I watched a movie. I saw a crow. I heard the rain. I sat back in my chair and drank in the complexity that is life.
As you may have noticed, or not, I’ve been putting off the blog for the last couple months. Just life getting in the way I suppose as other things clamor to the top of my transient priority list.
The other evening I watched a movie- currently a new release in your local video rental outlets. There was a sliver of a scene that so profoundly struck me that it has caused reflection for the past few days. The movie is set in post-apocalyptic earth, after some cataclysmic event had all but decimated the human population, and one survivor is on a mission he believes he has been sent on by God Himself. The earth is charred black wherever humans had once lived- otherwise barren. He travels alone, forages for what food he can and sits alone at night as the day fades into night. He has a music player- and each night as he settles in, he plays Al Green’s “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart”. It is this scene that struck me. The majority of the human race around him is gone and he is basically alone- being able to trust no one he encounters. Each night he sits in the darkness and falls asleep by himself in whatever makeshift shelter he can find. Alone. Alone with no one. No one but a song.
The following morning I woke unusually early and sat in my office chair to check my email. The rain was peppering the window behind me as I played the song- turning to see a lone crow on a power line across from the house. The rain rolled down.. refreshing the earth, but causing a sweeping sense of melancholy to emanate through me. On this quiet morning, alone with my thoughts, for a brief moment I was that lone survivor. Looking out at a quiet planet, wondering what the day would hold and expecting little. Oddly, I actually had the presence of mind to savor that melancholy feeling- one of the most human of feelings…. letting it soak in and knowing that it would pass- but for now just sitting in the quiet of the moment.
Life has been complicated the past few months. Some of that experience good, some not very good at all, and I realize that I’m just continuing on that journey we so loosely call ‘life’. Perhaps it is the days when we feel like we are travelling through a barren wasteland on our own that make us appreciate the very fact that we aren’t alone.
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Tags: Experience, Human Spirit, Melancholy
First released in 1985, the charity single ‘We Are the World‘ continues to have new life breathed into it. This latest version includes online contributors- bloggers, YouTubers and the like- who picked up their mic, sang out their best, and submitted it for inclusion. The hidden talent here just goes to show you that we only ever see a fraction of great singers.
Check out the official “We Are The World” foundation at http://wearetheworldfoundation.org and do what you can to help. In the meantime- enjoy this compilation!!!
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Tags: Freedom, Friendship, Human Spirit, Inspiration
Do you ever look at yourself in the mirror and wonder “How did I let this happen“? Have you stood before that same mirror, eyeing yourself from different vantage points only to realize that the best vantage point was behind jogging pants and a loose shirt? Maybe like me you came to some realization at a pool with friends where you suddenly realized you’ve become self-conscious about your body? Do you swim with that T-shirt on? Is there a towel always wrapped around you? I’ve been there. I have and I won’t go back.
In the words of that epic bodybuilding duo from the 1980′s, “hear me now und believe me later…” I’ve been hitting the gym this year and in this post, I’m updating everyone on my progress so far this year as I struggle with physical fitness. One of my resolutions for 2010 was to maintain/increase my physical fitness and along with that goal has come some serious education. I’ve been hitting the books, talking to those guys in the know and soaking in information from anyone I feel can lend credible input- and I have to say it is quite a journey.
I should clarify that I didn’t just start going to the gym this year. My ‘pool-side revelation‘ happened in July of 2006- a Friday before the Saturday I finally waddled into the gym and with my chubby lips asked them to take mercy on me. Put me on some fat-burning hurt machine and make it stop. The wincing pain of my sudden self-consciousness hurt me more than any treadmill could. So I’ve been at it now since then… occasionally taking a couple months off… but generally sticking to it. I’ve kept a pretty good journal of that progress as well. My job has me in Excel spreadsheets a lot- so you can guess what I did to track my gym efforts. 
Here are a few statistics so far for the year to date:
>>> I have been to the gym 55 times so far in 2010. That means 80% of the time I make it to the gym- if only for 30 minutes of cardio.
