One of the benefits of having been around for a while is the gaining of experience and perhaps a bit of wisdom. The purpose of this blog is to share some information that might be useful. To help make life a little bit better. To provide hope. To make us smile or laugh. To help us believe in ourselves. If we put our heads together, the synergy just might make the world a better place.
Starting off the new day with a plan is so important. People have differing work schedules and unique demands that they must meet. There is probably not a one size fits all way to go about this but the following is some pretty sound advice. Try this routine if you can. If some of this doesn't work for you, make modifications you deem necessary, just have the determination to see it through...
Set yourself up for success each day by adopting these highly effective habits.
According to Inc. Magazine, morning people have been found to be more proactive and more productive. But what exactly do they do to set themselves up for success?
Here are five habits successful people have developed to start their days on the right note. [TWEET]
Starting off the new day with a plan is so important. People have differing work schedules and unique demands that they must meet. There is probably not a one size fits all way to go about this but the following is some pretty sound advice. Try this routine if you can. If some of this doesn't work for you, make modifications you deem necessary, just have the determination to see it through...
Set yourself up for success each day by adopting these highly effective habits. According to Inc. Magazine, morning people have been found to be more proactive and more productive. But what exactly do they do to set themselves up for success? Here are five habits successful people have developed to start their days on the right note. [TWEET]
This statement attributed to Aristotle certainly has withstood the test of time. The world needs excellence from each of us. We must raise the bar on ourselves. We must make a difference. We must not get mired down in mediocrity. We must be innovators, leaders, motivators and mentors. We must work to bring out the best in others not just in ourselves. The world is in need of individuals of high integrity. Be that person when people are watching and even more importantly when no one is watching.
We all love logos. Companies spend big bucks to come up with logos/imaging/branding that will catch the eye of their customer or prospective customer. For me, the best logos are sports logos. So the question is, when you have an established logo, is it a good idea to update the logo on a regular basis or to keep the logo that has stood the test of time?
Following is an interesting article about Major League Baseball (MLB) logos that have been later updated by the teams. Was that a good move? You decide.
Do you wear corporate or team clothing and gear with logos everywhere, or do you prefer not to be a walking billboard? Here is a TIP FROM A MAN... figure out what works best for you. Wear what you like. For me, I'm not a big designer label or corporate logo wearer, but I do like to wear apparel from the schools and team that I like.
Anybody out there have a nickname? Nicknames are crazy. What makes them stick? Baseball is known for nicknames. It is part of what makes baseball fun and magical. Following is a fun article by Matthew Kory, a writer at Sports On Earth.
The Best Names in the Game
In college I knew three guys named Paul. Since they were all friends,
the likelihood of calling a Paul and getting the right one was small,
so nicknames were devised. I'd love to tell you we planned it all out,
discussed, wrote down ideas, conferenced, maybe focus-grouped a few
possibilities before settling on nicknames, but we didn't. We went with
what came naturally. That is how we ended up with Small Paul, Tall Paul,
and Across-the-Hall Paul.
The moral of the story is: Don't name your kid Paul,
because there are no more good nicknames. The other moral of the story
is: Sometimes the best nicknames arrive organically.
This is true of baseball players, too, even the game's greats. Recently I penned a piece for this very website
that required me to look at each Hall of Famer's Baseball Reference
page. In the top corner, by their name, the site lists any and all
nicknames they had during their career. For example, Hank Aaron's page
lists him as The Hammer, Hammer'n Hank and Bad Henry. The Hammer is a
good one. One imagines a giant hammer coming to bat, wagging its face
back and forth through the strike zone pre-pitch. How does it stand?
Nobody knows! It's a funny image, but it's not the best Hall of Famer
nickname. In fact, it's not even close.
I've listed the best below, and to help you visualize them, I've enlisted the help of artist Craig Robinson of Flip Flop Fly Ball. The drawings are his, the words are mine, and the best Hall of Famer nicknames are below.
