person I spoke to apologized and explained that it was his fault as he had asked the employee to run some spare vehicles down to his location. Apparently, as there were no “scheduled” rentals this morning, it was an ideal time to make a run.  The person on the other end indicated that he had left about ten minutes ago and it’s a twenty-minute trip.  He advised he would call the employee to ensure he made no added stops as I was waiting for him. I politely explained that despite having no “expected” rental pick-ups, there was always the chance of someone stepping in to rent a vehicle that wasn’t pre-scheduled, or someone who would return a vehicle early. Like me! A business had to plan for such contingencies.

I turned in my vehicle and made my way inside the terminal.  I was provided with my boarding passes and got through security without issue.  My flight also boarded and took off without any issues, which was a nice change.  The only exception was that they wouldn’t allow me to bring my carry on bag into the aircraft.  I was too exhausted to argue and turned it over but I understood once I was inside the plane.

The tiny PVC pipe they were trying to pass off as a plane!

It was without a doubt the smallest aircraft I’ve ever been on.  A single row of seats on each side, no overhead bins, no flight attendants and the only staff were the captain and co-pilot.  It was a brief, 45-minute flight but the small stature of the aircraft made it so that I could feel every minute adjustment in heading and every little bump of turbulence.  Loads of fun, if you don’t mind riding your roller coaster at 15,000 feet above the ground!

The rest of the trip home, albeit exhausting, went off without a hitch. I had breaks of at least an hour between all stops, which allowed me to rest and caffeinate. Once I reached Toronto-Pearson Airport, I had an excellent burger that was made with lamb and sampled a Toronto IPA.

A patty of lamb, coated with gravy on a soft bun with mayo. Perfection!
Some dangerous shopping options, while browsing Toronto-Pearson

I arrived in Regina at roughly 7:45 p.m. this evening and let me tell you, it’s been something. I left on a plane on Tuesday morning. A total of about 7,800 kilometres travelled, including flights and vehicle rental, six different planes, two hotels, passed through at least seven different communities while driving and all of this was accomplished in about 62 hours. All for an interview that lasted an hour and I was dropped from the process about an hour later. Brutal.

I’d like to say this has taught me a lesson, but it honestly hasn’t. I’m too damned stubborn to stop or quit, despite the effect that this trip has had. One thing is guaranteed; as nice as it is to travel back to New Brunswick, nothing topped walking off that escalator and seeing my wife and kids waiting for me. Now if y’all will excuse me, it’s been a slice but I’m gonna go sleep in my own bed now. ☯

Here We Go Again… ✈️

My eyes snap open and I check the time on my cell phone.  It’s 2:45 a.m.  My alarm was set for 3:00, but as usual I was unable to sleep much.  I sit up, cracking the multiple joints that make my body sound like a bowling ball rolling over a bag of Corn Flakes.  I slip on “Old Faithful”, a hooded sweatshirt I’ve been wearing at home for over ten years, and make my way downstairs, careful not to wake my family.

The added fifteen minutes is a blessing, as it gives me some added time to grab a shower before my pre-scheduled taxicab shows up at my driveway.  I grab a few sips of an energy drink and slip into a hot shower, letting the steam and scalding water rejuvenate me for the day ahead. My head is pounding due to the fact that yesterday, I received my lovely eye injections.

I double check my bags and ensure I have everything I will need for the days to come and pile everything at the entrance to my home.  I choose to check on my children and kiss my wife goodbye before getting my boots and coat on, thereby ensuring that I may get away without waking them.  I was wrong.

I slip out into the morning chill, and the first thing I notice is the absence of a breeze and a sky full of stars.  This is promising, I tell myself.  Clear weather always makes for a better flight. At only -4 degrees Celsius, the morning has a mild child but isn’t cold.  I bring all the cardboard recycling to our blue bin, anxious to burn through the remaining time before my cab arrives.  My wife steps into the kitchen, allowing me the benefit of another kiss and hug before I leave.  After all, it will be the last I see of her for the remainder of the week.