>>> My average intensity at the gym, on a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 is asleep and 10 is blowing blood vessels, is 8.6. I’m there to work- and I do.
>>> I have consumed 3 jugs of protein powder and approximately 200 eggs in this same timeframe.
>>> I experimented with naNO Vapor and SuperPump- pre-workout supplements that are supposed to increase intensity. Oh boy… do they ever.
>>> I have consumed 136 twice-daily multivitamins.
>>> My body has processed approximately 520 cups of water… enough to almost fill a bathtub.
>>> I have modified my workouts once already to ensure I’m ‘confusing’ my muscles to maximize the effectiveness of the gym.
>>> I have spent a total of 17 hours on treadmills.
>>> My bodyweight has slowly been leaning downward- from 231.5 pounds January 1st to 221.2 pounds this morning. That a loss of 10 pounds, although I may be gaining in muscle.
As you can see, I’ve been tracking my progress- partially for my own reference but also so I can share with you.
If you are feeling some nagging feeling of depression right now, or feeling discouraged about your own progress, don’t stop reading. Please.
-You may be feeling like it is too hard to start.
-You may think that that the gym if for lunk heads.
-You may think that eating right is too difficult.
The answer to all of these, resoundingly, is ‘No’. It is hard to start, but after walking out of that gym on day one, you’ll already feel better. The gyms do have lunk heads, but there are options out there for all sorts now. The Goodlife I go to has far more ‘average’ people than muscle-life-support-systems. Eating right is challenging- but it is also possible and not as unattainable as you might think.
So- for those of you who classify yourself as ‘failing‘ at the physical fitness game, here are a few pointers from my experience- and I invite anyone else to share their experience in the comments as well.
1. Start a physical fitness program- of any sort.
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Visit a local gym, community center or YMCA and ask about their fitness programs. Play dumb. Let them teach you the basics and take your time to see what interests you. Getting in shape doesn’t mean screaming obscenities from the weight bench. Well.. it doesn’t HAVE to mean that anyway. If you don’t want to venture out into public just yet- get out and walk three days a week for 20 minutes at a time. You’ll soon see that energy consumption actually creates a surplus of more energy.
2. Don’t diet. Get involved in a healthy nutritional program.
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Dieting is the wrong approach. Temporary changes to your eating habits won’t keep the weight off- they have to healthy, sustainable patterns. Find a program out there that you feel comfortable with as a starting point- something that encourages a healthy balance from the food groups and nothing that excludes outright a specific nutritional component like protein (muscle Lego) or carbohydrates (body fuel). It’ll take longer to lose the weight- but you’ll be HEALTHIER after day one.
3. Get support. A friend can help you take a load off- literally.
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If you have someone to share the experience with, it helps a lot. Having someone who is going through the same challenges (late night eating, lack of motivation, discouragement) can create a supportive environment where you keep each other going. They’ll be on the same page when you want to talk about why skim milk is better or how sticky sugarless peanut butter is.
4. Track everything. Create your baseline. Set goals.
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Some focus on the pounds and if this is you, that’s a starting point. But there are other places to watch for progress. Take your measurements on day one- and then take them again after a few weeks. You will notice changes in how your clothes fit you. Keeping track of this progress gives you something to reference on those days you don’t feel successful. You can do it- keep reminding yourself of that. Set realistic goals and watch as your progress slowly moves toward completion.
5. Buy a fitness magazine. Educate yourself.
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Sound foolish? Sound like it won’t help? Then try it. Just buy something that looks interesting. Sure they will be full of beach bodies- but this is a great place to start learning about fitness. Over time you’ll find what magazines are REALLY fitness magazines versus advertising magazines. But don’t think too hard at first. Just buy what catches your attention. Having a couple magazines around helps remind you about your goal and gives you ideas. If you like online stuff, check out www.bodybuilding.com and branch out from there. Learning about fitness empowers you to accomplish fitness.
Like I always say- I’m no expert at this. Just writing down the experience I’ve had so far in the hopes that it might spawn your input, help you in some way, or just make your life a little bit better for having visited.
Now close your browser and get to the gym.
