Why do you do what you do...

So this is something we must ask ourselves, but seldom do.   I know I am just as guilty as the next person.  But again here I go with my thinking too much.

So why do you do whatever it is you are doing?  There are so many things that we do every day it can seem to get a bit overwhelming, if you stop and think about everything that you do.  We know that everything leads to something and everything we do affects something else. 

If we break down the bigger things then sometimes that provides the answers to the other things.  Ya I know it may seem that I am going round and round here, but I will get to where I think I am going with all this.

So I am no doctor or anything like that I am just a guy that has a lot on his mind, and is moving in a direction to where I think I need to be.  Whether that is where I will end up is yet to be seen. 

OK back to the question...

Why do you...

         · Eat             · Work

          · Exercise     · Write

          · Love           · Play

          · Drink          · ETC...

I could go try and go thru each of these but there are many others I am sure of that, but these are just a few that came to mind at this moment.  And I'm not here to analyze each one of them, it's just something for us to think about concerning our own lives.  But there is one common answer to all of them...  For YOU.  We do these things for one reason or another, or we justify them to ourselves for some reason, which may be true or not.  But the bottom line, I think, is that we are doing them to try and feel good about something, ourselves.  I believe that if we feel good about ourselves then that can rub off on those around us.  Remember everything and everyone has an effect on something and someone.  But we have to identify the why's to know where we are going, and what we expect to accomplish.

So here is a little look into my "Why's"

I use to Eat because I was bored, Now I eat real food because I want to be active.  I use to exercise many years ago because I had to, it was part of my job, then I stopped because I didn't think I had time.  Now I do DDPYoga because I enjoy it and I feel good after I do.  I feel like this one needs a bit more, since I began my DDPYoga journey I feel more alive, and it is so much more than just a workout, but the people and the support you get from those who are part of it.    Love, I know that I am loved, and I have loved, and I will again,  but sometimes we forget that and we need a reminder.  Drink, that is something some use as a crutch, again to make us think we feel good, me I am more like a water fountain these days, but I found that I feel better when I am hydrated with the right stuff, water.  I still enjoy a "beverage" from time to time, but it is not out of boredom.  Work, I am always at work, but the work I do is not just part of my job, "Work" is now part of me.  I have learned that "Work" is something that I will always be doing, working on me.  Write, well for me it is a release, I write to remind myself of where I am and where I am going and want to be.  Play, we all need to play and have fun we get busy and stop playing once we grow up, because we "don't have time", that is probably when we need it the most.

So why do I do what I do... I do for me, for my future, for my today, for the people in my life that I love today, tomorrow,  and in the past.  But I am looking forward to the many new chapters of my life that have yet to be written.

Just remember everything you do there is a why, and there will be an effect so choose what you do with a purpose.

Why.... because YOU are worth it.

The road ahead...

So I over think things sometimes I know this and I am OK with it.  But something I have learned this past year is to focus more on the here and now and the road ahead rather than the road I've been on.

This goes in line with DDP's Live life at 90%.  "Focus on the positive, acknowledge the negative".  There is NOTHING that can be done about what you have done in the past or what has happened.  But you can learn from your past and use those things to make a better future.

Oh I need to point out something first before I go on with this...

This is my blog, and a part of the journey that I am on, working towards "Destination Me" with DDPYoga.  Now if you are reading this you are not a follower in this journey.  I consider you a part of my journey. I am not looking to see how many clicks I can get or any of that.  We are all in this together.  What is this?  This is Life.  Not a competition, but a journey to help each other along.  So if any of (what I like to call it) "Stuff from my head", helps you then cool.  If you disagree with it, that's cool too.

OK then back to where I was going (though I may veer off again without warning).

We have all had "Bumps in the road of life", and we have managed to get thru them.  Typically there are no signs to mark them out for us, but sometimes there are things that we ignore that were there to warn us of trouble coming.  Occasionally we are running down a path and we need to change course a bit.  But that is all part of it.  There will always be an obstacle to work thru or around.  As long as we know where we are going and have the discipline we will get there.

Oh but what happens when we lose that "discipline"?  Well we have to pick ourselves back up and start again.  But never just say "I can't", We CAN do many things and usually we are our worst enemies.  We can talk ourselves out of anything.  You may have those in your life that don't want to see you succeed because they may be jealous of what you are accomplishing.   It is up to you to recognize that and know where you are going. 

