Life is Cumulative

My wife hates when my son and I play catch in the house. She’s always yelling that little kids shouldn’t play with balls indoors. She also thinks my son shouldn’t. (We have a running joke in our household that my wife has three children- our son, our daughter, and me.)

My response is atypical, though. I actually find a way on most days to defend what my wife sees as infantile behavior. I tell her that with each catch and throw, our son is becoming a better athlete. More coordinated. More comfortable. With better hand-eye coordination. What I try to convince her of is that people get better not from the formal practice and training we do. Rather, we get better from the informal events. I tell her that we humans can only have class or practice with our team or group a few times per week. That we can only afford so many hours with the private piano teacher that comes to our home after school. I tell her hat because of work and other obligations, as well as weather; we can only go to the park so often. Read more of this post

6 Workout Tips

In Today’s helping of Men’s Health Tips, they have 6 simple ways to get more out of your workouts.  Check it out!

The Brand Called You

Build and Protect The Brand Called 'You'

What comes to your mind when you hear Disney? What about Microsoft? Sony? Coke? The name DirecTV do anything for you? You don’t need to tell me, but I bet each of these conjures in you specific, even emotionally strong, thoughts and emotions. For Disney, you might picture happy children and a company that has, for years, provided beautiful, lifelong memories to adults and children alike. Microsoft? Well Bill Gates has made sure we’ve all equated the new computer age- technology advancement, in general, really- to the company he founded. With Sony, many of you may think of quality video and sound equipment such as televisions and stereos. Others may think of the efficiency with which the Japanese company is run, while still others may have negative feelings simply because it is not an American original. Coke- excuse me, Coca Cola- has been in our collective consciousness for so long that a whole brand category was created. Have you ever said “can I have a Coke”, when you really wanted a cola of any sort? I happen to prefer Pepsi, but still ask for “coke”, for some reason, when I eat out. Read more of this post

15 Easy Ways to Rev Up Your Metabolism

Maybe because when I was younger it wasn’t as important, but I’ve learned in the last few years that working out isn’t enough.  Not if I really want to look in great shape.  Diet, rest, and recovery are more important now that I am almost forty than ever before.  Whereas it was naturally high 15 or 20 years ago, my metabolism needs a kick in the butt these days.  Tips like the ones in today’s Men’s Health Article: 15 Easy Ways to Rev Up Your Metabolism provide useful guidance.

Family First

I can only remember two games that my parents missed.  That’s thirteen years of football, four or five of basketball, and about two playing baseball.  And if I’m not mistaken, they went to most, if not close to all, of my sister’s track meets, Junior ROTC (Reserve Officers Training Corps) tests, and speeches.

And it meant something.  I didn’t know it then and it’s hard to say why even now.  But it did. Read more of this post