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Tags: Dedication, Fitness
This morning I woke up in my parent’s home, alone, for the first time since my summer days in university. My eyes opened slowly and my gaze slowly cleared as I looked up at the ceiling. Focus came gradually as my mind soaked into déjà vu. Although the house was cold, I had this warm sensation about me recalling the early mornings I used to have working the summers during my university years. I recalled how the sun would stream in the front of the house- filling it with the season’s heat. How might you celebrate such a moment? I knew exactly how. Moments later, Creedence Clearwater Revival’s ‘Heard It Through The Grapevine’ was blaring through the house on my father’s record player- the needle bumping tirelessly over the vinyl. The puddle of déjà vu was now coming in waves as those recollections poured in. I might have cried- if I wasn’t so elated. Memories of days long since gone by.
Image courtesy Maritime Mountaineer
I suppose the writing of this could expose me to my parent’s whom I am certain were unaware of the goings on (doubtfully clearing my throat) – but this house was the scene of some very good times coming up through my teen years. My parents own a cottage only a few miles away, where they would spend their summers- leaving behind a big, empty house. A big, empty house I preferred to call ‘apartment building‘. The summer of my first year of university I spent in this house- working for a local Recreation Department and keeping my own hours, my own house and my own entertainment plaza. I don’t think a night went by that summer that there weren’t friends in that house- hanging out after a swim, watching movies, BBQing hotdogs and just enjoying solitude from anyone else who may not have had our blessing.
One particular memory is exceedingly potent. About ten of us had gone for a swim on a warm summer evening at a local waterfall and the weather had turned on us. A cool rain began to pour down. We all ran to the cars and headed back to the big empty house. By now, the rain was accompanied with thunder and lightning and the sky was being lit up all around us. I’m not sure who had the idea, but we didn’t go into the house. We walked around onto the lawn- rain intent on leaving nothing on us dry- and someone lay down on the lawn- looking up at what could only be described as nature’s fireworks. We all lay down in the wet grass, laughing and waiting for the next big bolt to scare us. How could any of us know that what we were being soaked with was a moment – a gift of a slice of time that could not be replaced- that was unique TO us and unique FOR us.
On those early summer mornings, as I got up to prepare to go to work at the Rec Department, I would start the day with CCR blaring over the stereo loud enough so my neighbors would know I was playing music. This morning… I bet I gave a couple of those neighbors a little déjà vu too.
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Tags: Appreciation, Experience, Friendship
I love to write. It is a vent for me sometimes… a creative exhaust that serves to decompress my thinking- it helps me meet some innate need to share with others while at the same time organizes my thoughts.
This is why it troubles me that I haven’t been writing as of late. I’ll be driving down the road, some concept or idea comes to mind and there is a brief moment of excitement. A moment where I think ‘This is something I’d like to share my views about’ or ‘I think I could bring out a unique perspective on this’. The moment hangs- like an inflated balloon that isn’t tied off… whirling about briefly, but slowly losing the energy it initially began with- until it deflates entirely and my mind is left to wander to some other half inflated idea.
I started a journal in high school- firstly out of a requirement for a particularly nasty, militant English teacher (he could be the subject of another post entirely) but then out of a need for some private disclosure. Why does anyone start to journal after all? For any of you who journal, you likely share the understanding that somehow the very writing of your thoughts organizes them, helps you re-assess them, puts them into perspective; simply therapeutic at times. Well- this blog was meant to help find a public venue for some of those organized thoughts- some of those that I felt others might be able to extract something from or find use of comparing it with their own thoughts and ideals. I didn’t initially anticipate using it to vent personally- at least not to the extent where I unlock all the doors- but as I follow other bloggers I come to understand how liberating it must be for them to be raw- real- in a venue that is so open and so accessible. In short- they don’t care what anyone thinks. Ever feel like being more like that?
I’m not saying that it is right or wrong to be one way or the other. Great that you share everything that comes into your head- but the price for that often comes at the emotional expense of others for whom you failed to think about the true consequences of your words. Conversely, if you share nothing- the price then comes at the depth of the relationships you can forge. Share nothing and you may find yourself alone in even the most crowded of places.
