Choices and Decisions 2yrs of DDPYoga & a video blog

Sooo... Just to get it out of the way, TODAY is my 2 year anniversary.  2 years ago today is when I drew the line in the sand and choose to go "all in".  It was the beginning of something that has changed my life.  Am I done... far from it.  I still have a ways to go, but I am so much closer today than I was 2 years ago.

OK, now on with my "bubbles" (I will try to keep it short since I ramble about this in my video blog below).

We all have choices and decisions to make as we go thru life.  They are inevitable, the happen all the time, and they can and do affect our lives and the lives around us, whether we want them to or not.  All we can do is our very best and then we have to live with them.  Now you may think they are one in the same but they are a bit different...

Let’s look at the definitions in Dictionary.com:

Decision:  the act of or need for making up one’s mind.

Choice:  the right, power, or opportunity to choose.

With decision, it is more of a process orientation, meaning we are going through analysis and steps to eliminate (or, cut off) options.

With choice, it is more of a mindset approach, meaning we have a perception of what the right or wrong choice may be.

You have the choice to "Own Your Life", but you have to decide to "Live Life at 90%" otherwise you will let your life drive your direction.  And we all know what direction we want and need to go... FORWARD.

So the choice and decision is yours, what you choose to do will guide you in where you go.

On the road edition... Engage in Life

So I will keep the writing to a minimum on this one... I know I am shocking myself too!

This is a "On the Road edition video blog.  Nashville to Northeast Ohio (My folks house), over to LaSalle, IL for the DDPYoga Workshop at Matt Hancock's "Hammer's Energy Fitness", and then back to Nashville.
30 hours of driving in 9 days.
Had a GREAT trip all around, the trick is to "Engage in Life"

So here ya go....

Focus on where YOU are going

Yep another blog post and another Video blog!  I know it amazes me too, it does get easier and more comfortable the more you do it.  Kinda like DDPYoga, the more you do the easier it gets, and the more you want to do.

OK, so on with it.  I sum up everything in this edition of "Don from the Mat".  But you know me (sorry I have had that song stuck in my head ALL day... you know me O.P.P (you're welcome! lol))

Enough of that, Focus is kinda the theme of this one.  We all have it and we all lose it from time to time.  Since I started DDPYoga, (almost 2 years ago).  I have been more consistent with this than anything else I have done for me.  And for me that is a major accomplishment, doing stuff for me.

I'm sure there are others out there that are similar to me, we have to give ourselves permission to do something for ourselves.  Well with this there is more to it.  I have found that by doing something for me I am able to give back and it turns out that I am doing it for others, indirectly.  But that is where sometimes we lose a bit of our own focus.

Now I haven't take "a break", or "fell off the wagon".  This is my life and what I do, I do to better me and better the world around me.  I know that I had slowed down a bit from where I was, and the DDPYoga Retreat 2014 was the kick I needed to take it to a new level.  Sure I am still making progress, and sure I slipped up a bit over the holidays this year, and I have since gotten rid of that slip up.  But that took extra work that I could have spent pushing towards my goal.  Now I did not agonize over the slip, I buckled down and took care of business....me!

Enough of that, I know where I was, I recognize, and accept what I did, and I have learned from it.  But now it is time to "Focus on where I am going" and not worry about where I've been.  Everyday is a new opportunity, a new challenge, a new chance to do something different, to make a difference.  I remind myself everyday that I can, and I WILL.  We all CAN, it just depends on what we do.

So Know that the only one that can hold you back or prevent you from getting to where you want, or need to be is YOU.

Build your foundation, choose where you are going and decide that YOU WILL get there.

There is No STOPPING....

Me / YOU / US

Make this and EVERYDAY

A GREAT DAY!

Don's 2014 DDPYoga Retreat Recap (w/ videos)

This year I have a double version.  I did what I am calling a "docUjourney" and then my final recap the last morning at the retreat. (Video's are at the bottom of this post)

For me the DDPYoga Retreat is so much more than a lot of DDPYoga and having a good time.  It is a chance to renew myself, and an opportunity to take a lil time to really be able to reflect on where I am and where I am going.

Now that's not to say I didn't have an amazing time, and worked hard, because I did.  We all work really hard and push and help each other along every step of the way.  We all find that we CAN do so much more than we thought we could.  Not just in our DDPYoga, but in life in general.  Yes I have said it before, everything in life is connected and we are brought to different points in our lives for a reason.  What we do with them is up to us.

