Push It To the Limit

I really love those times when you go to the gym or go for a run and your body let's you know, "Hey, I'm feeling great today. Let's push it." Last night was one of those times. As soon as I took off down the block, I could feel that my legs were more "springy" than usual, so I decided to run as hard as I could. What a great run. I was quite winded by the time I finished up, but it felt great to test my body. It's even better when your body responds!

Centering Yourself

Have you ever watched one of those shows in the middle of the day on CNBC where they have that streaming stock ticker across the bottom of the screen? Well, that's how my brain operates. I have so many things going through my head at any given time, sometimes I find it hard to focus. This is why I have found that it is very important to find something that allows you to center yourself. Essentially, whatever it is that centers you should be something that you naturally focus 100% of your attention on, and when you've completed that activity, you feel invigorated and able to better filter all of the noise in your head and tackle your task list.

Your centering activity can be anything. It can be reading a book, going for a walk, running, playing the piano, meditation, or making a jewelry box out of Popsicle sticks. It really doesn't matter. For me, my centering activity is weightlifting. If I go too long without lifting weights, I just don't feel right. So with finals coming up and two weeks of intense outlining and studying ahead of me, I made some time to hit the gym tonight. I really hit the weights hard, and boy do I feel great. I feel sharper and more focused; suddenly I can clearly see how I am going to attack all of the things that I need to accomplish in the next two weeks.

Personally, I think your brain and body sometimes need a refresher on how to "get in the zone" and really focus in on one task. When I am lifting weights I am 100% focused on my workout and rarely get distracted. I am focused on my form, the muscle group that I am working, and goals that I set at the before my workout. Then, after I have finished my workout, I apply the "lessons" that I learned in the weight room to other parts of my life, notably my school work.

So think about it. What is your centering activity? Do you make time to practice it? The next time you feel like you have a hard time focusing on a task, make some time to practice your centering activity, go through an intense session, and then come back to what you were doing. I bet you will be more productive and end up with better results.

Edgar Allen Poe

I almost forgot. Today is Edgar Allen Poe's birthday, he would have been 200. The New York Times had a nice post about him on its Papercuts blog.

Personally, I've always enjoyed Poe, particularly "The Cask of Amontillado." Of course, his most famous work is probably "The Tell-Tale Heart." I actually own a collection of his works and I think I'll pick it up and read one of his stories before bed. How bizarre is that, an Edgar Allen Poe bedtime story?

I Disagree with Clint Eastwood

In the January 2009 issue of Esquire Clint Eastwood says:

Smaller details are less important. Let's get on with the important stuff.

I completely disagree.

When I played football in high school, I had a coach who used to tell us that if you take care of the small things (or details), the big things (or important stuff) tend to work themselves out.

So I will have to respectfully disagree with Mr. Eastwood. I have always been taught (and experienced) that attention to detail is critical to success.

Do what you do...

Life is too short to engage in activities that make you miserable. So, to quote Brandon Jacobs, "Do what you do." Do what you're good at. Do what makes you happy.

Now I understand some may have personal situations that may make this seem impossible, but it's not. It's never too late to initiate a positive change in your life. And if it really is impossible, then make time to do something you enjoy.

We all waste a ton of time every single day. Think about what you did today, I bet you can name think of 15-20 minutes (at least) where you wasted time. Whether it was aimlessly channel surfing or compulsively checking RSS feeds/email.

So figure out whatever it is that you like to do, then figure out how you waste time, then do what you like to do instead of wasting time.

Do it.

Happiness is...

Snuggling in bed with the woman you love when she has a severe case of the giggles.

:)

Quote of the Week

I love quotes, so I figured I would try to dig up a quote and post it at the beginning of every week.  Do what you want with it, but I would suggest maybe writing it down and occasionally pulling it out to think about it and what it means to you.

"Life is a comedy to those that think, a tragedy to those that feel." -Horace Walpole

Happiness is...

Sitting down to a fresh batch of blueberry pancakes

Made with love 

By the woman you love

On a beautiful Saturday morning 

With an entire day ahead of you.

Some Advice on Advice

*Disclaimer - When you finish this post, think of how it is both ironic and hypocritical, yet, it still makes sense.

Human beings like giving advice.  All too often, the advice given reflects the advisor's ideals and experiences and not the advisee's.  What usually results is advice that isn't all that useful.

For example, whenever someone would fill me in on a nugget of information that a 2L passed along about a certain professor's final, my first question would always be, "Well, how did they do in the class?"  It always fascinates me how people will follow the advice of others just because they have experience.  Personally, I am always more interested to know the quality of another's experience.

This isn't to say one shouldn't consider advice, because you should.  You should consider all advice, but ultimately decide whether the advice given suits you.  

Lucky Guy

This past weekend was pretty awesome.

On Friday night I watched Diana run in an underwear race.  After she cooled off we headed downtown for some Spanish food and Sangria.  By the time we left the restaurant it was late and everyone was either tired from work, the underwear race, the wine, or all of the above.

Saturday morning I woke up and realized that I was alone, so I got out of bed to investigate.  And there she was, in the kitchen, whipping up some blueberry pancakes.  They were scrumptious.  After letting our breakfast settle we were off to the beach where we laid in the sun and snacked on fruit.  We spent the night at the gym pumping iron, which was followed by some laps around the park.

Sunday morning we slept in and went out for brunch.  We had a brief stop at Loehmann's and then went to the city for some fresh juices.  There we parted ways with a long kiss after a glorious weekend.

I'm one lucky guy to have found as interesting and full of life as Diana.  There's hardly ever a dull moment with her, and when there is, she usually made some blueberry pancakes to help pass the time.

Giddiness in Whole Foods

It's usually a fun time when Diana has a chance encounter with one of her best girlfriends, which is exactly what happened tonight while we were on line in Whole Foods. 

To see how excited they both get when they randomly bump into one another is quite a sight to behold because their mutual excitement is 100% genuine.  It's incredible how they can go days, even weeks, without contact and just launch into such an intense and involved conversation.  They have this uncanny knack of reading the same headlines or stories so that they have a seemingly endless list of topics to discuss. 

Although their topic of conversation is usually about Betsey Johnson and her mythical sample sales, it's still a pretty cool thing to witness.

What I Learned From My 11-Year Old Sister Today...

That she believes in reincarnation, and here are her top three choices for reincarnation possibilities in her next life:

1. Herself
   
2. A saltine cracker 
   
3. Soil
   

I give her credit for wanting another crack at things with choice #1. Even though I likely would not choose choices 2 or 3, they're interesting choices nonetheless.