Make your own map and figure out where you've been, where you are, and where you plan on going.  Will it change, most likely, will it be easy, nope, will it be worth it?  As long as you are doing it for the right reasons and you believe.  But more importantly you have to believe in YOU.

We all have this idea of where we are and where we thought we would be at one point or another.  I have and I even have some of them written down.  Can I check them all off, nope.  Am I overly worried about any of it, nope.  Because instead of looking at what I have yet to accomplish I can look at what I have.  (See I did bring this back around to the beginning.) 

So make your list, your map, whatever, but write it down, and write down the extra things that happen along the way too.  You will be surprised when you see your path and your accomplishments.  BUT again don't dwell on what you've done cause then you may miss out on the things yet to come.  Keep looking forward, keep moving forward.

What you do today WILL change what you can do tomorrow.  So be sure to make today count.

The Belt

No fancy or indepth words for this blog entry.  

Just adding another "Notch" in my Championship belt.

Always working towards "Destination Me"

Choices, Accept, Destiny

My Journey is not unlike many others.  I am just a regular person just like many of ya'll. 

Sometimes I have stumbled, other times I push myself beyond where I even knew I could go.  It is something that I have to concentrate on every day.  I know where I am going and I know where I have been.

 

DDPYoga is my vehicle that I use.  I am still working at Owning my life.  Why, well because I am worth it, as you are.   No one can do more for yourself than you.  But it depends on you.  

I came to a point where I knew I had to make a change and like a light in the distance DDPyoga popped into my life like a beacon.

 

Now it won't magically change your life, but if you get in and make the choice, it can be a vehicle to help you get to where you want to be.  And one change can affect so many other parts of your life.  DDPyoga has opened my world up to things that I would have never imagined, and shining lights in other parts of my life that I once considered closed.

I am working on my life, but I am where I am because of the choices that I have made in the past.   I know this and I have come to accept it.  I cannot blame anyone or anything for where I am.  But I can change my destiny, which changes with everything I do each day.

CHOICES

choice 

1. The act of choosing; selection.

2. The power, right, or liberty to choose; option.

3. One that is chosen.

4. A number or variety from which to choose: a wide choice of styles and colors.

5. The best or most preferable part.

6. Care in choosing.

7. An alternative.

We have to make a choice every day.  Some have effects on how our day will go, others may not effect anything that we see immediately.  But they all have an effect on some part of our life.

When you make the "Choice" to change your life the only thing left to do is to develop your plan and initiate it.  No one else can do this except you.

You can do anything, but you have to make the choice and commit to where you want to go.

ACCEPT

accept 

1. to take or receive (something offered)

2. to give an affirmative reply to to accept an invitation

3. to take on the responsibilities, duties, etc., of he accepted office

4. to tolerate or accommodate oneself to

5. to consider as true or believe in (a philosophy, theory, etc.) I cannot accept your argument

6. (may take a clause as object) to be willing to grant or believe you must accept that he lied

7. to receive with approval or admit, as into a community, group, etc.

8. (Business / Commerce) Commerce to agree to pay (a bill, draft, shipping document, etc.), esp by signing

9. to receive as adequate, satisfactory, or valid

10. to receive, take, or hold (something applied, inserted, etc.)

We have to be able to accept where we are in life.  That doesn't mean we have to stay there, but we have to accept and take responsibility for why we are where we are.  Good or Bad, we are the ones that got us to where we are.  And once we accept that then we can begin to move forward.

I know that my choices over time have led me to where I am, and I can change where I am going, and I have accepted that, it is my responsibility to myself. 

Now that is not to say that everything in my life is bad, I am blessed in more ways than I can count, and I accept those.  But I know that I can do better and be a better person.

DESTINY

destiny

1. the future destined for a person or thing; fate; fortune; lot

2. the predetermined or inevitable course of events

3. (Philosophy) the ultimate power or agency that predetermines the course of events

My destiny is up to what I do today.  I can choose where I will end up by the actions I take today.  Sure we all have a beginning and an end, but it is up us what we do with the middle.  Right now I am where I am suppose to be.  But every day the choices that I make will alter where I will be tomorrow. 