So I have 2 video's this year, the first is the "docUjourney", just a lil glimpse of each day and some snippets of each day, it's about 20 minutes long, but you get to see El Dorado Resort, and get to see some of the fun we have there.  The second is my DDPYoga retreat wrap up.  This years seems like I am sad, but it is not that I am sad about life, because I'm not.  I had spent some time that last morning reflecting, and it was more emotion from the week, and hard to believe that it was coming to an end.  Like I had said previously, this retreat is a lot of fun, but it is also a time to reflect and gives me that extra push forward that I need from time to time.

I just want to say a HUGE THANK YOU to Diamond Dallas Page and everyone with DDPYoga for all the work they do each and everyday.  There are so many lives changed because of this program and all of the TEAM members that make a difference in so many peoples lives.  There are too many to list and I don't want to accidently leave someone out.  This is so much more than just a workout, and people that are working out, we are a family that supports each other in our DDPYoga journey and in life.  As Dallas has said, and it is true... it is a "Lifestyle", it's up to us to commit to ourselves to "Own It".

And one more HUGE THANK YOU goes out to Sally and her team at the TravelSmiths.  They do so much to make the DDPYoga Retreat seem flawless.  The work they do so all we have to do is go and enjoy ourselves is amazing.  And they never stop even once we get there they are all working to make sure our only worry is having a good time and relax.  So THANK YOU for everything,

Until next years DDPYoga retreat, I'll be counting the days!

Don's 2014 DDPYoga Retreat docUjourney

DDPYoga 2014 retreat wrap up & thoughts from Don

Better than You Were... with a Video Update

This one is inspired from my own morning bubbles after my DDPYoga...

From My FB status:

Our lives are not about impressing someone else, or being better than each other...What we need to remember is that we continually work on being better than we were, everyday. If we do that then we WILL leave an impression on someone else along the way.Live your Life, Believe in YOU, and most importantly "Own YOUR Life"

 Which inturn I do the same thing on Twitter (just in 140 characters)

Remember to continually work on being better than you were. That will leave an impression on someone along the way. #BeABetterU w @DDPYoga

So what am I rambling about this time.  Well, like most things it really isn't that complicated, we (me included) like to over think, over analyze, over complicate most things in our lives.  And we need to remember in life we are not trying to impress others... we need to focus on what we need to do and then the world around us will get better.  If we would pay more attention to what we are doing and stop making excuses then we could... "Be a Better Person".

Our health.  Sure there are somethings that will happen, sickness, injury, etc.  But if we take responsibility for what we are doing (or not doing) to ourselves, and then do something to correct it then we can become better than we were yesterday.  Again the choice is ours.  And to think "it's too late" well your still breathing so it's NEVER to late.  And remember.... "it's NOT about being skinny... IT IS about being HEALTHY!"

Our lives.  Everything is connected, if you start working on one side of your life then guess what, the rest will start to take shape as well, but again the choice is ours.

We are all given the same gift, "The gift of LIFE".  There are no guarantees that come with it, but there are responsibilities.  And we all need to live up to the life we have been given.

So it's up to you... DO or don't... there is NO try...

Be a BETTER YOU

Every Moment, Every Day!

&

Have a GREAT Day!

#BANGtastic

Focus on being a better YOU

"It doesn't matter if you're better than me or if I'm better than you.  What matters is that I'm better than I was yesterday.
I can, I will, because I am ME...."

So this one will be a lil short on the written portion, because YES there is a video blog below.

I say it in the video, but the more you work on you the better YOU will become.  Everything in life is connected.  It's true, the more you work on being a better you, the more you see that life gets better.   Sure there are going to be bumps along the way but if we all took the time to work on becoming better, then everything else falls into place.

We can't expect praise or pats on the back, but eventually they will come.  Life is about what you contribute to it.  The more you put in the more you will get out.  Just like your DDPYoga, the more you do it, the better you will get, and the more you will get out of it.

So if you haven't "pressed play" in a while... what are you waiting for "Dooo IT". 
DDPYoga.com 

ANYTHING is POSSIBLE

Remember it all Starts with YOU!

Have a GREAT day

It's OK...

So here I am, coming off of some virus that I caught.  And when I get sick I get quiet.  You may or may not have noticed it but I even go quiet on Facebook and Twitter.  I'm not one to advertise that I'm not feeling well.  I struggle when I'm sick and I get myself in a lil rut, because I'm not doing what I think I should be doing.

Something I have had to learn to tell myself is that "It's OK".  But then the minute I start feeling a lil better I try to jump back at it, and sometimes that's a bit to soon.  So this week I have been really focusing on me and letting my body heal.  Sure I have not been knee deep in my DDPYoga workouts this week like I have planned, but I am reminding myself everyday... "It's OK".

