I have witnessed a young man work hard at his academics and at his sport.  In high school he was an average performer that always had to apply himself to maintain around a 3.0 grade average.  He joined cross country in his junior year and fell in love with it but was not a top performer in that area.  He trained hard and got better and was very respectable.  His dream was to attend a university and run on their cross country team.  He got accepted by the school and pushed himself to unbelievable degrees and made the team after being denied the first year.  A side result of his training discipline is he became very focused in school and now maintains a 3.4 grade average at a top university.  Also after making the cross country team he joined a triathlon for sport and found this is where his heart really is.  His first major tri he placed second!  He had a coach reach out to him to help him train, he has a major sponsor.  He is breaking rookie records and is more fulfilled than he has ever been.  He put the work in.  Even when you are not completely sure what the work is going towards or you don't feel completely fulfilled any work you do, any strength you build is yours for future use.  I raise my glass high to know this young man and I know that anything he does in life will be successful.  I knew that from his first training sessions that junior year in high school when I had the pleasure of working with him because he's had the heart of a lion from the beginning.  The best part of this story for me is now he knows it is only going to get better - and he earned it all himself.

Love Always - Coach J

Many thanks to the friends that nominated me for the ice bucket challenge.  That is something I never would have thought to take part in.  It is good to step outside your comfort zone and just enjoy what life brings your way.

Love Always - Coach J

Today's insight is - go lawn bowling.  If you have never done it - I strongly believe you will enjoy it.

Love Always - Coach J

Taking time off from physical and mental exertion is needed to return to an optimal state.  You stretch yourself to build a new limit, then you rest and let that become your new normal.  You stretch again to expand your new limit, then rest so that becomes your new normal.  If you do not stretch yourself and are set at one point you bring on weight that can start to slow you down.  Stay lean, stay agile by pushing yourself.  Stay healthy by allowing time to recover and let your mind and body catch up to the new levels you are striving for.  I believe in pushing yourself, but I also know you must take time to recover.

Love Always - Coach J

What a marvelous day of exhausting relaxation!  We started early to go to a neighborhood event with a bounce house, kids games, caulk art, snacks, beverages, and great company.  We came home took a quick nap then back out to the store, then park for playground run around, took a nice stroll over to the reservoir.  Headed home at dusk to tune into boxing that ended swiftly (round three) and mercifully to end the day.  I was hugging my pillow with the day of non stop relaxation and participation behind me. 

Love Always - Coach J

when you eat are you breaking a fast?  A period without food/nourishment?  Not just eating to eat.  Consuming to consume, rather eating because it is time to refuel.  Consuming because you have digested the previous lesson and are now ready for more.  Take time to let the food sink in, savor it and even push a little past the want into the need to refuel so you partake of the new food or information with enthusiastic hunger.  Take your time, chew slowly, savor and digest when you break fast.

Love Always - Coach J

In this fast paced society plan time to listen to songs from your youth.  Watch a movie you watched as a child.  Teach your friends or children a game you played when you were young.  Eat figs right off of the fig tree or crabapples.  Things that take you back to your youth.  Get that good energy of your youth back.  Stay young, and take memory lane with you.

Love Always - Coach J

Take a quick moment and reflect on your average day.  Break your time into a mental pie chart.  How much of it goes to work, or career?  How much to family?  How much to study or education?  How much to recreation?  How much to rest/relaxation/sleep?  Within each slice make sure you are taking care of yourself first.  You must be healthy and strong before you can assist another.  We should do all we can to assist others, after we've taken care of ourselves first.  Find some way to invest in yourself a little each day.  What will you do toady - right now to invest in yourself?

Love Always - Coach J

I love to watch Friday night fights from a recliner eating a snack.  The first two bouts had knockouts and the final bout was a well matched strategic fight.  I love to watch the science and precision of good boxers.  After that I switch over to watch some stand up comedy and enjoy the science and precision of a well crafted comedy routine.  This is a formula for one of my favorite ways to relax.  Drop a line in the comment section and let me know one of your fall back favorites.

Love Always - Coach J