I know that discipline not desire will determine my destiny.  What my future holds is dependent on what I do today. 

If I want to be the person that I know I can be then I will get there.  But that is a choice that I have made, and I have accepted that choice because my destiny is what I make of it.  That is something that is changing with everything I do each day.

One Moment One Day at a time I am OWNING MY life

Who am I...

We all ask that of ourselves at one time or another.  Sometimes we define ourselves by what we do.  Other times we are told who we are or who we should be. 

We are who we are, we are not defined by what we have or what we don't.  But by what is in our hearts.  But if we keep our hearts locked up then no one will ever know who we are. 

You have to care about yourself before you could expect anyone else to care about you.  Now I know, how are we suppose to do that if we are surrounded by the negativity of the world.  It is a choice we have to make, a choice to be a change, not only in your lil world but the world around you.  You see everything has to start somewhere.  Why not start from within.  Don't wait for someone else to do something that may affect your life.  We need to take action in our own lives if we expect something to change.  One step in a new direction could start a chain reaction in your life that could surprise you.

Our past  doesn't define who we will be, every day we change a bit.  It is what we do with each day that counts.  Uhmm... this goes back to something I learned just a short 11 months ago when I started DDPYoga.... "Live Life at 90%".  I know I have said it a lot over the last 11 months, but it has helped me thru more times than I can count.

So who am I?

Am I the boy I was growing up in Ohio, oldest of 4, playing baseball, growing up in Scouting?  Am I the teenager living in Texas, learning to drive, continuing in Scouts, Marching with the band going to church camps, the kid who got his first job at Kroger and pushed his way to where he wanted to be.  Am I the young man who left home and joined the Navy at 18 to see the world?  Am I that sailor that worked to do the best that I could, driven to be the best he could be?  Am I the man that works to get somewhere still striving to be the best at what he does?  Am I a guy that let his health get away from him because he was too busy trying to do what he could for a career?  Am I the guy that finally said enough is enough and took a leap of faith on a program (DDPYoga, created by a wrestler, DDP, that I use to watch on TV) to make a change in his life, and decided to take ownership of his life?

You see I am just a guy, a son, a brother, a uncle, a friend, a guy on a journey.  My journey may be similar or it may be completely different than yours.  But in the end we are all on Life's Journey.  No two are the same and our paths may be going in completely different directions, but they do cross from time to time.  But we need to be able to give ourselves permission to heal, learning to accept mistakes made in our past and cherish the accomplishments we have made.  Thus giving ourselves the opportunity for joy, health, healing and harmony in our lives.

So who am I? 

Well there is no definition for that just yet, my journey continues every day, and I will continue to work on being the best I can be.  Will I stumble along the way, sure we all do.  But I will pick myself up and continue to move forward.  Am I alone on this journey, NO.  We are never alone, though sometime it may seem that way, there are always people that are there to lend support, if you are willing to reach out when you need a hand.  The past is our history, and my past good or bad will not define who I am, as I will continue to work on that everyday.  I have a plan, and I have destinations of where I plan on going, but the only way for any of us to get to where we want to go is to put in the work, the work of Owning Our Lives.

Believe in what you are doing, have a plan of where you want to be, and put that plan in action. 

Who knows where you will end up and who you might be in the end. 

It's up to you and what you do.

Selfless

Knowing who we are is an ongoing process.  We never really know what we are capable of until we are challenged.  But we find out more about ourselves when we do something not for ourselves but for someone else.  But it is not the intentional acts, it's those selfless acts that show our true strengths and our weakness.

We all have weaknesses and struggles that we go through.  But when we dig deep within ourselves to do something that is better, not only for us but for those around us.  Those are the moments we know what we are doing is worth so much more. 

Never giving up, no matter what it is, whether it's on someone or something, but believing that we can always do better.  Some days we never realize how much of what we do everyday effects others.  Those are the moments of selflessness that can change the world.  We all lean on each other every day, though we may feel like we are standing alone, those are the moments that we are being held up by so many we don't even realize are reaching out. 

When we do what we need to, don't forget to do what needs to be done as well.  Those are the moments that sometimes count the most. 

Be selfless, be who you are, but try to be better every day.  Your true selfless dedication/devotion/love will always shine through.  And will be returned to you in more ways than you can ever imagine.

