Kids, Culture, & Violence

As many, I'm stunned following the Virginia Tech shootings. My humble way of judging whether or not one's life was worth living is did the person make the world a better place when their life was over? At the root level, we just have to teach our children to make the world a better place. My 3-year old daughter Ronnie told me last week, "Daddy--eating fruit is healthy!" Learning how to be healthy and fit seems to make the world a better place in my values. I can't imagine my three children killing anyone based on their upbringings. Last night, I had a flashback to 9-11. My oldest daughter was a student at Barnard College in NYC on 9-11. I suffered in horror for hours not knowing if she was safe following the terrorist attacks. I'm thankful she wasn't near the towers that day. Yesterday, I was getting gas and a family was next to me. The young boy had a cap on with a big $ sign on it. It's the whole gangsta "my money" is more important than anything else in life bullshit. My kids talk about health. Other parents teach their kids lifestyles of violence through stupid video games, rap music, and gangs. That doesn't make the world a better place. I don't even own a video game! We have NO plans to let the twins learn violent behaviors by hypnotizing themselves with that brain junk food...my thoughts and prayers to everyone in the VT family in the difficult days to come...change the world...make it better. Ragin' RJ!

Dreading My Workout!

Today, I dreaded my daily workout. I put if off as long as possible. I did NOT want to do it! I forced myself to do it! It's been VERY cold in Atlanta the last week. I am burrowed in my heated workstation this week updating all my corporate presentations for 2007. You get in a mode working on the computer--basically hypnotized. It's definitely not good for your health--my back hurt today! Too much sitting! On my run, my neck started hurting. Too much sitting! After the run, my neck was fine...go figure. It warmed up outside this afternoon too, so it wasn't all that bad once I got going. If you want to move well--then MOVE! Sitting on y'all's ass won't cut it--myself included! So, I was once again reminded of Jack LaLanne who admits he doesn't even like exercise--he does it because he likes the results. I wanted to stay at my computer. I ran for 45 minutes down to the park and back because my back hurt and I needed to fix myself. Mission accomplished, and I kept my perfect record for 2007 of not missing a single day of exercise...time for bed...a rejuvenated Ragin' RJ!

Easter Southern Comfort

Today we went to Mary Mac's Tea Room for Easter dinner in Atlanta--an A-town tradition for decades if y'all appreciate Southern cooking. The food is okay--as you might gather I'm not a big fan of anything fried. I don't really go for the food--I go with my family for the culture. People are friendly in the South and especially in Atlanta. I feel mellow when I'm at Mary Mac's. What the food doesn't do for my health the friendly atmosphere probably more than equals. It would be near impossible to feel anything but relaxed in a place like Mary Mac's...well...as relaxed as we can be with "the twins" in tow that is...a good day in the South albeit a bit cold for this time of year. The sun was out. The air was clean. The host was waiting at the door of Mary Mac's welcoming us inside. Hope y'all had a nice Easter weekend like we did...chillin' in Hotlanta...Ragin RJ!

Too Smart

We went to the Mall of Georgia last night--a cavernous place for sure. Walking through the food court at a big mall is quite the experience for someone like me. I'm amazed at what people shove into their bodies without ever THINKING about the effects of that crap. The food they serve there is so damn toxic and unhealthy--it's sickening. There were tons (literally) of fat people at the food court eating "food" (crap) that they had no business eating. I decided that I'm too smart to be fooled by fast food marketing. When you stop and actually "think" about what they are telling you, it's complete bullshit! They tell you how happy you will be eating crap. They show healthy people eating crap and feeling great--bullshit! Why don't they show the truth? Fat people with diabetes that can barely move. Fat people that feel like crap. Fat kids that won't live as long as their parents. People that can't take a dump more than 1-2 times a freakin' week because they only eat processed junk food and virtually no fruits and veggies! That is the harsh truth baby! I'm too smart to buy into their schemes. I'm doing the best I can to get others smart about the marketing of illness vs. health. It's high time we start pushing health and marketing wellness instead of fast food crap and illness!...calling it straight up...Ragin' RJ

Tech Stress

Our house flooded before Xmas. We are finally having all the repairs done this week. I unhooked the TV then couldn't get the damn thing to work in the other room. My 3 year old daughter was upset because she had no morning "doggie" movie! I've got a lot of work going on, so told everyone to forget about the damn TV for a couple of weeks until the work is done. THEN-my PC crashed yesterday! Off to the Geek Squad pronto! I'm convinced that technology has NOT been good for health. People are too plugged in and turned on today. Steve Ilg (wholisticfitness.com) really got me thinking about this issue in one of his High-Performance Yoga classes last year...he started by challenging us to turn OFF and told how easy is was to keep turning ON in today's frantic society--how true! When is the last time you turned off? People are talking on the cell phone or doing a Blackberry message while taking a crap now! It's crazy! NOT good! So...after the TV and PC problems, I went out and mowed the lawn. I enjoyed the "old school" physical labor! There is something therapeutic to just mowing grass and sweeping the driveway and gutter...Keepin' it simple in A-Town this week with less tech...Ragin' RJ!

Joy of Rain!

Last night I took the family to our favorite recreation spot in Atlanta-Stone Mtn. State Park. The clouds were edging in with faint sounds of thunder, but we went anyway. The increasing sounds of thunder for 45 minutes during my powerwalk with the twins in the jogger provided great opportunity to teach the twins about nature, rain, green trees drinking water, forest ecology, and how increasing loudness of thunder means increasing chances of RAIN! We made it about 45 minutes into the 60 minute loop then my wife pulled the plug and told me to go after the car--too much lightning for her comfort zone--a wise choice! Five minutes into my jog after the car, the classic Southern thunder storm erupted. God I love Atlanta! One of my biggest fitness pleasures in life is running in a warm Southern rain. I was soaking wet by the time I got to the car--along with everyone else walking and jogging last night. It was okay though...a small family adventure. We had fun. You can't always have perfect comfort in life with workouts--you just have to get it done rain or shine! From the glorious South today thankful for the simple joy of rain...Ragin' RJ!

Mood & Movement

We headed up to North Georgia for a hike on the Appalachian Trail the other day with 3-year old twins in tow Ronnie & Cade. For some reason, Ronnie was in a bad mood, or as she described was "grumpy." Once we started hiking, her mood dramatically improved. I was reminded of a quote that has been flying around wellness coaching and positive psych circles lately by David Tal Ben-Shahar, Harvard University Psychology Professor, that states, " “Not exercising is a depressant.” To be honest, there are a lot of times I don't feel like exercising. I force myself, or as Jack LaLanne prefers to put it, "I kick myself in the butt and make it happen!" The hard part is deciding to do it then starting. Once you roll 5 minutes, it's all good. I've got to tell you that after a decade of being a health pro, I think I've heard almost every excuse to NOT exercise. There is always a reason not to exercise. Something will always come up. However, unless you have a major incident or disease issue, most of the excuses are bull crap and not good enough. Even Jack LaLanne says he hates exercise! He does it because he likes the results. So...I have yet to miss a single day of exercise all year. I kick myself in the butt, improve my mood, and do something for at least 30 minutes a day. You should join me--you might like it! Beats being grumpy...if y'all ain't movin' then y'all ain't groovin'...From the ATL today...Ragin' RJ!