At 3:20 a.m., my cab driver calls me.  He can’t find my house, despite the address on the reservation, instructions related to an outside light being intentionally left on and the SUV in the driveway.  I tell him I will wait at the curb.  He picks me up, and apologizes for the confusion.  I tell him it’s no problem, and I climb into the back seat with my bags. I’m perfectly content to sit in pre-caffeinated silence for the fifteen-minute ride to the airport, but my driver begins asking open-ended questions about my flight and where I’m from that lead me to believe that he intends on indulging in idle chitchat.  I humor him and converse for a few moments until he shows me the very large Tim Horton’s coffee he grabbed himself on the way to pick me up.  Dick.

He drops me off at the “Departures” door of the airport and the fare is $27.00, which would ultimately allow me to make the transit from my home to the airport 22 times using my personal vehicle, given its fuel capacity and the distance.  I silently curse the cost and slip out into the morning chill before entering the building.  I obtain my boarding passes and make my way through the security checkpoint.  As usual, the screening agents hesitate for a moment and frown as I explain that neither my pump nor my bottle of insulin can go through the x-ray machine and that I will need a pat down as opposed to the machine.

The play structure in the newly renovated Regina Airport. My son would have a blast in this thing!

Then, I found myself sitting in an empty airport.  The departure gates have all been renovated since my last flight (which was only five months ago) and are now listed by number instead of letter. Weird.  The only good thing I notice is a brand new Tim Horton’s kiosk that will allow me to supplement the bit of energy drink I guzzled before walking out of my home.  I have at least another hour before my flight boards.  Here we go again; I’m headed to New Brunswick.

Apparently I’m the only one crazy enough to be here at 4 o’clock in the morning!

The first leg of my flight was reasonably uneventful. That is, until I reached Toronto-Pearson Airport… They then decided that “our gate is currently in use by another aircraft”, so we were waiting on the tarmac like a bunch of idiots! My thinking was, arrange it with the control tower to pull into a different gate, but what do I know? Well, I knew that it was currently 10:20 and the next leg of my flight was boarding while I was sitting in the first aircraft!

When I got inside the airport, I panicked and ran like my life depended on it! Then these two douche-canoes were standing side-by-side on the moving platform, chatting like a couple of school girls with me panting behind them. I coughed and excused myself twice, but they just looked and carried on. I then jumped the barricade and ran along the regular floor, leaving them in my wake.

Fredericton Airport. Why is every airport I use undergoing renovations?

I reached gate D35 where my very short flight to Montreal was APPARENTLY in the process of boarding. When I got to the gate, everyone was still waiting to be called up! Not only were they late with starting to board (which was good, I guess) but my run in a heavy, black winter coat caused me to become sweaty and extremely uncomfortable. I touched down at Montreal-Trudeau Airport, made my connecting flight to Fredericton and touched down just shortly after 3:30 p.m. local time.

Once I was permanently on the ground, I was able to grab my rental vehicle and enjoyed an hour of travelling in a vehicle that I alone was controlling. Now, I’m sitting in my hotel room, trying to consolidate my thoughts before the business that brought me home for the second time in six months. Tomorrow should be interesting! On the plus side, I will get to see yet another friend I haven’t spent time with, in over a decade. ☯

Imperfection Is Beautiful

I have these two porcelain statues that I’ve owned for almost twenty years. The statues are quite nice, and I’ve had them for what seems like forever. My parents purchased them for me way back then, thinking that both of the statues depicted Buddha. They can’t be faulted for that, of course. I’ve kept them with me for years, never quite knowing where to put them or how to store them. Since they’re reasonably delicate, I’ve decided that it may be time to part with and sell them to someone who can make use of them.

The two statues as they are currently advertised

I took half a dozen photographs of the statues and posted them to a buy-and-sell site that I am a member of. As is the case with most second hand merchandise, I expected very little payment for these, and posted them at $5 for both. They were without a doubt purchased for more than that, but considering the amount of time that I’ve held them, I felt that passing them on to someone else for such low price was justified.