Slug
Refers to: Harry Heilmann, first baseman and rightfielder for the Tigers and Reds in the late teens and '20s.
Origin story: One evening in the minor leagues,
Heilmann was out with a lady friend when a man came up and started
hitting on her. Heilmann was furious and was about to slug the guy when
he looked down and saw an actual slug crawling up the bar. Shocked,
Heilmann forgot his anger and pointed out the slug to the man who, it
turned out, was none other than world-famous scientist and expert in
slug-studies, Dr. Herbert Van Philistine. Philistine correctly
identified the slug as a variety of Banana Slug. Then he punched
Heilmann in the face and left with the lady.
Actual origin story: According to Baseball Nicknames: A Dictionary of Origins and Meanings by
James K. Skipper Jr. (where all the origin information from this
article is taken), Heilmann was painfully slow, so the name was a
reference to his foot speed or lack thereof.
Why it's a great nickname: There are few less
complimentary animals to be named after; maybe a leech, or possibly the
naked mole rat. "Now, coming to bat, catcher, No. 28, Tommy 'The Naked
Mole Rat' Johnson!"
Old Tomato Face
Refers to: Gabby Hartnett, catcher for the Cubs and New York Giants in the 1920s and '30s.
Origin story: Hartnett lived through the Great
Depression and the toughness of the economy made a big impression on
him. Thus it was that Hartnett decided he would grow tomatoes on his
face. This would save money on water and soap, and provide food for his
family as well. The tomatoes grew in well, so well in fact that he was
able to can them and sell them as Gabby's Famous Face Tomatoes. Slogan:
Nothing makes a tomato grow like oil from a human face!
Actual origin story: Hartnett laughed a lot and when he laughed his face turned bright red, like a tomato.
Why it's a Great Nickname: It's probably the most
bizarre of the Hall of Fame nicknames. It sounds like a random nickname
generator on the internet created it.
[Enter: age]
[Enter: noun]
[Enter: body part]
Congratulations, you are now and forever known as "Middle-Aged Boat Nipples!"
Bucketfoot Al
Refers to: Al Simmons, power-hitting outfielder who played most of his career for the Philadelphia A's.
Origin story: Simmons once saved a little boy from a
well by riding down on a small bucket, grabbing the boy and hoisting
himself and the child to safety. Upon getting out of the well, Simmons'
foot became lodged in the bucket and the townsfolk, fickle and organized
in a Simpsons-like way, stopped chanting "Hero, hero!" and started yelling "Bucketfoot! Bucketfoot!"
Actual origin story: Simmons' batting stance
featured his front leg stepping toward the dugout during his stride, a
movement that is commonly referred to as "stepping into the bucket."
That and his first name was Al.
Why it's a great nickname: It's so negative. Simmons
hit .334 with more than 300 homers in his Hall of Fame career, so what
do they base his nickname on? The odd way his foot moves before he
swings. This is like calling Joe Montana Super Bowl Bucket of Barf Joe
or, farther afield, dubbing Abe Lincoln the Great Paper Crumpler. Poor
Bucketfoot.
The Crab
Refers to: Johnny Evers, second baseman with the Cubs just after the turn of the century.
Origin story: Evers' father was a crab. His parents
had met when his mother had traveled to the beach with some friends. The
marriage was a stormy one, as things like washing the dishes and
cuddling were difficult for Evers' dad, what with his claws and all.
Shortly after Evers was born, his father went outside to molt and never
returned. His mom told him his dad was eaten by seagulls but Evers could
have sworn he saw his dad coming out of the dry cleaners one morning,
arm in claw with another woman. Once kids at school got wind of Evers'
family history, well, the nickname was a given.
Actual origin story: Baseball writer Charles Dryden coined the nickname because, according to Dryden, Evers used a crab-like way to grip the ball.
Why it's a great nickname: It harkens back to the
age when baseball writers could give players derogatory nicknames. Sadly
that era appears to be behind us. Imagine if I started calling Mike
Trout the Squid because he has as many talents as a squid has tentacles,
or Dustin Pedroia the Sand Flea because he's small and makes people
itch.