So where is the happy medium? Where can you exist where you can share enough that helps show your humanity, without sharing so much that you trespass on other’s humanity? Is it even possible? Perhaps it is a lifelong balancing act- one that requires us to experiment and find that perfect place where we can fulfill expression. Perhaps, however, the balance is in the eye of the beholder. Expression by painters for example- have you ever seen a painting which captured your attention completely? Where you completely understood what the painter was trying to convey? Have you ever seen a painting that offended you- that the very sight of the painting caused you to call into question the morals or intentions of the artist? Likely you’ve experienced both in some capacity- so how can anyone ever strike the perfect balance if that balance not only relies on you- but on the perception of those beholding you?
Today- I’m not sure where I am on those precarious scales- but at least I am writing.
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Tags: Experience, Fears, Perception, Persevere, Personal Development
Unity is strength- no matter what color your skin is.
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Tags: Freedom, Human Spirit, Inspiration, Persevere, Positive thinking
For a moment, think of the people around you. Are you in your home? Are you in the office? Are you in a car, a supermarket, a church or a school? Every day we come in contact with others that share the planet with us. Have you ever thought that perhaps we are all just part of a global family? Is the woman at Tim Hortons really your sister? Is that man cleaning your pool a brother?
In this post, I’m keeping with one of my goals in 2010 to review at least ten of the world’s religions- and with this installment I’m covering the Bahá’í Faith- a faith that holds the ‘global family’ as one of its central beliefs. This post has been a challenge for me as a writer as there are tenants in the Bahá’í Faith that conflict with my own beliefs. However, when I set out on this adventure the exploration was the objective, not acceptance, so I boldly go forth.
The search for information online concerning the Bahá’í Faith produced some great results. I’ve learned alot in the past few days reading. The Bahá’í Faith globally has a reported following somewhere between 5 and 8 million followers- the largest collection of those residing in India, followed by the United States, Vietnam and Kenya. In the family of religions, however, it is a youngster. Recorded history of the religion starts around 1844. The Bahá’í base their history on a series of what they call ‘Messengers of God’ (which Jesus, Moses, Muhammad and Buddha were all considered)- essentially key human figures who had God’s ear and helped mankind access an otherwise inaccessible, omnipotent God. There have been generations of these key figures beyond recorded time- but the most recently recognized in the series was declared in 1844.
Here are three of the major elements to the Bahá’í Faith that I found best summarize my research – although certainly not an exhaustive exploration.
1. We are all one big family
According to bahai.org, the “central theme of Bahá’u'lláh’s message is that humanity is one single race and that the day has come for its unification in one global society” and that “[t]he principal challenge facing the peoples of the earth is to accept the fact of their oneness and to assist the processes of unification“. In short- everyone is part of a global family. This central tenant then promotes the acceptance of all people- race, creeds and nationalities. As a strong proponent of multiculturalism, I have to say that this is a great theme to base your life on- opening your mind to the fact that we are all equal as human beings and our very birth entitles us to the air we breathe until we pass from this world.
2. Science and religion support each other
For someone who has a secondary education in sciences, particularly biology, I found the Bahá’í views on science a refreshing change. While science and religion can coexist, eventually they part roads in some critical areas- most notably our origin. Were we borne in the garden or in the zoo? The Bahá’í however believe that there is only one Truth and since there is only one Truth, anything we learn about our world either through scientific process or religious awakening will be congruent- not only does science NOT conflict with religion- it supports it! Science then helps draw us into closer understanding of religion.
3. Heaven and Hell are states of the soul
Again, referencing bahai.org, “… heaven can be seen partly as a state of nearness to God; hell is a state of remoteness from God”. This would suggest that Heaven and Hell are not places or destinations- but states the soul can find itself in- which consequently can be changed. The belief extends that since the soul is eternal, it can find itself manifested in many lifetimes- learning and growing spiritually over time and drawing near or straying away from God. Earthly existence is the ‘training ground’ through which the soul matures and cultivates over time.