Now I know what I need to do, and trust me I will be back at it this weekend.  But for now I know I have to let myself heal.  See with this I have also come to the conclusion that we have to be able to tell ourselves in many of life's situations "It's OK".  I ties right into Diamond Dallas Page's "Live Life at 90%".  There are sometimes in life that you have to tell yourself "It's OK" and move on.  Every day is not going to be full of "rainbows and puppies" (kittens for you non-dog people).  

Remember every day you can do something to push you towards a better tomorrow.  Don't lose focus on whatever it is that you are doing or working on.  Take the time and refigure your plan/goals/destinations, write them down and as Slim says... "Always Be Moving Forward".

So this one is a lil shorter than normal.... and "It's OK".

Wherever you are on this day know that "It's OK" and make today the best it can be and make tomorrow better than today.

Attitude & Commitment

SO here we go...

This one won't be a big written one since, yes another "Video Blog".  I know right, I am getting a lil more comfortable doing these... but not so comfortable that I forget where I am and who I am.  Anyways lets get on with it!

This one is in concluding of my "Diamond Month"... yep I did it.  I did take a rest day, kinda I did "Wake

Up" but my body was telling me it was time for a lil rest.  Especially since My Diamond cutter run actually started back on April 15th.  So I am proud of this lil accomplishment.  I made the commitment to myself and I accomplished it... now it's time for the next.  uhmmm I think June will be a "RED HOT" Month, yep RHC everyday with whatever the workout of the day is.

OK now on to this Bubble patch...We have heard it before what we tell ourselves is what we believe.  SO why not be positive towards ourselves.  Sure I know that there are things in life that try to tear us down, take us off of our desired path.  But we have to be able to reach back and remember to "Live Life at 90%".  Yep I am going to say it again, why because I believe it, and it works....

"Life is only 10 % what happens and 90% how we React, Adapt, Take Action, and Breathe".

The key to this is the Breathing, at least it is for me.  Why because it works.  You really have to stop and focus on your breathe before you do anything else.  Once you do that then you can move on to one of the other 3.  But remember Breathe, and then you will notice everything else will slow down a bit and you can assess whatever it is in front of you.

OK so I said I would keep this short.  SO you know what to do, as do I.  Now all we have to do is....

GO Get It.... LIFE

Have a GREAT DAY, and a BETTER tomorrow!

The Sweet Potato Pancake experiment

So here is another one of my recipes...

Now before we get to the good one (when I finally figured it out) I will share the first attempt.  The one that I, well lets just say it didn't work out like I had originally planned.

BUT... Just like everything in life, there will be times when things just don't work out.  Are they failures?  I choose to think they are just lessons along the way.  The only failures we have are the attempts we never make.

OK.... I know get on with it already...

So here was the first go at it.  (Viewer beware, these are not "pretty pics")

 

                        

So ok, I learned my lesson on this attempt. but this is what I did on the one above (on 5/17/14)...

I was trying to make a 3 ingredient baked sweet potato waffle or pancake.

• Attempt #1 was baked sweet potato, coconut, and chia
• Attempt #2 was baked sweet potato, Coconut, Chia, and I added an egg.

This was not good.  everything was falling apart, sticking, and separating, oh ya burning as well.   

Now did I let that stop me... come on you know better than that!

Thursday I baked 2 more sweet potato's, let them cool and then put them in glass containers and stored them in the fridge.  I also found out you can do this and they will keep for about 5 days so you have them to use when you need them.  

(Baking time is about 2.5 hours wrapped in foil at about 375)

OK Now on to the one that worked....

I simplified it even more, but this time I blended it in my Ninja, using the single serve cup.

This is what I did.... ready, cause I don't want to loose ya....

• Pealed the sweet potato
• put it in the Ninja cup
• added 3 eggs
• added 2 scoops of Chia seeds and about a tablespoon of cinnamon, and a dash of nutmeg.
• Blended it...really good
• Then I spooned it out onto the hot griddle.

(This made 9 medium -small pancakes)

That's it, on I flipped them too, about 2 minutes per side (depending on your griddle)

These are FANTASTIC.  For the seasons, that is totally up to you, I have a thing for cinnamon so that's why I use it.

C.R.A.I.G.

OK, before ya'll get all over me about this one.... It is not a "suck up" to Yoga Doc.  But this just happens to be a couple of things that have been bubbling up in me this week, and I have been traveling with work so I have not had the opportunity to get them written down.  So I decided to put them all together in one, and poof, they happened to spell out his name.

Now I may go back later and break them down a bit more but I needed to get this written down

So let's break this down.

C  Centered, R Respect, A Attitude, I Intensity, G Gratitude.