Remember everything always starts and ends with you and what you do or don't do.  Make what you do count, if you don't no one else will.

DDPYoga Retreat 2013 recap, my personal journey

So I have waited to do a full recap of the DDPYoga retreat intentionally.  As I did a video update already.  This may end up being a bit more personal... So bear with me as I have no idea where this will go, as I don't go back and edit after I write, it just comes from my heart.

This was my FIRST DDPYoga retreat, and it could not have come at a better time.  As you may already know I lost my buddy Sipe the Sunday before the trip.  And I believe that was how it was meant to be.  Sipe made it thru the campaign we set up "Be the ONE", and we raised some money and brought awareness to canine lymphoma, and helped out our friends at Middle TN Boxer Rescue.  But that didn't make it any easier.  But don't let me get to far off track, as I have already written about Sipe in the "Starting to breathe again" blog entry.

I left out for the retreat on Wednesday July 10th.  Sure I was a bit apprehensive about going with everything that had just happened, but I knew I had been looking forward to this for way to long, and I knew that I needed this, but I did not realize just how much, and how much of an effect it would truly have on me.

My brother went with me as well, but we ended up taking different flights out due to scheduling, but that may have been a good thing, as I needed a little space.  My thoughts were all over the place... but one thought I had and I knew what I had to do... be social, as I wasn't feeling very social after everything.  But I knew I would have to push the urge to hide myself away during this trip, as that would not help me at all.  It's my life, and this was one of the times when I had to deal with the 10% of life.

On the way to Mexico I meet a fellow DDPYoga peep, and we flew together from Houston to Cancun, and that help as we chatted the whole way down.  Once we got our transfer and we made our way to the resort (El Dorado) I thought of my days traveling to different countries when I was in the Navy, and again gained appreciation for what we have at home. 

Arrived at the resort and OMG... it was gorgeous.  Got checked in and it all began.  Took a lil nap,  mentally I was wiped out, and then went down to the beach and there everyone was for our first workout.  Everyone that we chat with daily on line, and some folks that I have meet before were there.  It was like going to a family reunion.  Even meeting people you have never meet before.  As DDP had told me when I first started:

 "one thing I will say for DDPYOGA is we have the BEST support team in the world at teamddpyoga.com they are there to support and encourage you along your journey to OWN YOUR LIFE. you do not just purchase another product, you become part of our FAMILY"  -DDPYoga

I have experience this before at the workshops and on line, but this was so much bigger.  We did our first workout on the beach, and the setting could not be more peaceful and warm. The first workout was just a lil warm up to what was to come, but it was phenomenal. 

The night was just getting started as we meet up later then for a few beverages, and had a chance to get to know each other off the mat.  And I have to say we all clean up pretty good!  Then we would move on to our Welcome dinner, and this was a all DDPYoga dinner, and just a taste of what to come.  The food there was fantastic, oh and GF free.

So the fun was just getting started as we were starting to experience the retreat.  Some had been before and there were many, as myself, this was their first time.  But no matter we were ready to have fun.

Let the workouts begin... We had 2 days of 2 a days.  A 2 hr workout in the morning and then another 2 hr workout in the afternoon. But there would still be plenty of time for other stuff.  

Everyone in the workouts were at different levels.  Some had just started DDPYoga, and some were 3+ years into it.  But it did not matter, as we were all in it together.  The energy in our "DDPYoga studio" (which by the way was the nite club in the evenings) was amazing!!!  You could feel it running thru the whole room. We had so much encouragement and energy flowing you could not help but to smile as you had sweat dripping all over your mat.

There were so many accomplishment made by so many during this trip, not only physical but emotionally as well.  For me this was just what I needed and it came just at the right time.  A lil bragging, I was able to straighten my leg for the first time EVER (while holding my foot). and then I turned that into a full "Flying V" straight leg.  I was in shock when it happened I screamed out during the workout, and then that evening as we went back to DDP's pool to relax, I could not stop doing it.  So ok.. here was my after workout story...