There you have it. Having visited yet another installment of my excellent adventures through some of the world’s beliefs- I am again reminded that there are so many people out there that just want to be good people- good to each other and good to mankind. While I didn’t always agree with what I was researching, I do have to admit that I now have a new respect for the Bahá’í Faith- a respect that didn’t exist prior to this exercise. That in itself has made this part of my journey worth it.
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Tags: Religions
Do you have a credit card? Have you ever used credit when you weren’t sure when or how you would pay it off? If you are like me, chances are good that you do just this – even on a regular basis. What if, now, you were to adopt this same borrowing philosophy when it came to your confidence? What if, under a stress or challenge you have never before faced, you extended yourself a ‘confidence advance‘ affording yourself the extra confidence today under the assumption you will acquire that confidence tomorrow? Are you using your ‘Confidence Credit Line’?
I’ve been reviewing some works in philosophy lately (I know most have been trained to sleep at the word ‘philosophy’, but keep reading) and the more I research, the more apparent it is that so much of who we are and what we become is a product of who we THINK we are and what we THINK we have become. While there are likely two camps on either side of this possibility- let’s assume for a moment that it is true. Let’s assume that what you THINK has some magical power on what you become. If that is the case (and I genuinely believe it is) – then starting now you can pretty much achieve most of what you set out to do. Of course be reasonable, but I think you follow my meaning. No longer do you need to be plagued with doubt about your own ability, your own competencies or your own chance of success. Success becomes a foregone conclusion that just takes time and dedication to achieve. What you THINK you can achieve, you can- just keep thinking that way. Soak this new super power in for a couple minutes… we’ll exercise it here shortly.
We are now equipped to achieve- even those things that yesterday we didn’t think we could do.
So what is achievement? We all know that achievement means to accomplish something, a goal or objective, but there is an important detail we shouldn’t overlook when it comes to achieving something we have never conquered before. Sometimes the experience you have gained through life IS NOT ENOUGH to accomplish something. Sometimes you have to wing it. Getting that first job, learning how to drive, climbing a new mountain, becoming a first-time parent- all of these are examples where everything you have personally experienced in life until now may not be enough to help you be successful. That’s where the ‘Confidence Credit Line’ comes in. If you don’t think you have quite enough confidence to achieve something – borrow it. Don’t know how you’ll pay it back? Does that consideration ever stop your MasterCard transaction? Rack that card up!
With our ‘Confidence Credit Line’ now like a gun at our hip, what challenges around you have you been too ‘confidence-poor‘ lately to afford? One of my first transactions on the ‘Confidence Credit Line’ was learning guitar. I was in high school and my father purchased a guitar that he was using to take lessons. To me that guitar was a blur of strings, frets and mind-numbing wooden complexity. As my father’s lessons continued, I heard a progression from the twangs, plunks and buzzes with which any new guitar player can relate to smoother chord transition- and ultimately into fluent songs. I finally decided- despite my initial doubt- that I could do this too and each day after school would sit in my parent’s room pouring through my father’s lesson notes- teaching myself one twang, plunk and buzz at a time. I just set it in my mind that I could do it- even though none of my experience leading up to that point could help me. Little did I know that I had been standing at the ‘confidence-ATM’ and digging in to the overdraft. What is your ‘guitar’? What is your ‘mind numbing-complexity’? Time to confront it.
On a final note- you need to be aware of some of the terms and conditions of the ‘Confidence Credit Line’:
A. Everyone is pre-approved for a ‘Confidence Credit Line’. You cannot be declined for any reason.
B. There is no limit on the ‘Confidence Credit Line’- only what you impose on your own spending.
C. The ‘Confidence Credit Line’ can be accessed anywhere, anytime, under any conditions.
D. Your first time using the ‘Confidence Credit Line’ may be difficult- but you can do it.
E. Refer a friend or family member to the ‘Confidence Credit Line’ and your future purchases get even easier as you surround yourself with ‘confidence wealth’.
Are you in overdraft right now? What purchase could you make today – NOW – that would have that balance sheet pushed into the negative? If you are already spending, that’s great. If not- what’s in your wallet?