OK but before I do that I need to say this... A lot of what I have learned so far with DDPYoga are things that apply to everyday life.  Some of them (a lot of them) I already knew, but I was not applying them, or I was only "Half-assin" my way through them.  So not only have I been taking control of my life, "Owning My Life", I have found my way back to living my life.  Sure we have heard Dallas say that DDPYoga does not have the "spiritual stuff" that traditional yoga has.  But what I have learned (so far) is that there is a belief built in to DDPYoga.  You learn to believe in YOU again, and you gain confidence in yourself and your abilities again.  and then the "trickle-down effect" begins to happen.  You know one thing leads to another.  But remember it all has to start somewhere and with someone.  It has to begin with YOU.  Begin with you making the choice that this is your life and that you want it, you want to make it the BEST that it can possibly be.  Sure there will be bumps along the way, but anything we do in life will have bumps and detours.  It all comes back to YOU and your determination.  We all desire many things in life... but all that is, is wishing and wanting.  Nothing will come from that unless YOU (me) put in the effort, the work to get to where we want or need to be.

OK, so I got on a soap box there, but this is what is on my mind and if you have read my "bubbles" before you kinda expect that from time to time.  So let's go back to "C.R.A.I.G."

Centered:

How do we find our center?  I know that is a tough one.  But if we write down our goals and begin to work towards them, Life has a way of centering us around that point.  But here again we cannot just expect it to happen we have to be doing something, moving in the right direction, which by the way is forward.

Respect:

I know respect is a big word for some.  But this one begins with you as well.  YOU have to respect yourself first.  We have all heard that respect is earned, not given.  We need to respect who we are, respect the life we have and respect those that are in our lives.  Remember everything is connected.  Respect what you are doing, those that are in your life, and the life that you have.  Anything is possible but you cannot take life for granted.

Attitude:

This one is a big one for me.  How you choose to go about anything in life is based on this one.  If you go at anything in life with a "oh well" attitude, then you will get "oh well" results.  Whatever it is in life you HAVE to go in with the proper attitude.  It doesn't matter if it is family, work, your workout, whatever.  If you are going to begin something then you need to go in with the attitude that YOU are going to be the "Best______", and then you do your very best and then do a lil more.

Intensity:

What is intensity?   Is it drive, ambition, cockiness?  Is it strength, power, force?  My answer is YES.  Remember everything is connected.  Sometimes you need another level, another gear to go into.  When you dig deep for that extra lil bit of drive, determination this is where you will find your "intensity".  Be passionate about what you are doing, what you are working towards.  But be respectful of how you are coming off to others.  Attitude and Intensity go hand in hand with each other.  So always be the person that you would want to meet.

Gratitude:

We all live a life that many don't, so no matter where you are in life we ALWAYS need to be thankful for our lives and for those that are in our lives.  In the same token we must be always ready to pass on the kindness that we receive.  Remember in life we can ALWAYS find something to be grateful for.  Don't forget to pass it on.

OK... Now that I have  been on my soap box and came back around to my "Bubble".   I have found myself more focused and determined when I have set a goal for myself.  Remember once you create your goal, you need to break it down into smaller "stepping stones" so that you keep moving forward.  BUT do not lose focus.  Sure you may take your eye off of it from time to time.  You have to remind yourself of where you are at and where you are going.

That's about it for this batch.... Safe travels on all of your journeys, and remember to live with a bit of C.R.A.I.G. every day.

And YES this was a total accident, when I moved the ideas around that is what they came to.  Sorry Doc!

Complicated

So here I go again.... This one is to expand on a "Status/Tweet"... what it really is, is a bubble that came to me like they normally do.  Just like all the others that I toss out to the world every day, they are lil positive reminders to remind myself and to maybe help someone else along the way.

April 30th:

Twitter:

Life is not complicated, we complicate it. Believe in YOU, do what you should, lose self doubt, worry less care more #OwnYourLife w @DDPYoga

Facebook:

Life is not complicated, we are the ones who complicate it.
Believe in who you are, do what you should, lose self doubt, worry less and care more.
Make today YOUR day to move forward. #BreatheAndBelieve #OwnYourLife

I know we all like to do this, and I'm no exception.  We like to try and complicate many things in our lives.  I know that I am, or have been an offender of this.  And we have no limits to what we complicate.  from the easiest things to the things that just take a bit more work.  But the reality is Life really is not that complicated.  And anything we do in life isn't either.  It's us that create the complications.

OK I know, I know... "But it wasn't me", or "They are the ones who complicated it".  We can go on and on pointing the fingers at people, events, groups, reasons.  But If we do nothing then are we really fixing anything or just keeping the complication going?

