Random Rambling

Collections of thoughts that have been clunking about my cranium...

More and more I am beginning to believe that things don't just happen to us. We happen to us. You are a product of the environment you create around you. Your circumstances are often the sum of the choices you have made. That might make you defensive or depressed. But if so, perhaps that's a hint of what's holding you back. Why doesn't it inspire you? If your choices and actions put you there, then you know you have the power to get yourself out.


How can a puppy sleep 8 hours in his crate with no accidents, but an hour after taking him outside he has the urge to soil the rug?


I passed my CPT exam (NSCA's Certified Personal Trainer cert) back in June. Lots of book learning, a ton of studying and a ton of worrying for those little initials. Now what? Now the real education begins. Forget the textbooks for now. I have been reading anything I can find from guys like Eric Cressey, Martin Rooney, Dan John, Mike Robertson and Tony Gentilcore, as well as my personal favorites, Kevin Buckley, Chris Martin and Conor Nordgeren. I've also been running a few sessions a week at Dynamic. What a change in perspective being on the other side of the kettlebell. I knew of the general bad-assery of the folks at Dynamic but it's even more impressive to watch when I'm not drowning in my own pool of sweat.


Unwritten rule of life #2173 - The driver is not responsible for YOUR beverage. The driver must focus on the road, the traffic signals, the signs and all the other drivers that are NOT paying attention to either the road, traffic signals or signs. The driver's decisions to accelerate, decelerate, stop or turn are complicated and unpredictable enough that consideration for the location of your beverage in relation to your mouth or lap is not their primary concern. Your cup is your responsibility.


Out of all the reading I have been doing, there has been one concept from Martin Rooney that has been sticking in my head. It's that decisions, wishes or wanting don't make your goals a reality. Rooney uses a riddle to make this point. I'm paraphrasing here, "There are three birds on a fence, one decides to fly away. How many are left?" If you said two then you are an idiot. Kidding, kidding. The answer is 3. Deciding to fly is not the same as flying.... or maybe they were frogs jumping off a log.... anyway, the point is that the only thing that counts is action.

If you rather contemplate the wisdom of puppets, Yoda (pre-CGI) said something in a similar vein once - 'There is no try, do or do not.'

Over 15 years ago I couldn't understand teenaged girls. Nothing has changed except the reasons why I bother trying to understand them in the first place.


One my favorite quotes of all time, "We do not see things as they are, we see things as we are" - Anais Nin. If someone is untrusting, is it because they are untrustworthy? (Too deep?) How about this? Have you ever read a curt email or text, added your own tone to it, created a back story as to why the sender is an a-hole and vowed that THIS time, you're done with them? Only to find out the other person was in the ER, having dinner, their phone died or they were in line at the grocery store? Your anger, insecurity or general bitchiness fabricated the circumstance. It was a projection of you, not them.


I can deal with a busy and ever changing schedule because quite honestly, I like or at least appreciate the things we fill it with. What bothers me is where the largest chunk of time is allocated. Eliminating it is simple, but the consequences are hard. If I am ever going to replace those 40hrs, I need to make it count.


Call me crazy but I kind of liked being unplugged for a few days during the mass power outages of 'Snowtober'.


Is it true that everyone is special, or have we just lowered our standards? If we are all the same, then why strive to be exceptional? Does mediocrity suit you?

"Everyone can be super! And when everyone's super... no one will be." - Syndrome - 'The Incredibles'

Ok fine. I don't understand women of any age. But they're definitely worth all the confusion.

"I didn't do it..."

Where has personal accountability gone? Though they are the leading experts, lacking accountability is not reserved for just children and teenagers. (Was that redundant? Teenagers are children right?)

"It wasn't me" says the 5year old through a chocolate stained smile.

"It's not my fault! You distracted me when you asked about my day and then I forgot!" says the 10year-old who's Friday lunch leftovers are found decomposing in her backpack Sunday night.

"I can't make people stop texting me and I can't be rude and not respond." says the teenager who has wasted 5hours doing 30min worth of homework. (And I'm sure it was some virus that kept Facebook open the whole 5 hours too....)

"Kids!" right? Wrong...

"It's a special occassion so I can splurge a little." Sounds innocent enough unless 'splurge' means sharing a plate of mozerella sticks with me, myself and I before the Bacon-Double Onion Ring and lard burger with double chili-cheese fries entree.

"I can't pay for the new transmission because I have to pay for my vacation next week." I'd be lying if I didn't admit I live dangerously close to such a scenario.

"I'm too busy to read, exercise, play with the kids or cook healthier meals." Quilty.

I could lecture (and hope to follow my own advice) but instead I will simply translate the statements above into the truths they hide:

"I'm sick of pretending to have the discipline or dedication to eating healthy."

"I only plan to pay for what I want, not what I know I will need."

"I am oblivious to how much time I actually spend on Facebook, XBox, texting and catching up on the 50shows a week I have DVR'd."

Now don't get me wrong, if that's where you WANT to budget your time or how you WANT to budget your money, then so be it. Nothing says you have to change anything. Might as well quit reading this and get back to watching Jersey Shore. Just realize you relinquish your right to bitch and moan when you don't get what you want or more importantly, what you need, down the road.

Instead, try accepting the fact that you put yourself in your current situation. Skate by or work around the problem. But if you don't want to face it again, cut the excuses and make the required changes.

It starts with facing the hard truths about you and your choices. If you can't be honest with yourself, you'll continue to come up short every time.