An amazing thing about us is that after a while we take the people we can absolutely depend on for granted. That friend that is always there for us. The spouse or partner that loves us with out condition. The co worker that goes out of their way to always try to make your day special.
We sometimes get to a point that the actions of these people have become so normal to us that we just really don't think about it. Like a child who knows that mom is going to have their clothes washed and supper ready. They don't really even think about it, it's just part of life like the soft bed at the end of the day, it's going to be there and doesn't require any thought.
So today let's all of us think about those people that make our lives bearable. Take the time to make some phone calls and give out those well deserved hugs. Let those people know that you really can't do without them.
How many marriages fail from neglect? What if you let your significant other know that they do mean the world to you. When was the last time you told them that? Don't you think it's time to just do something together as lovers not just room mates? One of life's great pleasures is going to a movie, your ladies head snuggled to your shoulder and sharing a popcorn. Or a moon light walk holding hands and talking about the wonderful memories you have shared and the adventures yet to come.
Stop at the market and pick up a big veggie and dip tray for your co workers. Thank those that help you and extend your hand in forgiveness and friendship to anyone that you have not been getting along with. I bet they are ready to make up to.
Today notice the people that you depend on and let them know how much you care for them.
Thanks for reading
Rambling Panda
Friday, July 31, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Staying Flexiable
Everyday we face challenges. Some of them we see coming and we can think them out before we deal with them. Usually though the really important issues blindside us when we least expect it and give us no time to prepare. Here lately there is a lot of blindsiding going on to everyone we know with the nation's economy going down. Just about every family I know is being hurt in some way by the job market.
Talk about being helpless, how do you respond to a dear friend or family member when you get a call that they have lost their jobs due to down sizing or companies closing. It's hard when that happens to someone, especially if they were good hard workers and supported their employers. It ranks right up there with finding out you have a serious illness as to how devastating it can be.
I don't have any answers, and lots of people who are economically smarter than me are at a loss right now how to handle it. But when you do have friends or family that have received bad news, here is something you can do.
You can reinforce the fact that your friend is a good person. Often loss of a job can make a person lose a lot of self esteem. Once the anger goes away the feelings of failure and depression set in. That's when your staying in touch and letting them know they are not failures is very important. Let them know they are precious to you and you value their friendship. Your genuine concern and caring is priceless, don't be shy about letting your friend know how important they are to you.
Love and caring are strong forces, often the best gift you can ever give or receive.
Thanks for reading.
Rambling Panda
Talk about being helpless, how do you respond to a dear friend or family member when you get a call that they have lost their jobs due to down sizing or companies closing. It's hard when that happens to someone, especially if they were good hard workers and supported their employers. It ranks right up there with finding out you have a serious illness as to how devastating it can be.
I don't have any answers, and lots of people who are economically smarter than me are at a loss right now how to handle it. But when you do have friends or family that have received bad news, here is something you can do.
You can reinforce the fact that your friend is a good person. Often loss of a job can make a person lose a lot of self esteem. Once the anger goes away the feelings of failure and depression set in. That's when your staying in touch and letting them know they are not failures is very important. Let them know they are precious to you and you value their friendship. Your genuine concern and caring is priceless, don't be shy about letting your friend know how important they are to you.
Love and caring are strong forces, often the best gift you can ever give or receive.
Thanks for reading.
Rambling Panda
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Harness the Power
All of us have a limited but immensely powerful resource. The power of our own mind. Has this ever happened to you? You are worried for days about something and it gets so overwhelming that it finally makes you sick? A big part of a wellness lifestyle is keeping your mental energy in control.
I know what you are thinking, no I'm not full of Panda Poo. You do really have the ability to use your power to make everything in your life better, yep you do. To start with you have to believe that no matter what is going on with you, it has a fix and it has an end. I know that can be very hard to believe but it's true.