Just like anything in life everything has to start somewhere.  How can we uncomplicate our life.  We have to simplify what we are doing.  Stop worrying about what everyone else is doing and start with ourselves first.  NOW... I'm not saying that we stop caring and helping, but we need to start with what we can control and that starts from within first.  And I am not saying we toss out everything and just start over.  We have to begin from where we are at.  Life didn't "just happen".  It took steps to get us to where we are today, and it will take steps to get to where we want to be.  It is gonna take work, you know a lil effort.

So let's go to something specific, I've already written about this and you can read about it here..."Food - Don't over complicate it".  But I just wanted to break this down is a simple sense... Since I have been on this new life path with DDPYoga, and learning about the foods that I eat and there seems to be a lot in the news about this subject lately too.  SO here is my take, you may have heard this growing up too... "You are what you eat".  Well do you know what you are eating?  go to the pantry and pull out a can or a box of something.  take a peek at the label that shows the "Ingredients".  To keep things simple and "uncomplicated"  If it has more than 3 items listed and/or you have no idea what they are, do you really want to put that in your body?

Ok so let me get into our daily schedules... I know everyone is busy, and "we don't have time" for this or for that.  Well, why are we "so busy"?  We all have responsibilities, but we have to remember that we also have a responsibility to ourselves too.  If we are not taking care of us, then we are not taking care of our responsibilities efficiently.  What have you done for you, for your own well being, for your clarity?   It really doesn't take that much time.  I've been there, and I am no expert.  But I can wedge out at least 30 minutes to an hour for me.  And a lil secret, you will feel better once you do develop the habit, and everything else will become more productive.  Me I choose to do DDPYoga in the mornings, that's usually where my bubbles come from.  And if there is a morning that I don't, well that day is already started to get clustered, because I did not take the time for me.  You CAN make life less "Complicated".  Start Living, and leave the past where it is... in the past.

OK so let me see if I can wrap this one up....

If we really want to "uncomplicate" our life we need to do just a few things, then just keep moving forward...

Breathe and Believe... in yourself (first) and what you are doing.

Choose to "Own Your Life" and "Live Life at 90%"

And if you need a list that is outside the 10 commandments, or you're not a Scout and don't know the "Scout Oath or Law".  Well I am here to hook you up with one of my favorites...

Everything I Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten

1. Share everything.
2. Play fair.
3. Don't hit people.
4. Put things back where you found them.
5. CLEAN UP YOUR OWN MESS.
6. Don't take things that aren't yours.
7. Say you're SORRY when you HURT somebody.
8. Wash your hands before you eat.
9. Flush.
10. Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
11. Live a balanced life - learn some and drink some and draw some and paint some and sing and dance and play and work every day some.
12. Take a nap every afternoon.
13. When you go out into the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands, and stick together.
14. Be aware of wonder.  Remember the little seed in the styrofoam cup: The roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that.
15. Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the Styrofoam cup - they all die.  So do we.
16. And then remember the Dick-and-Jane books and the first word you learned - the biggest word of all - LOOK.”
Everything you need to know is in there somewhere. The Golden Rule and love and basic sanitation. Ecology and politics and sane living.
Think what a better world it would be if we all -- the whole world -- had cookies and milk about 3 o'clock every afternoon and then lay down with our blankets for a nap. Or if we had a basic policy in our nation and other nations to always put things back where we found them and cleaned up our own messes. And it is still true, no matter how old you are, when you go out into the world, it is best to hold hands and stick together.
― Robert Fulghum, All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten

 “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover”

~Mark Twain

Video Blog-Don from Mat-April

So today is a bit long in the video blog, so I will keep the writing short.

Believe in yourself and find your fire, your motivation.  No one can give it to you, it HAS to come from within.  I continue to move forward and so can you.
If you have been thinking about it means you need to do it.  So what are you waiting for?

Change will happen when you decide to make it happen!

Have a GREAT DAY!

Engage your life

So I have been streaking with my DDPYoga this month.  Now I am not here to toot any horns about it.  But something I have been noticing during this, what I am calling my Diamond month, has led me to some other observations.  Ya I know what else is new.

Anyway, I started this month out planning on doing Diamond Cutter every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  But somewhere along the way I changed my own schedule and choose to do DC every day.  Now this started on the 14th, again this is not a bragging blog it is what I chose to do.  But a thought came to me, a quote, I probably saw it on my timeline in a graphic.  But for some reason it kinda stuck this time;

"I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.” - Bruce Lee

So that is what led me to where I'm at with my workouts.  I am also on my "Road to DDPYoga Retreat Extravaganza 2014".  But that is not what prompted this batch of bubbles.   You see we hear it all the time if you are doing DDPYoga... "Engage" we know that is key to the workouts and it really does work.  Every morning I feel stronger with my DC.  But then that got me thinking a bit more.  You see I have added a playlist to my workouts and a bit more attitude to them which has me "Engaging" more and I feel like I am getting stronger every day.  But what am I missing?  There is more to it. 