Big Poison/Little Poison
Refers to: Paul and Lloyd Waner, brothers who played outfield for the Pirates in the 1930s.
Origin story: When Paul was a little boy, he
accidentally ingested a lot of poison. His brother came running to his
side and said, "If you took poison, then so will I" and grabbed the
bottle but just took a very small sip. Asked later why he didn't drink
as much poison as his brother, Lloyd said, "Are you kidding? That stuff
will kill ya!"
Actual origin story: The nicknames supposedly came from the way New York fans pronunced "big person" and "little person."
Why it's a great nickname: These players, according
to their nicknames, were so good at baseball that they would actually
kill the other team, or if proper medical attention were administered in
time, just make them vomit. When the best-case scenario is the other
team vomits at the mere sight of you, that's the cornerstone of a great
nickname.
The Man Nobody Knows
Refers to: Bill Dickey, catcher, perennial All-Star and MVP candidate with the New York Yankees in the 1930s and '40s.
Origin story: Dickey worked part time at the fledgling Daily Planet newspaper and frequently left the clubhouse wearing a cape and hiding his face. Also nobody knew him.
Actual origin story: It should not surprise you that
nobody knows the origin story for The Man Nobody Knows. I guess we're
stuck with the whole "nobody knows him" thing.
Why it's a great nickname: It's just bizarre.
Nicknames often come from a place of endearment, but this is the 1940's
equivalent of calling someone "that dude." If a guy isn't around enough
for people to know him, you'd think he wouldn't be around enough to
receive a formal nickname, let alone one as involved as The Man Nobody
Knows. Also, did people really call him that?
"Hey The Man Nobody Knows, can you pass the salt?"
"Oh, sure, well [points] you see The Man Nobody Knows? You walk past him and the restroom is right there on your left."
"You listen here, The Man Nobody Knows, I ain't throwing no fastball.
I'm throwing a curveball and that's all there is to … hey, where'd you
go?"
The Mechanical Man
Refers to: Charlie Gehringer, a second baseman with the Tigers during the 1920s and '30s.
Origin story: Gehringer was five years old when he
lost is tongue, left pinky and right ear to a merry-go-round accident.
The doctors at the time were experimenting with, as it turned out later,
faulty robot technology and operated on Gehringer, replacing his pinky
with a pocket watch, his ear with a primitive decibel meter and his
tongue with another pocket watch.
Actual origin story: It came from a teammate of
Gehringer's who supposedly said, "All you have to do is wind him up on
Opening Day and he runs on and on -- doing everything right."
Why it's a great nickname: It's so old-timey. He's
not the Digital Man, or the Outer Space Man or the Electronic Man. He's a
superhero, but one that needs winding occasionally.
__________
So here is a TIP FROM A MAN... bond with friends and family this summer through baseball, barbeques or nicknames. Whatever it takes. Build and savor memories.
Sometimes the best way to get your mind right is a good quote...
__________
"Seek not to change the world, but choose to change your mind about the world. What you see reflects your thinking. And your thinking but reflects your choice of what you want to see."
From A Course in Miracles
__________
We often discuss on this blog that life is about the choices we each make. Some situations are more difficult than others, but in the end, the life we end up with is usually a product of the choices we make. Choose to be happy. Choose to be positive. Choose to serve others. Choose to...
If you are looking for a drink to jump start your morning try this one:
1 Large Fresh Orange
1 Cup of Grapefruit from Costco
1 Cup of 100% Tangerine Juice
Peal the orange and lightly mix the three ingredients in a blender. Don't mix so much that the pulp is too fine. If you want it colder add a bit of ice before mixing but not so much that the drink is "watered down."
I haven't tried this yet, but in the near future I am going to make this drink and blend in a scoop of vanilla protein powder. This could become a 100% natural and healthy Orange Julius.