Almost immediately, someone expressed interest. The way this site works, is someone will “express interest” and then message the buyer. We went through the typical back-and-forth involved with a second hand sale. I indicated what area of the city I lived in and the condition of the statues. The buyer seemed as though she was somewhat interested, but then asked if either of the statues had any chips on them. One of them does.

The statue containing a small chip. Can you see it?

I explained that the statue expressing happiness had a small chip on the left hand. The chip happened a long time ago and unless you know it’s there, you won’t see it. This ended the interaction as she stated she was no longer interested. I felt a pang of intense frustration at the fact that this random person would pass on the opportunity for something as trivial as a chip in the porcelain.

Once I allowed my frustration to pass, this interaction got me to thinking about how people deal with things that are different. It is the nature of life that no thing can ever be identical to one another. Life does not believe in straight lines or perfection, and there are inherent flaws in every aspect of life and all it contains.

Bob Ross once said, “It’s the imperfections that make something beautiful. That’s what makes it different and unique from everything else.” This is why we should embrace those flaws when faced with something that would otherwise be considered imperfect. I’m not saying that this concept applies to something critical. I wouldn’t suggest buying a new car that has all its windows busted out, or eating food that has a bite missing out of it because of a stranger. But when something has a harmless flaw, it should be easy to acknowledge the beauty in such uniqueness. ☯

Beginnings Are No Longer Humble

I have many fond memories of my time in karate; one of the most important being the very first day I stepped into class. I was wearing sweatpants and a dingy t-shirt. I had researched enough on what I was about to do to know that I was to take off my shoes and socks and bow at the door before entering. I had visited the dojo and observed a class the previous week, and was given some rudimentary guidance by a brown belt who was instructing during the teacher’s absence.

I walked up the stairs to the second level of the gymnasium where class was held (it was actually the ground floor, but since my home town is built on the side of a mountain in Northern New Brunswick, the entrance is in the basement) with a grim determination to give it my all and to improve my health. I walked to the entrance of the dojo and noticed about two dozen students milling about, stretching and chatting about their weekend. I bowed respectfully at the door and when I raised my head, the crowd had parted and there stood Sensei…

Now, what you need to understand is that I was something of a smart-ass kid… Some of you are likely thinking that sentence could lose the “kid” and still be accurate. And you would be right. But my point is that I had a sarcastic streak that not many parents and adults shared or enjoyed. My mouth got me into trouble often enough that sometimes I paid a price for my words. Enter: Sensei.

That’s why when I saw that the head instructor of the school was a man with whom I had some “verbal” interactions, I slowly back-stepped and tried to retreat from the building. No such luck. Sensei looked up and saw me at the entrance and asked if I was trying out. I replied that I was. He motioned me to enter and assigned me a yellow belt to help me stretch out properly and learn some of the basics I would need to make my way through the class. Thus began a lifelong journey that I’m still working on, more than three decades later.

Every person has a story. Every story has a beginning. Sure, all those stories start the same way: with one’s birth. But speaking strictly about martial arts, the beginning of one’s story, regardless of the reason for joining, should be some guidance. Someone should be taking the time to show you some of the rudimentary basics, stances and strikes that you’ll be using during class so that you don’t become overwhelmed or confused.

Depending on the size and composition of the school you train with, this is no longer always the case. I recently saw a young girl in her teens walk into the dojo I train with, and she was accompanied by her mother. They introduced themselves and the mother sat on the bench and the girl just stood there. Class was scheduled to start in a matter of minutes.

I approached and instructed that she should remove her socks. Her mother objected to her being barefooted. I explained that some of the techniques we would be doing could cause her to slip and injure herself, should she wear socks. Especially since her balance and coordination for martial arts had not yet been developed. I asked if she did any other physical activities, to which she replied that she had done dance. I took a few moments to explain where she would be lined up and to simply follow along with the people in front of her. Bow when they bow, kick when they kick, so on and so forth…

Had I not spoken with her, this girl would have been left to her own devices and ignored, as no one else in the class seemed keen on approaching her. I couldn’t help but think that this was a horrible way to begin one’s first class, and thought back to how different my experience would have been had I been in those same shoes. She lined up based on instruction given to her by one of the senior belts and class began.

