Digital Sabbatical

I'm on Digital Sabbatical for the month of July. See you in August with updates on life, KFB and new collaborations.

The Doctor of the Future

"The doctor of the future will give no medicine but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet and in the cause and prevention of disease." - Thomas Edison

Eventually, I Want to Be Able to Fight Like This

A one-take fight scene from Monga. Via my friend Elle La Mode on Twitter.

This is Where I Jumped Last Night

Howard St, San Francisco

The jumps went faster than usual.

Wellness is: Willingness to Look Like an Idiot

That ball is the bane of my existence right now.

One ping pong ball, suspended from string, attached with masking tape. Suspended from an air conditioning vent.

Why do I hate it so? It makes me look like an idiot.

Last year during the Peak Condition Project I learned indoor rock climbing. Everything about it was awkward for me. At first. The stepping into a harness. The shape of the rock-like protrusions on the wall. The release, falling to the ground. The smell of the climbing shoes. The chalk under my finger nails.

But it got easier. And I know as I let my mind be still, the ping pong ball will become a friend, not an enemy. Looking at it hanging there right now, there's nothing daunting about it in the least. It's when it's flying at me, I'm missing and the exhaustion sets in that I get the heebie jeebies.

My climbing instructor reminded me last year, "don't get frustrated up there." The same goes for looking like an idiot. Don't get frustrated, or stuck, there. I think it's one of the things that holds people back from trying a new sport, taking a healthy risk with their wellness practice. Unwilling to look like an idiot, we skip the awkward stage by not engaging in it at all.

If you're reading this post and that's you, let it go. The most skilled rock climber in the world probably looks awkward when he puts on a ballerina outfit and tries to plie for the first time, right?

Look like an idiot. The payout is worth the risk.

The Karate Kid, Then & Now

Two weeks ago Joel and I watched The Karate Kid (1984). This weekend we watched the new version.

Top, 1984. Bottom, 2010.

Even watching the trailers you get a sense for how different these two films are from a pacing perspective. There were times during the 1984 version that I had to stifle yawns. Contrast that with the 2010 version when I had to use the restroom but didn't want to leave for fear I'd miss a scene.

It's fascinating to me how movie-going has changed. Slowing down isn't an option anymore. Modern audiences demand more speed, more explosion, more action.

In the twenty-six years between the films, movies have changed, America has changed. I'll leave the scary blanket statements to Patrick. But go see the film. Before you do, watch the 1984 version. Notice your patience levels from one film to the other. Let me know what you think.

Off the Wagon!

Last year I fell off the wagon with The Peak Condition. It was the first week of June. This year, KFB, I fell off the wagon again. Went back to my post from last year and realized the parallel - same exact week - the first week of June. (Patrick's response: "great! You can use the same photo you used in last year's post!" Patrick, why does your mind always jump to the lazy answer?!)

I am off alcohol, sugar (with the exception of 3 tiny squares of 80% chocolate, on Sunday night, with control - and a little honey/agave with yogurt) and carbs (except for what's required in the diet). I'm rocking on the food aspect, but last week lethargy hit like a wall and I didn't do much besides my jumps for four days. Happily, I am back on target. Wondering if there's a connection between cutting out all the buffers (food) and the lethargy. It's like when I quit coffee. Felt out of it for about two weeks, but then bounced back with an energy I hadn't known pre-quitting.

Was talking with someone recently about healthy addictions. I don't just want to cut out the food that doesn't serve me from a health perspective. I also want to get excited about the food that will. I'm starting with "cooking" using the new Vita-Mix and will go from there.