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Tags: Confidence, Dedication, Experience, Personal Development, Positive thinking
“Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.”
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Tags: Freedom, Human Spirit, Inspiration, Persevere, Positive thinking
Do you spend any time on ‘Facebook‘? Are you a ‘Twitterer‘? Do you know what I’m talking about when I use the terms ‘Digg‘, ‘MySpace‘ or ‘foursquare‘? All of these are popular online networking sites that allow you to communicate, network and interact with friends and family on the internet. If you have been online for any amount of time over the past couple of years, you likely recognize at least one of these names. Don’t feel bad it you don’t recognize any of these. I am certain there were countless thousands who didn’t know what ‘print’ was in the 1400s when the ‘printing press’ revolutionized the way we communicate. Facebook could be the next printing press.
I know what you are thinking. “Reilly, Facebook isn’t revolutionary and it certainly can’t be compared with the advent of the printing press!” I know you are thinking that because I was thinking that. So I did some homework- namely on the printing press- and found some interesting things in my online exploration. The printing press was invented in Germany in 1454. There were other ‘printing’ machines in practice already at the time- but none as effective and with such widespread and accelerated adoption. Before the printing press, writing was largely done by hand and books had to be written by teams of writers taking months to create even a handful of books- copying laboriously over and over. Well, this meant books took much longer to circulate- and were much more expensive to produce. In turn, that meant only the wealthy enjoyed access to this media and was therefore the only one to be educated by it. The printing press changed that. While it did not replace hand-written books outright, the printing press made possible both a faster and cheaper means to produce books- which meant wider circulation and reduced prices. This put books into the hands of an increasing number of people- increasing the educational value books provide. In short, the printing press put more information into the hands of more people more rapidly and more cheaply. When more people have access to education- all of mankind benefits.
Since the 1400s then, we’ve all been merrily getting our newspapers, Reader’s Digest and National Geographic delivered to our mailboxes. We’ve all been taking in the information we’re provided and thinking on it, learning from it and applying it in various ways in our day to day living. Thanks printing press- I guess we’ve arrived.
But wait a minute. I like the National Geographic as much as the next guy- but what if I have something to say? What if I want to say something different? Well, I guess then I need to get me a printing press. Oh, and the skills to use it. Let’s not forget the paper and chemical inks. Right- and the staff to run it. Perhaps I could lease a cheap building to put everything in. Better get a coffee maker too then. My point, of course, is that while we have all been happy ‘consumers’ of information, there are many of us out here who would aspire also to be ‘producers’ of information but simply do not have the means to do so. That is where the likes of Facebook and Twitter come in.
Facebook, the online social networking tool, falls into an increasing category of services known loosely as ‘social media’ (you won’t find that in Merriam Webster based on my search online). Social media is defined by Wikipedia as “media designed to be disseminated through social interaction, created using highly accessible and scalable publishing techniques… that allow the creation and exchange of user-generated content“. See that? ‘USER-GENERATED’ content! That’s you and me- the ‘users’ of Facebook. Now you and I can graduate from simple consumers to obnoxious producers simply by choosing to. You have something to say? Start a blog. Open a Twitter account. Get on MySpace. These are only a few of the many new platforms from which you can craft your soap box, get up on it and belt out your mind. Social media now empowers anyone with access to the internet to share with a countless array of millions.
“Get to your point Reilly. Social media is like the printing press how?”
When the printing press was introduced- it revolutionized the way information could be distributed and was a turning point in history impacting the way we consume information. There is little argument the printing press did at least that. So, if a change in the way we CONSUME information could have such a drastic and long-standing impact on mankind- how can we exclude the possibility of a drastic impact caused by a change in the way we PRODUCE information? How can we NOT anticipate that over time social media may very well change the direction mankind takes? When the printing press was first invented there was no way the creators could have anticipated the impact on the world’s future. All I am suggesting is that social media TODAY could be the printing press of YESTERDAY.
Am I alone here? What do you think social media brings to the table today? Do you see it as revolutionary, or just a time-waster?
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Tags: Facebook, Social, Social Media
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