This is one of the side effects of DDPYoga.  It fits for every life, no matter where you are in it.  We have heard the phrase "Live Life at 90%", and "Own Your Life".  I know I toss them out on FB and Twitter, I learned them from DDP.  But something else I have learned, that may be intentional or may not be from Dallas was the "Engaging" part.  You see I know that I am guilty of this, I get a singular focus sometimes and toss myself into something 200%.  And not to say that is a bad thing, cause it's not.  But something else has to lose out.  See we are all to blame for this one from time to time.  We stop engaging in some part of life. 

Our lives are full of opportunities if only we took the time to engage in them.  Sometimes it's the little things that we just brush off that may not mean much to us, but to someone else it could mean the world to.  If we took a moment and engaged ourselves in life then maybe those little things could be some of our most treasured parts of our lives.

So the next time you "Hulk it up" or "Get Strong", make some noise.  And do this not just during your workout, but in your life too.  Get your blood pumping and "Breathe & Believe".  Life is not just one singular event but a compilation of everything all together.

So yet another lesson learned along my DDPYoga journey.  (Thanks Dallas)

Remember... Not only in your workouts but also in your everyday life...

"Have fun with it, Make it your own, and feel the BANG!"

Watch the video below.... THEN click here ---> Find your InnerDDPeace here. 

Waiting for Change

So no I am not talkin about change you get when you buy something.  This one is about you, me, our lives.   And I am just as guilty as I'm sure many of you are too.  There are parts of our lives we wait for it to change, or even wish for it to change.  Well there is a problem with that.  If all we are doing is waiting for something to happen or someone to do something for us, well we will stay right where we are and nothing will ever change.

Ya I know I tossed a little more at you right up front then I normally do.  So let's see where we go with this from here.

I know I have been, and sometimes I may still be, but I am working on it, " Waiting for change".  But one thing that I did take control over, you know something that I can do something about is me and my health and well being.  That all began not that long ago when I stumbled upon DDPYoga.   I won't go over how and all that as you can read about that here... "My Story and how I got to DDPYoga".  That was my very first blog entry from September 20th 2012.  My start date with DDPYoga was September 1, 2012.  That was the day that I choose to take my life back.  From that moment I stopped "Waiting for change". 

You see I was waiting for something in my life to change, you know if just one thing would change then maybe something else would.  Kinda like the domino effect (no not the pizza).  But before that date Sept 1st that is all I was doing was waiting.  Not taking charge of my life, not being accountable for what happened in my life.  Sure some parts of my life were moving right along, but I knew things could be better, and I knew I could be better.  My health was going in a downhill manor.  which in turn my self confidence was going way down.  Oh hell who am I trying to BS... my self confidence was crap.  But I knew how to keep up appearances.  You know put on a good face.  

Now I could blame different circumstances, or make an excuse, which I did a lot of before then.  but that day I stopped waiting and choose to take control, that day I chose to make a change was the beginning.  The beginning of the new me, getting back to who I was and developing the new me of who I will be.  I know I still have a ways to go.  BUT everyday, every workout I am getting better and stronger.   But something else that has happened along this journey is that I am regaining my confidence.  And that is because I am believing in myself and my abilities and I have chosen to "Own MY Life".  If you take the time to break down Diamond Dallas Page's "Live Life at 90%" speech.  You will realize there is so much more that we can do.  Now I have to admit I have not listened to it just once.  I have probably listened to it at least 25+ times over the last 19 months.  I have accepted that Life is only 10% what happens and 90% how we "React, Adapt, Take Action, and Breathe" and "Learning that Failure is not an option".  Now that is not to say I have not slipped from time to time over my journey (which is still and always will be continuing).  But when I did slip I did not sit back and wait for something to change.  I may have took some time to breathe, but I am still moving forward. 

So where am I today?  Where are you today?  For me I am moving forward, I have a plan, I am building my steps to get to where I am going.  I remind myself everyday that I CAN do this and I CAN make today a GREAT day.  It is a process.  For some it may come easier, for others it may take a bit more work.  But in the end it is all about the effort we are willing to put in.  Always know that YOU CAN.

One last thing for this batch of bubbles... DO NOT stress yourself out by comparing your progress or achievements to what others have done.  Everyone is different and as long as we are doing something positive to move ourselves forward we will get there.  Remember....

One Moment One Day

at a

Time

Have a GREAT Day!

Time

So this came to mind late last night, well after the time I should have already been asleep.  It's something we all take for granted, and something we never seem to have enough of, or can make room for.