When you have issues that are using up all your energy you have to take some back and the quicker the better. Also your mind is like a battery and needs to be recharged regularly. Today, do this: Ask yourself this question, is there anything I can do today, right now, this minute to fix my problem? If the answer is no then do this: Make a agreement with yourself that since you can't do anything about your problem right now, "I won't think about it for the rest of the day". "I'm going to do something that makes me feel good". I'm going to make love, I'm going to eat my favorite dinner tonight, I'm going to the park and take a long walk with my iPod....
Do something that makes you feel good and stop punishing yourself for the situation. Your not a bad person so stop the punishment. Let your heart and mind recharge for a little while. Unless you have a bear on your tail you probably have some wiggle room to clear your thoughts for a while. Once you do feel better then try to look at your situation as though it is someone else in the hot seat not you. Usually there is, it's your spouse who is going through it also. If so then include them in the advice above, take them to that dinner or whatever you decided to do.
Ask for help, if you can't look at something from an outside prospective. If it's job, or lack of it, related go to your local unemployment office and ask for an appointment with a counsellor, you are not an expert they are. I'm doing a job I love because someone else suggested it, the thought of becoming an optician never crossed my mind till the opportunity presented it's self.
If your concern is family related and you follow a religion ask for an appointment with your pastor or priest, they are trained counsellors. They and the unemployment counsellors are free assets by the way. What ever it is, if it's getting bigger than you then ask for help.
Keep yourself recharged. Lots of things will drain our energy fast. Fighting with your spouse, your friends, co workers and family are all horrible drains on our energy. One of the hardest things to do is forgive and put it behind you, but it's necessary to live. Especially important is to forgive yourself, if you have caused the situation you are in then remember you are a good person, you made some errors in judgement or actions and get it behind you. It will eat at you till you do.
I'm going through that right now, as a man who feels he failed as a parent because his child didn't turn out the way he wanted. I'm trying to practice what I preach and I have to admit that once I stopped trying to fix blame and look at solutions it's getting better. The alternative was to lose not only my child in my life but my lady as well.
When things get overwhelming, use your power to make it better, not to make yourself suffer.
Thanks for reading.
Rambling Panda
I know what you are thinking, no I'm not full of Panda Poo. You do really have the ability to use your power to make everything in your life better, yep you do. To start with you have to believe that no matter what is going on with you, it has a fix and it has an end. I know that can be very hard to believe but it's true.
When you have issues that are using up all your energy you have to take some back and the quicker the better. Also your mind is like a battery and needs to be recharged regularly. Today, do this: Ask yourself this question, is there anything I can do today, right now, this minute to fix my problem? If the answer is no then do this: Make a agreement with yourself that since you can't do anything about your problem right now, "I won't think about it for the rest of the day". "I'm going to do something that makes me feel good". I'm going to make love, I'm going to eat my favorite dinner tonight, I'm going to the park and take a long walk with my iPod....
Do something that makes you feel good and stop punishing yourself for the situation. Your not a bad person so stop the punishment. Let your heart and mind recharge for a little while. Unless you have a bear on your tail you probably have some wiggle room to clear your thoughts for a while. Once you do feel better then try to look at your situation as though it is someone else in the hot seat not you. Usually there is, it's your spouse who is going through it also. If so then include them in the advice above, take them to that dinner or whatever you decided to do.
Ask for help, if you can't look at something from an outside prospective. If it's job, or lack of it, related go to your local unemployment office and ask for an appointment with a counsellor, you are not an expert they are. I'm doing a job I love because someone else suggested it, the thought of becoming an optician never crossed my mind till the opportunity presented it's self.
If your concern is family related and you follow a religion ask for an appointment with your pastor or priest, they are trained counsellors. They and the unemployment counsellors are free assets by the way. What ever it is, if it's getting bigger than you then ask for help.