I know I have often picked on Millenials. Hell, I think a lot of society bashes on them a great deal. They come by some of it honestly. And Generation “Z” is proving to be no better. Not everyone fits in these categories, but what I observed that night was teeth-grinding and painful to watch. This young girl had six students and instructors in front of her, with plenty of opportunity to mimic and follow along.

She spent a good majority of the first hour simply standing in place, watching. Sometimes she would try something, only to throw her hands up and turn to look at her mother. She seemed unable or unwilling to perform even the simplest of movements, including squats and stretches that anyone could be able to do. Considering I had my beginnings in karate with an instructor who would not have permitted ANY student to sit still during training, it was painful to watch.

I wonder how different HER experience might have been, had one of the senior students approached her and took her in hand when she first arrived. Had she been shown some of these basics one-on-one before the start of class, some of it might have seemed less foreign and strange. Or perhaps it’s the change in behaviour and expectations that accompany the younger generations of today. It’s hard to tell.

I’m hoping this young lady will stick it out long enough to develop the solid effort required for her to reap the full benefits of martial arts. But the lesson here is that if anyone new walks into your preferred sport or workout environment, take the time to chat with them, guide them and show them the basics. You’ll make the experience much more immersive for them. And if you’re the one coming into something new, make it worth your while. Push yourself and give it your best effort. Not only are you worth that effort, it’s the least you deserve. ☯

Put Some Oomph In Your Ouch! 🎶

Music is awesome. It has the means to allow a person to express themselves in a very unique way. Music also has the means to reach every person. There are so many types of music that there is always at least one genre that appeals to any given person. Music can also communicate. There are few genuinely universal ways of communicating, but shaking your booty to great music is well understood anywhere in the world.

Music can also play an important role in how your workout plays out. It’s no secret that having an awesome playlist and some sick beats (I promise never to use that term again) can improve your workout and make you push harder towards a wicked sweat. So, why is this? IS it just our imagination? NO. There are actually some measurable reasons why music can help improve your fitness.

According to an article by the Huffington Post, “Listening to music while exercising can release feel-good chemicals – such as dopamine and opioids – that may boost your mood, dull pain and make you less tired […]” (https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/how-music-affects-workout_n_55d746a3e4b0a40aa3aaa9da?ri18n=true) If this is true, than having some music blaring while you workout is definitely beneficial.

Some other theories include the fact that music is a distraction. If you are distracted from the agonizing shin-splints keeping you from completing your 3K-run in record time, you’re more likely to push hard and keep going. Speaking from experience here, folks! Another theory is that good music, or rather what may be good to you, will help increase your confidence. This causes us to push harder.

No matter what the reasons, and no definite evidence has been found despite many studies, you can’t argue that having your earbuds in while you push yourself adds a definite plus to your workout. Think about it. When was the last time you went to a gym that DIDN’T have at least some of the people wearing headphones or earbuds? And it’s almost a sure guarantee that fitness locations will usually have music playing on the intercom system. Unless it’s one of those heathen locations that have a sporting event blaring, but that’s an entirely separate problem.

My current karate school even uses music during the warm-up portion of the class. This is a bit of a controversial thing, considering that most martial arts schools include an aspect of discipline that doesn’t include having Metallica blaring while shadow boxing! But I’d be lying if I said that the addition of music didn’t get even the laziest of students moving a bit better.

So whatever your reasons for doing so, crank up the tunes. Whether it’s to make you feel better, distract you from the now or simply helps you follow along with a beat, it can be nothing but beneficial. Unless you work out to country music. Then you’re just asking for trouble. You know who who are! ☯

Don’t Try To Walk In Others’ Footsteps

Life is pretty dynamic. If you don’t wake up in the morning wondering what the day will bring, you’re not facing it head-on the way you should. Life also doesn’t care about your plan. I’ve said that more times than I can count, to more people than I can remember. No matter how well you plan, life will usually find a way to throw a wrench into your gears. Although it’s important to have goals, plans aren’t always ideal.