After the workout we were walking down to DDP's pool and I was walking with a couple of the guys, and I was not in a hurry at all, just taking in the ocean air and thinking about life, and the accomplishment I had just done.  I stopped on the way, on the path just to see if I could do it again... and poof... I did it.  Then I looked and the guys were way down the path ahead of me.  No worries, I was going to get there eventually, I was not in a hurry at all.  Then I got to the pool and I could not stop, I was in the pool that evening and I keep doing it, why??? Because I could and I was still in shock that I was able to do it.  But that is just part of the power of the DDPYoga family and the energy.

So we would have the final 2 workouts one on Saturday and then one on Sunday.  But we also had an amazing cooking demonstration put on by Chef Bill (Stacey Morris's husband), and Sam Smith, along with Mike Mullins.  And more DDPYoga family time away from the mat.  The food was great, and it was all GF.  And there were beverages available but more importantly we had more time to mingle and chat.

Have I mentioned how amazing the DDPYoga family is?  Well I won't mention any names as I don't want to leave anyone out.  But everyone is always so supportive.  Not just with DDPYoga questions but for each other.  Everyone genuinely cares.  You would think with a group this big (there was 80+) there would be some sort of drama.  Well if there was, I never saw it.  I made so many new friends from around the world on this trip I really hope to see them again before the next retreat.  We had people there from around the world.  From the UK, Australia, South America, Canada, and from all over the US, and I'm sure other places as well.  Did I get a chance to chat with everyone? unfortunately no.  But I tried to chat with as many as possible.  But there is always the DDPYoga Retreat 2014.  And I will be back again.

So let me wrap this up... The last morning, I woke up super early (5:30am), don't know why really, but I knew the night before that I wanted to walk the property in the morning just to take it all in one last time and maybe take a few "pretty pics".  Well I went on my "walk about" and it was so peaceful.  I had no intention to do a video, but something came over me to do one.  So I found a spot and recorded "DDPYogaretreat 2013 thoughts from Don".  I brought it home, and thought about editing it, or not even posting it.  But then I thought, no this is real, and I would let it be, as it is.

We all started to leave El Dorado and the DDPYoga retreat a couple at a time.  The time seemed to come too soon, but we all had a fantastic time together.  For me this was so much more than just a DDPYoga retreat, it was a time for me to step out of my world and regain my footing, and begin to breathe deep again.  My brother was on the retreat with me, and it was good to have him there, but we did our own thing as well while we were there.   But after everything it was good to have him there, as I know he needed a break from life as well.

The DDPYoga Retreat 2013 was so much more than I could have ever expected when I first decided to go, after a lil prodding from a friend, C.A. THANK YOU.  I decided that I was going to do this just after I started DDPYoga way back in September 2012, which was 85 lbs ago.  Am I where I want to be yet, No, I don't think I will ever be "done".  Life does not have finish lines in the middle, but it does have moments and events you can mark down as "Special" along the way.  This was one of those Special ones.  But there were so many lil special moments all wrapped up in this one trip for me.  From the people, workouts, quiet time, healing time, and the family time.

Life is always changing, it is up to us to choose what we will do with it.  We are given what we need when we need it.  But we are also given opportunities along the way, and it is up to us to make the most of them.  As DDP and others have said... "Live life at 90%, Life is 10% what happens and 90% how you React, Adapt, Take action, and Breathe thru it." 

We all have so much potential in us, it is up to us to make the most of it.  No one person or one event can change you, but they are all part of who you are.  Never stop reaching to be the best you can be!

So until the DDPYoga Retreat 2014, where I WILL do "Black Crow kick out" and "Wrap and burn", enjoy where you are and NEVER Give Up.  We all can do so much more, we just have to choose to do it.

DDPYoga retreat 2013 thoughts from Don

Starting to breathe again

So today I am not very "inspirational", but this is part of my journey...

Feeling a bit lost and empty, but I am having to dig deep inside, as my buddy  has moved on.  If you know me and have been following what has been going on in my world for the last 3 months then you know that on Sunday night, my dog passed away.  Sure to some a dog passes and it's no big deal, you move on.  But for those who know and appreciate the unconditional love and support they provide is priceless.

But let me step back a bit as this is more of a release for me right now (so please bear with me)...

Sipe and my story begins back in 2008.  I had just bought my first house in February of that year.  I had a plan in mind... get the house, got the new car, got the promotion at work, get the dog, get my bike, then find the girl.  I thought it was a solid plan.