Keep yourself recharged. Lots of things will drain our energy fast. Fighting with your spouse, your friends, co workers and family are all horrible drains on our energy. One of the hardest things to do is forgive and put it behind you, but it's necessary to live. Especially important is to forgive yourself, if you have caused the situation you are in then remember you are a good person, you made some errors in judgement or actions and get it behind you. It will eat at you till you do.
I'm going through that right now, as a man who feels he failed as a parent because his child didn't turn out the way he wanted. I'm trying to practice what I preach and I have to admit that once I stopped trying to fix blame and look at solutions it's getting better. The alternative was to lose not only my child in my life but my lady as well.
When things get overwhelming, use your power to make it better, not to make yourself suffer.
Thanks for reading.
Rambling Panda
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Blog Followers
I write as often as I can, I know I miss some days because my heart and mind are on another mission. But this is my place to speak my thoughts and hopefully pass on some of the knowledge I've gained over the years mostly by trail and error but also by listening to smart people who can see what others often don't.
I want every one of you who follow my writing to know that it means more to me than you imagine. To know that someone is listening is a comfort that strengthens me and encourages me. Please know that I care about my fellow adventurers that are trying to make a difference in their lives both for them selves and for those that they can influence to care more for them selves.
We of all living things have the power to make our lives better and to help each other. We are very special, unique in all the universe, but we often lose sight of that and get in our personal ruts. We forget that we have power. Power to change and improve, Power to control our thoughts and Power to help our brothers and sisters when they need us.
We are all of us just a small, tiny, but not insignificant part of the world. Each of us has value and power and if enough of us care about our selves and each other we can move, not mountains but something more amazing, we can change the world and make it the Paradise it was meant to be.
All of you you read my writing thank you. I don't take it lightly, I'm honored beyond words.
Dave
I want every one of you who follow my writing to know that it means more to me than you imagine. To know that someone is listening is a comfort that strengthens me and encourages me. Please know that I care about my fellow adventurers that are trying to make a difference in their lives both for them selves and for those that they can influence to care more for them selves.
We of all living things have the power to make our lives better and to help each other. We are very special, unique in all the universe, but we often lose sight of that and get in our personal ruts. We forget that we have power. Power to change and improve, Power to control our thoughts and Power to help our brothers and sisters when they need us.
We are all of us just a small, tiny, but not insignificant part of the world. Each of us has value and power and if enough of us care about our selves and each other we can move, not mountains but something more amazing, we can change the world and make it the Paradise it was meant to be.
All of you you read my writing thank you. I don't take it lightly, I'm honored beyond words.
Dave
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Balance
One of the bad things that walkers and runners do is way to much of their training as just running or walking. The problem with that is balance. Especially when training for a long distance event. I know plenty of runners and walkers who do no other forms of exercise at all.
One of the most famous coaches in the sport of race walking says the you should do the majority of your training time walking, but not all your time. The next most important thing for you to do is flexibility exercise. And even he will tell you that before he walks he does a routine of leg swings and other dynamic motion, then a stretching routine after.
The next most important thing is to do some type of cross training that complements your primary sport. For distance runners, doing speed drills, hill repeats and stairs are excellent cross training. For walkers, hiking, running and stairs will complement very well. In addition to a cross training that complements you also need to do activities that work the muscles that are not directly used in running and walking.
Riding a bike is great but doesn't give you much of an upper body workout. Activities like swimming, Pilate's and weight training are of course great ways to hit the muscles not used in walking and running but there are a lot of others also. Playing a sport that uses your whole body is the best for overall conditioning but most of us don't have access to a soccer team to play on or a water polo team. So we have to find ways to improvise.
One of the best all over training activities is trail running/walking on rough terrain. Great for balance and strength building. No contact sparing with a partner is an intense workout that uses your whole body. That's why boxing and martial arts have breaks between rounds, 3 min of sparing will leave you more spent than a hard 5 miler. Try it. But remember wear the gloves and no contact.
What ever your sport, if you strengthen all the supporting muscles as well as the primary ones you will do your sport much better, be much less injury prone and a better all around athlete.