“You Don’t Always Need A Plan. Sometimes You Just Need To Breathe, Trust, Let Go, And See What Happens.”

– Mandy Hale

I was talking to an old friend of mine, some time ago. He was in his 30’s, single, still had debt and hadn’t met any of his goals. He was pretty disappointed and hard on himself, and he was of the opinion that he was “behind in life” because of these things. He had a good career-level job and was saving up nicely, but the missing aspects that he considered societal expectations weighed on him.

I tried explaining to him that his life was exactly that: his life. And there was no expectation to follow any kind of set expectations where life was concerned. Every person is different and so is the manner in which their lives will play out. All the so-called rules that say you should be married and settled down by a certain age are made up.

“Although No One Can Go Back And Make A Brand New Start, Anyone Can Start From Now And Make A Brand New Ending.”

– Carl Bard

My friend is now about to get married, owns a house and is building a family. It took him longer than he PLANNED, but he’s still reaching his goals. And that’s what’s important. There’s no need to be so hard on ourselves. As long as we keep trucking forward and working towards goals, life will keep you exactly where you need to be. ☯

Swimming In The Benefits!

I brought my son to a public swimming pool, yesterday afternoon. He enjoyed that pool party for his classmate so much a couple of weeks ago, that I thought it would be a great way for us both to get some exercise and burn him out for the night. It would have been nice to snap a photo or two of the fun, but you DON’T want to be that adult taking photos at a public pool!

Swimming is often an overlooked activity by most people, because it seems rather inconvenient. You have to pack swimwear and towels, go to a specific location to swim (especially if it’s winter) and you need to worry about getting properly dry and dragging a bunch of wet things with you when you leave. But is that really any different than working out at a conventional gym? If you said yes, there’s something wrong with your workouts. Unless you have a full gym in the basement of your home (a slight tinge of jealousy over my brother-in-law’s basement comes to mind) then you still need to pack or wear workout gear, go to the gym’s specific location and if you aren’t soaking wet when you finish your workout, then you aren’t pushing hard enough!

Spending time in a pool can have a number of benefits, from a health and fitness standpoint. If you happen to be swimming with my son Nathan, I guarantee that you’ll lose track of the number of calories you burn. And that’s the nice thing: you’re burning through calories while having so much fun that you don’t notice it.

You work just about every muscle group. Even if all you’re doing is splashing around with your kids, working your way around under water requires the use of just about all your muscle groups, making for a great workout. It’s also a very low-impact way to workout, since the water takes a portion of the weight off of your back and joints.

The increased heart rate will improve your heart and lungs, and will help to reduce stress while improving your flexibility and mobility. That last one is particularly important if you need to maintain your fitness level through an injury like, oh let’s say… shin splints! The low impact will allow your injury to heal while still allowing you to burn calories.

It goes without saying, even if I’m saying it, that anyone with Diabetes needs to closely monitor their blood glucose levels while swimming. Often, your blood sugars can start to drop suddenly, especially if you’re caught up in the fun. When going to a public pool, I always arrange to keep my gym bag close by. It contains fast-acting glucose, my glucometer and my cell phone, which allows mw to test my blood sugar through my Freestyle Libre.

Last but not least, it’ll fire up your hunger and make you tired. This is a good sign that you’ve had a god burn and can retire to your home for a rest. One of the first things Nathan told me as we were towelling off to leave was, “Daddy, I’m tired…” Yes! He’ll be sleeping early tonight… No such luck. He got his second wind and was his typical destructive self.

Swimming can be beneficial in all sorts of ways and do nothing but good for the body. I spent most of my life living in the East Coast of Canada where i could spend the entirety of my summer, swimming on beaches, rivers and lakes. It was glorious! If you do swim outdoors, be sure you know how to swim and are aware of how to swim in bodies of water that may have currents and other dangers. Otherwise, you can’t go wrong. So get out there and dive in; the water’s fine! ☯

A Real Ankle-Biting Problem…

I recently posted that I’ve incorporated running into my exercise routine. I don’t usually run; I tend to think that I have the centre of gravity of a boulder. This doesn’t mean that I don’t incorporate cardio into my workouts; it simply means that I’ve recently felt the need to up my game a bit.