So I had moved into my home, and I started looking around for boxers.  You see I have a special place in my heart for boxers, as me and my brothers had them before when we lived together, but I had never had a "dog of my own".  So I started searching, and while I was searching Sipe found me.

Sipe was a 4 month old lil "Knucklehead" that was like a lil piece of velcro on my leg.  Every where I would go he was stuck to my leg.  Even though I was looking at the lil ones he was by my side the whole time.  I had told myself that I was NOT coming home with a dog that day, and I did not.  BUT instead I went shopping for the essentials of bringing home one.  Because I knew that the lil white "knucklehead" with big brown spots around his eye had already picked me.

 So I brought him home and thus we started our adventure...

We went thru what every boxer parent goes thru, the destruction, the training, and we went thru alot of schooling, we were fortunate enough to meet a fantastic trainer, Rita.  Sipe stole her heart right away.  But you see he had a habit of doing that.  He knew how cute he was and milked it for everything it was worth.

Anyways... Sipe was great he was always there by my side, and we would go everywhere together.  He rode great in the car, he was great with kids, and he always knew when I needed a hug!

Here is a link if you want to see some of Sipe growing up...Sipe's Flickr photos

So we move forward  The last 3 months he and I dealt with quite a bit.  But we where dealing with everything one day at a time.  You see I had started my DDPYoga journey back in September 2012, which probably saved me from the downward track I was on.  But we ran into a situation back on April 7th, that would be the start of changing both of our lives.  But we managed to work thru that and ya'll know the rest of the story, but here are the cliff notes... Salmonella poisoning from tainted dog food, and then diagnosed with Stage 3 aggressive Lymphoma.  During this time, I had to keep myself  grounded and try and maintain some sort of sanity.  There was little that I could do with all of this going on.  But I did what I could and Sipe was right there working with me.  You see something that I learned from DDPYoga, and more specifically, Diamond Dallas Page, and I have taken to heart is to "Live Life at 90%"  Sometimes that is harder to do than it is to say it.  But understanding that the 10% of what happens in life and the other 90% is how you deal with it, more specifically how you "React, Adapt, Take Action, and Breathe" thru it.

I was trying to do a little of each but at times I felt like I was waiting to "Breathe" again.  We set up an Indiegogo account  to raise some money for the local Boxer rescue.   Why would we do this you may ask... Well it was 2 fold.  One to keep me focused on something other than what was happening, because I needed to have something besides work that Sipe and I could do in Honor of him.  And Two, to bring a lil awareness to canine cancer, and to help out others boxers find their forever home.  I know there are a lot of good people out there that could give a special boxer a home like if not better than Sipe had.  Now you may wonder where did I dream this up from, well it rolls back around to DDPYoga, and what DDP had already done for his buddies Jake and Scott.  I thought if he could do it, there was no reason I couldn't do it.

So we did and I was getting worried that we wouldn't complete the campaign before Sipe left me.  But Sipe made it thru the campaign and we did pretty good.  But I knew that his time was running out.  He still had a lil wiggle in him, and he would sing with me while I played my harmonica, but he was getting weaker.  Then came July 7th.  That was exactly 3 months after the initial "situation" occurred.  And that Sunday was one of the hardest days.  The night before I was up with him until around 3 am, and knew our time together was coming to a close, as he was acting like he did when he was a puppy.

So I continued to fall back to the "Live Life @ 90%" I was reacting to the situation, trying very hard to adapt, taking action, by taking care of my buddy, but I still felt like I was waiting to breathe.  Then the moment happened at 9:37pm.  I was there with my lil "Knucklehead" as he took his last breath.

Now I don't tell you all this for sympathy, but more for myself as a way to document.  Also to let you know that we CAN deal with anything.  Why because we have to.  There are some things in life that we cannot control, as life will happen when it is suppose to.  But we can always take the steps to "React" to the events,  "Adapt" to the situation, "Take action" to make a difference or a change, and remind ourselves to "Breathe".  Which was the one thing I kept trying to do over the last 3 months. But it seemed I could not catch my breath.  But today Tuesday July 9th I think I am breathing again.  not completely, but that will come in time.  But little by little I am able to catch my breath again.

