Emerson Trust 30 Challenge Prompt 11: Divine Idea.

The Ralph Waldo Emerson Trust 30 Challenge Prompt 11 is from Fabian Kruse.  The idea is to find areas in which I imitate others and instead to be me, new, unique. There are 30 prompts/days to this challenge. Not every challenge is going to ring like a bell. This is one that doesn't really resonate so my post may be less than it could be, none the less...

I have always had the tendency to watch others and judge their actions. "Joe, did this. How stupid can he be?" "Can you believe Jane is back together with her ex, again? Wouldn't she be better off banging her head with a hammer?"  Since I usually find willing conversation partners (often large groups of them) I know I didn't begin this trend.  Maybe it's time to end the trend of talking about and judging others.

I find I gain nothing from judging others. At best, it's like diet soda. It may do nothing bad, it certainly does nothing good for me and rarely quenches my thirst.  It's time to be more like water. Clear, transparent and seeking my own level.  Life sustaining and thirst quenching.  Time to stop judging and instead find my own path.

What about you? What do you think of  my divine idea?

ROL: Right Foot, Left Foot or Vice-Versa.

ROL in an abbreviation for Return On Life, making simple or incremental life changes that can offer benefits beyond the effort put in to make said changes. This week's ROL is about getting in gear.

I have previously pointed out that I have undoubtedly lived past the mid-point of my life. My kids are still young (not yet in high school) and I have been the sole provider for my family. I have never feared my mortality, if I die young(ish), it's not my problem. My wife and kids will have to find a way to figure it out. That sucks, but it's the truth.  I do fear living a long life but having to schlep around an oxygen tank for 20 years. While there are many good reasons for having to lug around oxygen, I'm willing to bet there are many ways to avoid being tank-tied with an early start. One simple way is to walk more.

Anthropologists will point out that for most of our existence we have been on the move. Our bodies are not designed for a sedentary lifestyle. Physicians will point out that emphysema, diabetes and McCAD (Coronary Artery Disease brought on by fast food) are running rampant in the USA. Our bodies are not designed for the abundance we enjoy in the 21st Century. There are pills and programs and schedules and guidelines and, and, and... that we can access yet the problem gets worse every year.

Have you ever seen what a serving of steak is supposed to be? I've been to parties where that would be an insufficient appetizer.  Cutting down portions is tough. I hope to get there someday and frankly yesterday would be a good day to start. I'm 40 lbs. off the chart (or 10 inches too short) so I need to do something.

I have started walking regularly, about 35 minutes 3 days a week, outside or on a treadmill. I need to walk more but at least it's a start. I suggest that you find a way to walk more also. The benefits of walking far outweigh the benefits of fighting for the closest parking spot near the Big Box Mall. So walk more and perhaps lower your chances of making an oxygen tank your best friend.

Emerson Trust 30 Challenge Prompt 10: World, Listen Up!

Prompt 10 of the Ralph Waldo Emerson 30 Day Trust Challenge is from Eric Handler. My challenge is to share a (my?) personal message with 1 million people, or however many read this post.

The world population can be divided into two distinct classifications:

1. Those who believe the world would be a better place if everybody thought and acted as they do.
2. Those who believe the world requires varied thinkers, relishes diversity and thinks the world is a better place due to our differences.

It's ironic that the first group will never be happy nor will the second group ever be sad.