Here is a TIP FROM A MAN... fresh and natural. That is what we are going for. If you do this your body will thank you over and over. I am busting my tail in the gym six days per week in preparation for the first baseball tournament of the 2014 season in early March. Having the proper fuel for these workouts is critical. Whether it be lifting weights or any other activity, our bodies need the proper fuel!
A lot of us are eating more salads, but most salad dressings leave much to be desired. The salad dressings that taste good often are loaded up with calories, additives, etc. Recently I came across this salad dressing recipe and I suggest that you give it a try...
1 large avocado
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup greek yogurt
1
teaspoon hot sauce
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 garlic cloves
3/4
teaspoon salt
Here is a TIP FROM A MAN.... the best stuff doesn't usually come in a pre-packaged bottle. Notice how fresh and natural the ingredients in this recipe are. Plus, there is a certain satisfaction that comes from gathering ingredients and making things yourself. Another benefit is that this salad dressing will likely cost less than what you buy in a bottle. You can do this and this success will lead you to find other things that you can do yourself.
Yum, a little taste of summer. As you may recall, last June I bragged and gushed excessively about the production of our cherry tree. Well, because the tree was so prolific we couldn't eat or give away the abundance of produce before it started to spoil. Then the thought occurred to me that I should pit the cherries and put them in small freezer bags for use in the winter. Winter is now upon us and in the morning I add these wonderful frozen cherries to my protein shake. It is so good and so simple. Here is what I enjoyed this morning:
Crushed Ice
Frozen Cherries
Walnuts
Protein Powder
1 Cup Cold Water
I mixed these ingredients to perfection in the Magic Bullet blender and man oh man was it good. So here is a TIP FROM A MAN... in order to enjoy life to the max, a bit of planning is usually involved. In my experience, the more you plan the less you have to react to circumstances. So think ahead about your nutrition and your fun. Being spontaneous has its place, but planning ahead can produce some tasty and rewarding results.
During past posts I have discussed how we can make our bodies hostile to cancer through diet and exercise. I even recommended the reading of a book called the China Study. Below is a link to an article that probes this subject in great detail and offers specifics as to how we can make our bodies hostile to cancer. Please click on the link and read the article. Following the article is a statement from a medical doctor that I have personally met that offers his support of the information contained in the article.
"In my medical training and current practice and personal journey to health and fitness (including getting a nutritional counselors degree four years ago) I find every point in this article to be true. Please read and share with others. I am exploring different ways to boost health and ward off disease by strengthening the body so it can heal itself. Stay tuned..." Dr. Lee ________________________
Here is a TIP FROM A MAN... please, make your body a hostile environment to cancer. We need our health to enjoy life to its fullest. Begin making these choices a little at a time until you have made the necessary lifestyle choices that are sustainable and easy for you to follow. This may not happen for you overnight but first make the resolve to change and then work toward making the functional changes that are required. You will need to learn where to find the correct foods and ingredients in your store or perhaps you will need to find new places to shop. Next you will need to learn how to prepare meals that comply with your goals. Lastly, it will take some thought and planning when eating away from home. Let's face it, most food manufacturers and restaurants are more interested in profit than our health so finding the meals we need to eat may take effort but it will be well worth this effort if you have made the resolve to do so. Let's do this for ourselves and for those we love.
At the beginning of a new year it is trendy to make some new resolutions then to quickly break them and go back to doing things the same old way. People love to make jokes about this topic. I hear it all the time at the gym this time of year - guys predicting that they will fizzle out in a week or so. And by the drop in numbers by the end of January, you know, they were right. Self fulfilling prophesy.
To me, setting and keeping goals if absolutely critical if you want to improve and elevate yourself. Following are a few of my favorite quotes from outstanding leaders regarding setting goals and keeping resolutions:
"Try a little harder to be a little better."
Gordon B. Hinckley
"It’s in the
doing, not just the thinking, that we accomplish our goals. If we
constantly put our goals off, we will never see them fulfilled."