So now that I have went all over the place in this blog post.. My final thoughts are simple Breathe... It's not only people that come into our lives but pets too.  Though I never considered Sipe a pet, as he was part of my family.  But he was here for a "Reason", and he will remain in my heart for a lifetime.

Will I be a better person because of the time that Sipe was with me, will the events that happened change me forever, will Sipe's life be remembered?  I don't know the answers to those and the many other questions that are running through my mind.  But I do know that Sipe will be remembered, and I will continue to work on being a better person.  Will it change me, well every event changes us all in one way or another... BUT it is all up to us on how we let it.  So I will continue to work at Living Life at 90%, it still sounds pretty good to me.  And I am starting to breathe again, so that's a good start.

One Day...One Moment

Everyday we are presented with something to deal with.

It may be the simplest of things, and it may be something we feel is an insurmountable mountain to climb.  But we have to remember that we can overcome anything.  But it is up to us.

If you are on the DDPYoga journey than you have heard several phrases... "Own Your Life" and "Live Life at 90%".  Well those are keys, just like the keys you carry to get into things, and keys you use to start things.  But you have to remember you are only given, what we call "obstacles", that will make us stronger and better in time.  We can overcome ANYTHING, it goes back to OUR choices.  We can choose to either let these life events take control or we can choose to "React, Adapt, Take Action, and Breathe".

Sure I am quoting what we have all heard before but if you stop overthinking and make a choice anything in life can be accomplished.

We are all on a path, and no 2 paths are the same, some may be similar, and some may be very different.  We all deal with different things and events in our life differently.  No one can say one way is better than another.  As long as we deal with what we have in front of us and keep moving forward we will get to where we need to be.

So remember "One Day, One Moment" at a time.  Have a plan of where you want to be and do something to make it happen.  When you run into an obstacle, deal with it and keep on moving.  It's there to only make you stronger and assist you on your journey.

Possibility vs Reality

Life is full of possibilities.   But we all have to live in the now, the reality of our lives.  

We all have heard people say "Anything is possible".  Sure anything is but to make a possibility a reality WE have to do something to make it happen.  The trick is you have to start moving and keep moving forward.  Sure it can get tough at times, but anything worth doing is going to have its challenges.  

We can make an excuse or try to justify to ourselves why something is not possible.  But all we are doing is doubting what we can do, which is defeating ourselves.  

-Everyone has a mountain to climb, a desert to cross, an ocean to swim.

-Everyone can find a reason not to do it, or an excuse to avoid it.  

BUT...

You can always find just as many reasons to do it.  

The road ahead may not be the smoothest, the most popular, or the shortest.  But if you stick to it you will make that possibility a reality.  

In the end who are we short changing?   Aren't you worth the effort, isn't your family worth it?   

Sure the possibilities are endless.  

But it all starts with YOU.  

Your possibilities can become your reality if you are willing to invest the effort in YOU.  

Don't worry how many times you stumble or fall.  Celebrate each time you get back up, knowing you are making your possibilities a reality.  

"Own YOUR Life", don't let it own you.  

Life intertwined

So I overthink things, except when I get on my matt, and either press play on the DVD, or on my mp-3.  My "Random thoughts" blog and this one sometimes seem like they are one in the same but they are both a lil different.  You may see my "Thought of the day" on FB, or you may not care.  But for the last 10 months things have become clearer and I seem to have more direction in where I am and where I am going.

Life isn't always fair, and it certainly isn't easy... but no one ever said it would be.  At the beginning of my DDPYoga journey I would have never thought that I could get to where I am today.  I still have a ways to go, but that "ways to go" is not just the end of my current "Destination" that I am working towards... but just the beginning of a bright future that lays before me.

For me to say that DDPYoga has changed my life... well that isn't a true statement.  Yes it is the tool that I am using to change my life.  But the family of DDPYoga (AKA TEAM DDPYoga) are the difference makers. We all have it in us to make a change, and sometimes we all need a hand, a lift or a nudge in the right direction.  Where I was 10 months ago, DDPYoga was there... well, Diamond Dallas Page and TEAM DDPYoga was there to help me move in a new direction.

So everyday, I start with my daily reminder that this life I am living is MY Life, and I will and am "OWNING MY LIFE".  I can effect change in my life and the lives of those around me.  Every day has the potential to be a "Great Day".  What lies ahead, who knows, but we have today to work with and my goal is to make "Today a GREAT day".