Before I go into my bubbles, what is time?: (Definition from Google)

Time:

noun

1.  the indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future regarded as a whole.

2.  a point of time as measured in hours and minutes past midnight or noon.

verb

1.  plan, schedule, or arrange when (something) should happen or be done.

2.  measure the time taken by (a process or activity, or a person doing it).

So OK now that we know what the actual definition is, though I'm pretty sure most knew what is was and most of us waste quite a bit of it, I know I have over my lifetime.

We like to use the word "time" as an excuse for too many things in our lives.  You know you do, because I do too.  But what we need to do is to make the "time" for those people and things that are really important.  I know I have been to blame for this, as many others have too.  "Oh I don't have "time" to work out in the morning".  Or...  "Where did the "time" go?"  I could go on with the excuses, because we have all made them.  What we have to remember is that we can make the time for what is important in our lives.  If we don't use that time wisely then we all will run out of it eventually.

Without "time" nothing would ever change.  We all know everything changes over time.  But it is up to us to make the most of the "time" that we do have and do whatever we can to make a difference in this world.  We all want to change something from our past, but we also know we can't.  BUT we all can do something with the time in front of us to make a change, make a difference.  And yep you guessed it... it all comes back to you. 

So how are you going to spend your time?  Is anything accomplished by complaining about everything that is wrong?  Or sitting around wasting time over a relationship that did not work out?  What about wishing that you felt better, but not doing anything to make you feel better.  If we (me included) spent a lil less time worrying about what we didn't do and focused more on what we can do, then those things that we thought we couldn't do would become things that we did do.

Time is a blessing that we all have, but that time we have is only guaranteed for right now, this moment.  So instead of worrying  about what time we don't have we need to focus on the time that we do.  Make the time in your life for the things that can make a difference, not only in your life but in the lives around you.  Remember to take some time for you.  For your health, both mental and physical.  The time you spend on you may increase the time you have to spend with those that you love.

So how much time can you spare in a day for your health?  It doesn't take that much time to make a difference.  I do a lil or a lot everyday with DDPYoga, and I know there was a time that I would make the excuse, I'm too busy.   In reality it is only a very small fraction of my day.

- Wake up - 10:00

- Red Hot Core - 12:00

- Energy - 21:45

- Fat Burner - 24:37

- Below the Belt: 28:46

- Stand Up! 30:16

- Mix Tape: 34:54

- Hip/back/knee opener (on Extreme Psycho DVD 2): 38:00

- Strengthbuilder: 38:11

- Diamond Cutter: 50:18

- Extreme Psycho: 60 minutes

- Double Black Diamond: 1:05:52

Remember we all get the same amount of "Time" everyday.  Live your life, the life that you are meant to live.  Don't rush it, everything will happen when it should as long as you are putting in the effort and the "time".

"Own Your Life"

"Always Believe"

and never...

"Never Give Up"

Good enough

So where do you take words like that?  Who is to say who is "Good enough"?  We all have that question posed to us from time to time.  But the one person that can stop us from being "Good Enough" is ourselves.

Sure some things may come easier for some, and others have to work a bit harder for it.  But no matter what "it" is everyone is "Good enough".  We just need to be able to get out of our own way.  We all have those things that we question, those moments in our lives that make us unsure if we are "Good enough".  But those are the moments that we MUST dig deeper and work that much harder and prove, not to anyone else but to ourselves, that we are "Good enough".

What is that thing in your life that you question, you know that thing you are not sure that you have "it" to be able to take "it" to the next level?  Life is full of moments that will challenge us.  They will only defeat us or stop us if we choose to let them.  We all CAN achieve greatness, we all CAN do whatever it is that we choose in life.  We are all "Good enough".

Sure I  have questioned myself in life, we all do.  But we need to remind ourselves that we CAN give ourselves permission to accomplish what we set out to accomplish.  Will we fall, sure, but as long as we keep going we will prove to ourselves that we are "Good enough". 

Don't ever let someone tell you that you are not "Good enough"... more importantly do not EVER tell yourself that you can't, that you are not "Good enough", because YOU ARE, we all are.

Ok so this may sound a bit like a locker-room pep talk, but this is something that we all need to remind ourselves from time to time, myself included (this is just part of the way I remind myself).

So believe:  YOU CAN

Know that:  YOU WILL

No matter what:  NEVER GIVE UP

Because:  YOU ARE GOOD ENOUGH... YOU ARE WORTH IT

You CAN (and a Video blog)

So ok I have a video blog to go with this one as well.  But sometimes words for me come out better when I write, and I don't like trying to read what I wrote to the video.  So here is a lil add on to my video blog.