Thomas S. Monson
"To avoid some of the deepest regrets of life, it would be wise to make some resolutions today."
Dieter F. Uchtdorf
"You are doing better than you think you are. But we can be better."
Julie B. Beck
"You can set your goals to make you reach and strain. Growth comes from setting your goals high and reaching for the stars."
Spencer W. Kimball
"We can become the masters of our own destinies by practicing self-discipline and by setting worthy goals."
M. Russell Ballard
"Where performance is measured, performance improves. Where performance
is measured and reported, the rate of improvement accelerates."
Thomas S. Monson
"When change is thought through carefully, it can produce the most rewarding and profound experiences in life."
Marvin J. Ashton
"Mediocrity will never do. You are capable of something better."
Gordon B. Hinckley
"There is room for improvement in every life. Regardless of our
occupations, regardless of our circumstances, we can improve ourselves
and while so doing have an effect on the lives of those about us."
Gordon B. Hinckley
"We don’t have to be perfect today. We don’t have to be better than
someone else. All we have to do is to be the very best we can."
Joseph B. Wirthlin
"Act now, so that a thousand years from now, when you look back at this
moment, you can say this was a moment that mattered — this was a day of
determination."
Neal A. Maxwell
"To reach a goal you have never before attained, you must do things you have never before done."
Richard G. Scott
"Don't you quit. You keep walking. You keep trying. There is help and happiness ahead."
Jeffrey R. Holland
Well there you go. If that doesn't get you fired up to make your life better or to help someone else I don't know what will. Here is a TIP FROM A MAN... set some goals. Be realistic but stretch yourself. Set goals that you can control. Set goals that you can measure. Tell someone else about your goals and ask them to check up on you. Here is a simple example of a goal that you can accomplish:
GOAL: Run a 10K over Memorial Day weekend (almost 5 months from now)
Here are the steps for success:
1) Find a race and pay the registration fee. You are now officially invested.
2) Find a friend to run the race with you and make sure that they register and pay the fee.
3) Tell everyone you know that you are going to run the 10K. Positive peer pressure!
4) Begin a training regimen now - today - immediately. Start slow and build up over time. Don't overdo it in the beginning and get too sore or worse injure yourself and quit. Build up your body and your confidence so that when the day of the race comes you are chomping to get going and not wondering if you are ready. Train with the friend that is going to run the 10K with you whenever possible.
5) Invest a little bit in the right equipment. Proper shoes and socks for sure. Also, get some clothes appropriate for working out / training. You must like how you look. It builds confidence and helps you feel like you belong, that this is you and what you do. If you are in a cold climate, get some gear so that you won't be cold when training outside. If you think you are going to be cold, that may be all the excuse you need not to train that day.
6) When race day comes, have a great time! Enjoy running with your friend. Run the race for a time or run just for fun. You decide. Have family or friends at the finish line to cheer for you! Celebrate this accomplishment.
7) Repeat. You have officially made a lifestyle change.
This method works just as well in any area of life that you would like to improve... relationships, volunteering, employment, spirituality... everything. 2014 and beyond will be the best of times for you and for me!
The common thought is that during the Holidays that weight gain is just part of the deal. People are conditioned to believe that with all of the yummy foods that are offered that if you want to have a good time that you have very little chance of getting through the Holidays without adding a few pounds. I choose to disagree...
There are so many food choices that fit within the TIPS FROM A MAN lifestyle. Feast your eyes on the photo above. A portion of King and Snow crab. A serving of pasta salad also featuring crab. A serving of beet salad. A squeeze of lemon. And the splurge is a little bit of butter for the crab. This meal was so festive and so amazingly tasty. It was filling. The good thing about cracking the shells of the crab is that it makes you eat more slowly so that you feel full. To confess, I did take a second portion of the beets.
Here is a TIP FROM A MAN... don't think that you have to sacrifice fun or taste to enjoy this or any other holiday throughout the year. With a little planning and a little self control you do not have to give back any of what you have worked to accomplish.