Thanks for reading.
Cross training Panda
One of the most famous coaches in the sport of race walking says the you should do the majority of your training time walking, but not all your time. The next most important thing for you to do is flexibility exercise. And even he will tell you that before he walks he does a routine of leg swings and other dynamic motion, then a stretching routine after.
The next most important thing is to do some type of cross training that complements your primary sport. For distance runners, doing speed drills, hill repeats and stairs are excellent cross training. For walkers, hiking, running and stairs will complement very well. In addition to a cross training that complements you also need to do activities that work the muscles that are not directly used in running and walking.
Riding a bike is great but doesn't give you much of an upper body workout. Activities like swimming, Pilate's and weight training are of course great ways to hit the muscles not used in walking and running but there are a lot of others also. Playing a sport that uses your whole body is the best for overall conditioning but most of us don't have access to a soccer team to play on or a water polo team. So we have to find ways to improvise.
One of the best all over training activities is trail running/walking on rough terrain. Great for balance and strength building. No contact sparing with a partner is an intense workout that uses your whole body. That's why boxing and martial arts have breaks between rounds, 3 min of sparing will leave you more spent than a hard 5 miler. Try it. But remember wear the gloves and no contact.
What ever your sport, if you strengthen all the supporting muscles as well as the primary ones you will do your sport much better, be much less injury prone and a better all around athlete.
Thanks for reading.
Cross training Panda
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Breathe for Power
When you are going to race and you want to perform at your best there are a few tips to give you an edge. I know everyone has heard start slower so you don't burn yourself out during the first mile. Well if you warm up properly you can start right out at your planned race pace.
Warm up done right takes a good half hour. Start with brisk walking for 10 to 15 min till you are feeling loose and moving smoothly. Then add short bursts of speed walking (or running if you are a runner), bursts of 25 to 100 meters. Alternate brisk and speed for another 10 min. Once you start sweating then relax with some gentle stretching for a few minutes. No hard stretching just do the stretches gently and get your whole body not just your calves. Throwing your leg up on a picnic table and bending into it is not a stretching routine.
Take your last potty break about 15 min before the race starts unless there is a big group and few porta-potties, then go earlier so your not standing in line and losing the effect of your warm up. What I usually do is while I'm doing my warm up walk I'll be scouting for a gas station with a bathroom or an out of the way porta-potty or building with a restroom at a park. Then I can use it just prior to going to the start.
When you are standing at the starting line. Breathe as deeply as possible and at the end of the exhale push with your diaphragm to get that last bit of stale air out of your lungs. Repeat slow deep breaths and exhales with a push right up to the starting gun. What your doing is getting your blood oxygen level as high as possible. I do this during a race also when I've gotten into a grove and I'm getting ready to make a move on a racer I want to pass. When your blood oxygen level is charged with the deep breaths you sort of turbo charge your muscles so you can get a little extra from them. It's short lived but it's enough to move up on someone.
You do not want to start panting like a dog with short shallow breaths, your re-breathing the same air since your not completely emptying your lungs and refilling with fresh oxygen. Your muscles are like engines they burn sugar but just like any burning if you take away the oxygen the fire goes out, but if you increase the oxygen the fire burns hotter.
Doing the right pre race warmup and breathing can give you a much stronger race.
Thanks for reading.
Racing Panda
Warm up done right takes a good half hour. Start with brisk walking for 10 to 15 min till you are feeling loose and moving smoothly. Then add short bursts of speed walking (or running if you are a runner), bursts of 25 to 100 meters. Alternate brisk and speed for another 10 min. Once you start sweating then relax with some gentle stretching for a few minutes. No hard stretching just do the stretches gently and get your whole body not just your calves. Throwing your leg up on a picnic table and bending into it is not a stretching routine.