YOU CAN.  That is something I have to remind myself of everyday.  Sure I tell myself that "Today is going to be a GREAT DAY, but I also have to remind myself that YOU CAN.  I know that I am my biggest obstacle I will ever face.  And I know in my heart that I can do anything as long as I do the work.  Now that is not limited to my DDPYoga workouts but that is life in general.  There are many things on my to do list in my life that I will accomplish.  I just have to remember not to try and do them all at once.  Because when that attempt is made, typically nothing gets done.

So where does that take me and you?  Back to writing it down.  And writing it down in the computer doesn't count.  You have to see it every day so you know where you are going and know what it is that you are working towards. That is one reason I write on my mirror in my bathroom.  (Dry Erase markers are great for that!)  But I know I have to wipe it away and rewrite it so it sinks in.  Another thing that I am starting this month is a "Goals wall"  I will share that with ya'll later as it progresses, but I think that is going to be awesome for me to really push thru some of them.

Anyways I will keep the writing brief today since there is a video to go with this one.

Have a GREAT DAY and remember, take it "One Moment and One Day at a time and always know that...

YOU CAN!

CY goodness Soup

So I am no chef by any stretch of the word, that is what my brother does for a living.  I'm just a guy that likes to cook.  And that usually entails without a recipe, something I get from my Mom.  But that doesn't mean I don't look at them from time to time and as Dallas says... "make it your own".

I like to keep things simple.  You know quick and easy, without a lot of fuss and very little mess.  You've seen some of my smoothie concocktions.  I will set up a tab in here for the ones that I do document.  I'm a very visual person so a picture is worth a thousand words, but I am also a wordy person, thus the blog.  It's probably because of what I do with graphics and pictures.  10 years as a Navy Photographer will do that.

Anyways... Back to it.  Eating healthy is not difficult, we just like to think it is.  And eatin healthy is NOT expensive, that is a myth that needs to go away!  Sure I could have opened up a can of whatever, nuked it and ate it.  But what was in that 2 dollar can?  Do I really know what I just ate?  Do you know what half of that stuff is?  I know I don't, and I am pretty sure I don't want to Google each item and try to figure out what it is.  Sure I have eaten that stuff for years, just like a bunch of you have.  But this is another part of my journey, my lifestyle with DDPYoga.  Learning about what I am puttin into my body.  I know... get on with it already...

So yes I am a simple/single guy, I like to BBQ, and I like one pot meals.  That may be from Boy Scouts and the Navy, but it's efficient.

Anyways I have done this one several times before and I add and subtract stuff to it.  But this is the base recipe that I use.  If you want to add some GF noodles, maybe some meat or potatoes you can, I have in the past, and it is just as good.  But one thing I have found is don't be afraid to add something to it.  It's your creation, and YOU know what you are puttin in it, and remember.... "Make it your own, Have fun with it".

So here ya go... You can either follow the pictures or the recipe below, but remember you can always wing it!

Ingredients:

• 1 head of cabbage
• *Sweet peppers (colorful ones)
• *2 Onions
• 4 Celery stalks
• 4 Carrots 
• 1 Garlic bulb (I like garlic)
• 2 Apples (I used green today)
• Cilantro
• Peppercorns (wrapped in a paper towel)
• Water about 2 quarts or enough to cover

*I personally did not like these items, well I didn't before I cleaned up my diet and stopped eating all the crap I use to.  Now I cook with them all the time.

OK here ya go...hold on cause this gets complicated <---sarcasm

1. Onions, peppers, garlic all get chopped or crushed in the food processor then they get dumped in the pot on pretty high heat and simmer them down.  Probably about 5-8 minutes.
2. While you are simmering that stuff above, get to choppin.
3. Celery first, once you have that chopped up, in the pot it goes.
4. Carrots are next.  Chop them up however you like, I like small circles, then in the pot they go.
5. At this point you may want to add about a quart of water, or you can add some stock I usually keep some "Better than Bouillon" around and use that.  (and yes it is CF organic and GF)
6. Then you need to chop up the cabbage.  Just chop it up and in the pot it goes
7. My secret ingredient... apples.  Ya I know it may sound strange, but it works. Just chop them up into lil bits and in the pot they go, skin and all.
8. Finally I take the peppercorns and pour them into a paper towel, twist it, wet it, twist some more and hang it inside the pot. 
9. Top off with water and let it cook on medium heat for about 4-5 hours, stir it from time to time too.
10. You can add whatever seasonings you like to it, just don't over do it.  I do NOT add any salt to mine. 

This will make a big pot of soup that will last several days.  You can let it cool and can it, or put it in zip lock bags and freeze it.

This is really good for you and tastes really good.

Oh and are you ready for this .... total cost is less than $10

Remember You are worth more than the crap that is in the cans at the grocery store!