We all have a moment or event in our life that seems like it was yesterday.  While that moment or event may have changed our direction, don't let it guide your future.
No matter how good or bad it may have been there is so much more for us.
Our lives are happening right now, don't wait for the next moment... make it.
Own YOUR life, and LIVE it everyday to its absolute fullest.

A humbling surprise talk tonight...

So tonight I got a surprise... We all know how much I am enjoying and am having success with DDPYOGA. But this is owed all to Diamond Dallas Page and his program, and the family he has brought together. But for someone that I do not know to contact me and want to talk to ME about DDPYoga and to find out if it really is what they have heard, is a bit humbling. 

Yes, that was me 6 months ago, reaching out to others who live the DDPYoga lifestyle, other people who have taken charge of their own lives. So as I explained to the gentleman tonight, as I would to anyone who is even considering DDPYoga, if you are ready to "Own YOUR Life" and feel better, not only physically, but mentally & emotionally then don't wait. I am blessed to have "stumbled" upon DDPYoga, and to have met so many great people. 

This is something ANYONE can do. If I can then there is no reason for anyone else not to. It doesn't matter how old you are, what shape your in... If your ready to feel good everyday then this is for you. But it depends on what you want. And if you ever want to listen to me go on and on about what I really think about DDPYoga, then I welcome the call!

Opportunity vs Risk

Something that got me thinking was from being on my first ever "Video Pod Cast" last night with my friend and fellow DDPYoga buddy Slim, and his and his wife Laura, "The Next 40 days".

It was a simple statement and I know how I am, I analyze everything, just little things can change the meaning of everything for me.  Actually it was 2 different words / phrases (this I'll call part 1)...

"Opportunity" vs "Risk"

To me the word "risk" carries a bit of a negative chance to it.  I prefer to use the word Opportunity.  In life we have Opportunities every day, no "Risk" involved.  We also can make our own Opportunities if we so choose, but we can also miss out on an Opportunities.  If we never try we will never know what we could accomplish, was there "Risk" involved?  Some may say so, but it was an Opportunity that was taken to get to a "Next step".  Kind of like what they do with "The Next 40 days".  They are making changes and challenging themselves with new Opportunities with each 40 day challenge.  Sure 40 days may not seem long, but it is a step in a new direction, a chance at a new Opportunity to grow and maybe even a chance to open up to a new Opportunity. 

Everything we do has an effect on what we do either in our lives or someone else's.  There are Opportunities everywhere, but most of them get ignored because we "don't have time", or we are "to busy".  

So is it a "Risk" or an " Opportunity" that we take when we challenge ourselves?  It's not for me to say what others do, but for me I see life as an " Opportunity" to do something special.

AN AMAZING Day at the Ultimate Workshop!

OK, so, yes I have been quiet today...BUT...it was anything but a quiet day!
TODAY was simply AMAZING!!! Spent the day with the creators of DDPYOGA and a bunch of DDPYoga Peeps, and did I say how AMAZING today was, I guess I did! 
Spent time working side by side with Arthur D. Boorman, Diamond Dallas Page, The Yoga Doc, and LOTS of AMAZING people! 
NOW. If you have ANY doubts if this works I am here to tell you...YOU NEED to do this. it will work if YOU are willing to work. And we worked today, but the difference in what I was doing today vs the first time I worked out with DDP in Nashville back in Sept was AMAZING.
If I can do it, then there is no reason for you not to do it! I still have a ways to go, but I am "OWNING MY LIFE" and you can too, you just have to want it.
The people are amazing, I already knew this. But DDPYoga is more than another workout program, it is an extended family.
Now if you haven't signed up for the next workshop, YOU NEED too! I will be back in March, and cannot wait!
I cannot really express the gratitude for today to Dallas, and everyone involved, but today was AMAZING, and if ya'll thought I was pumped up about DDPYoga before, you ain't seen nothin yet!
I am working towards my destination.... "DESTINATION ME" and then on to my other Destinations!!
And before I forget... THANK YOU Dallas, Arthur, Linda, Kimmi,Louie, Steve, Brandy, and I am sure I forgot some... BUT THANK YOU!!! What an amazing day!