Take your last potty break about 15 min before the race starts unless there is a big group and few porta-potties, then go earlier so your not standing in line and losing the effect of your warm up. What I usually do is while I'm doing my warm up walk I'll be scouting for a gas station with a bathroom or an out of the way porta-potty or building with a restroom at a park. Then I can use it just prior to going to the start.
When you are standing at the starting line. Breathe as deeply as possible and at the end of the exhale push with your diaphragm to get that last bit of stale air out of your lungs. Repeat slow deep breaths and exhales with a push right up to the starting gun. What your doing is getting your blood oxygen level as high as possible. I do this during a race also when I've gotten into a grove and I'm getting ready to make a move on a racer I want to pass. When your blood oxygen level is charged with the deep breaths you sort of turbo charge your muscles so you can get a little extra from them. It's short lived but it's enough to move up on someone.
You do not want to start panting like a dog with short shallow breaths, your re-breathing the same air since your not completely emptying your lungs and refilling with fresh oxygen. Your muscles are like engines they burn sugar but just like any burning if you take away the oxygen the fire goes out, but if you increase the oxygen the fire burns hotter.
Doing the right pre race warmup and breathing can give you a much stronger race.
Thanks for reading.
Racing Panda
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Set standards.
When we join a company we agree to adhere to their standards. When we belong to a religion we agree to follow the teaching that faith is based on. When we are part of a society we agree to obey that nations standards or face punishment. Why then can't we make that same kind of commitment to our own lives.
We can set standards to live by. We can agree not to smoke, not to eat deep fried food and on and on. Sit down with a tablet and pencil or your word processor and write out your own standards. Write down what you will not do, like eating a high fat snack after 8pm, get it down and be specific. Put it down on paper so you can see it. Imagine you are starting your own nation or company, write out the rules.
Then after you have written out your "Will not do" list, then work on your "Will do" list. Once again be specific. "I will be a positive example in what I do, If what I'm getting ready to do is not something I would want my children to do, I won't do it".
Once you have your lists of standards to live by, then work out a punishment and reward program. Things like if I resist a piece of cake at work I can buy a small gift for myself when I get off. Or I ate that piece of cake at work, I knew it was the wrong thing to do and as punishment I can't watch my favorite TV program tonight when I get home.
When you do a full week of living by your listed standards then reward yourself with a larger gift, like a date night with your spouse. Or punish yourself by being weak by scheduling a clean the closets or drawers in the kitchen night instead.
The whole idea here is not to treat yourself like a 10 year old but to stop doing the things that sabotage your best health and fitness efforts. It's a way to at least make yourself realize that you are doing something you promised yourself you wouldn't and maybe not do it the next time because of feeling guilty.
Be master of your actions and be your own example that you can control of your life.
Rambling Panda
We can set standards to live by. We can agree not to smoke, not to eat deep fried food and on and on. Sit down with a tablet and pencil or your word processor and write out your own standards. Write down what you will not do, like eating a high fat snack after 8pm, get it down and be specific. Put it down on paper so you can see it. Imagine you are starting your own nation or company, write out the rules.
Then after you have written out your "Will not do" list, then work on your "Will do" list. Once again be specific. "I will be a positive example in what I do, If what I'm getting ready to do is not something I would want my children to do, I won't do it".
Once you have your lists of standards to live by, then work out a punishment and reward program. Things like if I resist a piece of cake at work I can buy a small gift for myself when I get off. Or I ate that piece of cake at work, I knew it was the wrong thing to do and as punishment I can't watch my favorite TV program tonight when I get home.
When you do a full week of living by your listed standards then reward yourself with a larger gift, like a date night with your spouse. Or punish yourself by being weak by scheduling a clean the closets or drawers in the kitchen night instead.
The whole idea here is not to treat yourself like a 10 year old but to stop doing the things that sabotage your best health and fitness efforts. It's a way to at least make yourself realize that you are doing something you promised yourself you wouldn't and maybe not do it the next time because of feeling guilty.
Be master of your actions and be your own example that you can control of your life.
Rambling Panda
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