Now just to be clear, the terms associated with running are subjective. Depending on who you speak to, what I’ve been doing may or may not be “running”. I was speaking with a colleague a few days ago and when I mentioned that I had started running, he said, “Are you actually running, or you’re just jogging? To me, jogging is just jogging. But running is when you go all out!”

I was quick to point out that running all out was usually referred to as sprinting, to which he was quick to offer suggestions that my smart-ass go fornicate itself on a hot rock. But I digress…

Running on different terrains and surfaces present different issues while running

Running, much like any exercise, has many different complications and injuries that one can suffer while enjoying it. And “enjoying” is a very lightly-used term… You can pull or tear muscles, twist joints, suffer micro-fractures or experience dehydration or exhaustion. But the condition I want to address today is one that I’ve suffered before and that I seem to be revisiting now: shin splints!

Shin Splints, or what’s medically known as Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome, is a condition that one develops from repetitive, physical stress on the musculature in the leg between the knees and the ankle. You can usually recognize it from a dull or sharp pain in the muscles of the lower leg when exercising and can often be accompanied by some swelling. Sometimes the pain can be excruciating enough that one is forced to stop the physical activity. Continued exercising when one has shin splints can result in micro fractures, which can result in a complete fracture.

What causes shin splints? It can be caused by a number of things, such as starting a new running regiment (sound familiar?), running on a hard surface (I unfortunately run on the street!) or using worn-out shoes that no longer provide proper support to your feet (like my tac boots). Shin splints can also result from the exhaustion of the specified muscle groups, where one continues to exert stress on them. These are only the most common causes and there are many more.

So, what can one do to prevent shin splints? Well, this is one of those situations where less is more. If you’re starting to run, do it gradually. Don’t try to run long distances at great speed on your first week. Stretch out the muscle group, same as you would for any other muscle group before any other type of workout. Make sure your shoes are replaced if worn out, and this will also help to lessen the impact if you’re forced to run on concrete or asphalt.

Some stretching exercises found on Pinterest

If you think you may have developed shin splints, there are a few things you can do from home. Keeping your feet elevated and icing your shins is the first step. As with any icing of tissues, keep an ice pack on your shins for no longer than 15 minutes at a time. Massaging the shins can also be a help. Over-the-counter anti-inflammatories, such as ibuprofen can be taken. But only temporarily and in small doses. Depending n what caused the actual shin splints, the time needed to recovery will differ from person to person. The general recommendation is about two weeks, and if you haven’t recovered by that point, you should consult your medical practitioner.

The important thing is not to rush back into it. This is one of those injuries that genuinely require that you allow your body time to rest and heal. Pushing yourself in this situation can result in true fractures of the leg and force an even LONGER recovery time. Take your time getting back into the routine and be sure to start in small increments. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go ice my shins! ☯

Quit Bitching About It If You Won’t Fix It!

There is an undeniable truth in modern society that it’s far easier to whine and complain about things than it is to put in a genuine effort to try and fix whatever may be bothering you. This is not a generality, you understand. But for most people, it is much, much easier to complain about not getting that raise you wanted, or were overlooked for a promotion, than it is to constructively sit down with your boss and say, “I recognize that I wasn’t chosen for the promotional opportunity. Can we discuss what I can do to make myself a competitive candidate for the next one?”

This concept applies to most areas of life. Part of the reason is because it is, for the most part, much easier to complain than it is to do something about it. Diabetes and general health is no exception. I’ve had a lot of friends through the years with Type-1 who have often complained about their blood sugar levels, A1C levels and their weight or condition of their body. To these people, I’ve always asked the same question: What are you doing about it?

“Gardens Are Not Made By Singing ‘Oh, How Beautiful’, And Sitting In The Shade.”

– Rudyard Kipling

There needs to be a recognized acknowledgement that if you’re overweight and are not comfortable, healthy or happy with your body, then you need to do something about it. Start working out. Work on your health. Work on your diet. Consult a professional and get some help. There’s no shame in that. Some people feel they’ve become so far gone that they no longer believe it’s worth the effort. What are you doing about it?

If your blood sugars are running rampant and you’re suffering all sorts of complications with your eyes, kidneys and nervous system, then you need to start taking better control of your Diabetes management. If you only test your blood sugar once a month and indulge in every baked good that passes by, you’ve chosen an extremely slow and torturous form of suicide! There are nutritionists, dietitians, Endocrinologists and family physicians that can help bring you up to a healthier standard and get you to where you need to be. What are you doing about it?

If your fitness has gone to shit and you get winded walking from your couch to your kitchen, there’s a distinct problem. Humanity may have become sedentary, but staying in good physical condition is still an important aspect of a healthy life, whether you have Diabetes or not. Go for a walk, ride a bike, join a fitness club or go for a run. And if you’re uncertain how to go about any of it, there are plenty of resources both online and off that can help get you started and help you along. What are you doing about it?

“The Only Mistake You Can Make Is Not Asking For Help.”

– Sandeep Jauhar

There are obvious exceptions to every rule. It can be hard to get yourself going and there are people who have genuine conditions that make weight-loss difficult. Medical conditions can make it hard to achieve certain goals. For example, if you’ve gone blind, one would not expect that you’ll take up competitive archery! But the lesson here, is that if you find yourself capable of making a start but refuse to do so then you shouldn’t (as my title so eloquently put it) be bitching about it if you won’t fix it.

I think it was Confucius who said, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a first step.” So take that step! Get off the couch and move a little. Test your blood sugar a few times a day instead of once a week. Opt for something healthier for your next meal instead of grabbing take-out or popping in a frozen tv dinner. Make a start. Improve yourself. Improve your life. And throughout all the progress, when faced with obstacles or adversity, keep asking yourself: What are you doing about it? ☯

Rainbows Are Prettier 🌈

There’s a strange phenomenon that tends to happen when people train in the martial arts. Everyone becomes obsessed with black belts. I mean, I get it… Most people, especially when they start training in martial arts, consider obtaining a black belt to be “the” goal. This is a true falsehood, considering that obtaining a black belt is really only the beginning.

Last week during a karate class I attended, something was said that struck a chord… It’s been said a great deal in the past three years that I’ve been training there, but I really only noticed a problem last Thursday. While practicing some specific techniques, we were paired up with the following words:

“Grab a partner. Make sure that they’re as close to your belt and height level as possible…”

Hmm… Does anyone else see what the problem with this statement might be? I totally understand what the thought may be, behind this thought. By training with someone of your same basic height and build, it guarantees a consistency. By raining with someone close to your own belt rank, it guarantees that speed and skill will be a closer match. Wow, THAT sounds like it’s conducive to learning and improving…

One needs to ask a basic question: What are the odds that someone you may face in a confrontation will be the same height? Same weight and build? Same level of fighting skill? I can almost guarantee that there’s no chance of all those aspect lining up in your favour. That’s why it becomes important to acknowledge that training with a diverse number of different people is of the utmost importance.

I paired myself up with a white belt who has only been coming to class for about a month. Halfway through the drill, he apologized to me and shared his thought that I would be better off with one of the other black belts so I could practice harder and faster. I explained him that he was providing all the opposition I needed and that I could learn as much from him as I could coach.

And that’s the important lesson, here. A variety of different belt levels, skill sets and body types are what will help you to develop your skills and techniques properly. If you only ever train with people of the same skill level, there’s no opportunity for either one to progress. Make sense? So mix those belt colours up! Don’t be afraid to train with someone of a higher rank; they should be able to coach and teach you. Don’t be afraid to train to train with someone of lower rank; not only do we learn by teaching, but they have plenty to teach you as well. ☯