Perhaps this particular entry has a dual focus.  Partly discussing how amazing the human body actually is, and also discussing the need for it to be challenged and how to do just that.

As I was contemplating human biology, anatomy, and physiology (yes sometimes I actually do marvel at those things), I have the feeling and my experiences have lead me to understand that my body needs to be challenged in many different ways to achieve high and lasting levels of health.

To further elaborate the point I will give you a few examples that I have either seen or experienced personally and hope will be of some use.

Cold showers.  I know, I know, where am I going with cold showers, right?

I learned the joy (and fear) of cold showers many years ago as an LDS missionary in the Dominican Republic.  Logic would have it that showering with cool water in an otherwise hot and muggy environment would be pleasurable.

But no, at least for me, no cold shower is initially enjoyable; it is just shocking to the system.  However, after the initial shock has worn off, it is wonderfully refreshing.

Upon returning to the US I remember the joys of again experiencing a hot shower.  Yes, hot showers are great too, don’t get me wrong.

Years later I decided to incorporate cold showers into my daily routine.  But how would I do this, as I love hot showers so much?  Here was my compromise:

Beginning and middle of the shower is hot (well, comfortably hot).  The last 2-3 minutes I put it on the coldest setting.

The initial jolt is not pleasant at all (especially when you are first getting accustomed to cold showers), but it’s not so bad after the first 10-20 seconds and ends up being wonderfully refreshing.

It is well documented that athletes, particularly professional football players will lay in tubs of ice water to speed up their recovery times between weekly games.  Due to the high impact nature of the game, many players insist this is necessary for recovery by the following Sunday’s game.

I’m no football player (foosball yes), but I do feel better both physically and mentally when I have my cold showers.

Why is something that is initially unpleasant so good for my body?  I believe it’s because the body is contrarian and has robust responses to virtually any challenge it encounters.

Another slightly masochistic way I have found additional health and mental/spiritual benefits is through fasting.

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (of which I am) and many other religions practice fasting in some form or another.  In my church, we are encouraged (if able) to attempt to go 24 hours without food or water the first Sunday of each month.  While I will discuss specifics about the physical benefits, there are some amazing spiritual and psychological benefits to fasting too.

Just the ability to abstain from something as basic and necessary as food and water instills the ability to abstain from vices and other short-term desires than draw dire long-term consequences.

But physically, regarding the human body, fasting initially seems like a bad idea.  Certainly it’s an uncomfortable one and while it is uncomfortable, through that discomfort many health benefits are achieved.  Improved insulin resistance, for example:

After diminishing it’s glycogen stores, the body is forced into a ketogenic state where it must then convert body fat to replenish the lost energy stores.  Additionally, the body releases multiples of it’s normal levels of human-growth hormone, which assists with a number of physiological processes.  The digestive system gets a bit of a break and can rebalance it’s functions.

I feel better after I fast, even if I don’t feel great when I am fasting.

The body needs to be challenged.  A body in a state of consistent stasis begins to experience various maladies.

That brings me to fitness.  A few years ago, after reading a number of articles about the benefits of HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) I decided to incorporate it into my regular exercise routine (I mostly follow a body-building regime via weightlifting and cardio exercise).

The HIIT sessions are by-far my most difficult and intense workouts.  While I do somewhat dread the workout, I also look forward to them the most, because it is truly both physically and mentally challenging and produces an amazing mind altering effect.

This is the feeling about 30 minutes to 2 hours after doing HIIT, and it is like a drug (not that I know, haha), the endorphins and whatever other chemicals and hormones the body begins to produce/release to help me recover from the intense exercise are wonderful!

I honestly feel like I’m on top of the world both mentally and physically.  I also feel great after my normal workouts, but the HIIT does something above and beyond.  I’m sure this is similar to what runners refer to as “runners high”.

Now, regarding germs:  I know that people who are in overly sterilized and filtered environments often have weakened immune systems and struggle with allergies, especially babies that have little exposure early on.

Human impulse is to sanitize everything.  While I believe it is good to be clean, and there is no need to unnecessarily expose oneself to something harmful, I try not to be too extreme with sanitization and also ensure that I am getting at least a healthy share of probiotics (good bacteria).

Interestingly enough, a good mix of natural probiotic foods have a balance of about 85/15 good/bad bacteria.  I thought that was fascinating, why would it have any bad bacteria?!?

Our bodies are designed to overcome problems, sickness, to rebuild and then fortify broken-down muscles, to revitalize and make more efficient our cardiovascular system when it is stressed by exercise.

The opposite, indulgence, all to often creates hazard, weakness, and sickness.  High consumption of sugar for example:

The body craves it, loves it, but doesn’t need it.

Being sedentary also has it’s pitfalls.  Sometimes it feels great to relax, especially when you’ve earned it.  But if relaxing is all you do, your body quickly begins to have a number of health issues.

We’re often told to “stay out of the sun” or make sure you have sunscreen on when you are outside.  But guess what?  The most efficient way to produce Vitamin D is from sunlight!  Not only that, but being in the sun has a verifiably positive effect on mood.

I get it, too much of anything can ultimately be bad.  But our bodies are designed to resist and regenerate.  The human body desires to be challenged, and often thrives in the face of challenge.

I’ve tried to stop babying myself.

I get it.  It’s a balancing act.  Eating healthy most of the time, but having a “cheat meal” some of the time, then occasionally no food at all.  Work out regularly (pushing yourself hard on occasions), and enjoy some rest days in between.  Get some sun, just not too much.

And yes, enjoy the hot shower, then hit me with the cold!

One of the thoughts that I’ve often had is that as humans, we romanticize the past; sometimes to the extent of putting on blinders.

I’m an optimist, and I can understand this perspective, but sometimes it nicely filters the cyclicality of life and helps us forget that there have always been forces for good and evil prevalent in every generation.

Times may change, but human nature does not.  Still we say:  Remember when this?  Remember when that?   Back in my day we did this… Back in my day you’d never hear of that…

Greatest generation!  Those millennials!

I’m sure you can think of several examples off the top of your head too.

But human nature and human action are both complex and yet simple.

There are forces for good, people who genuinely want to improve the world, empower those around them, are kind, have hope, work hard, innovate, are honest, serve others, etc.

Conversely there are forces for evil, some who will claw for their needs and lusts in a Machiavellian “the ends justifies the means mentality”.  Those who wish to control others, subjugate them, steal, are vicious, dishonest, or simply do various evil things.

Of course, the world is a gray-scale of individuals pulled by the two opposing sides, but undeniably there are those to emulate and those to repudiate.

A hallowed time for many is the period of the American Revolutionary War.  Certainly there were many genuinely good, moral, steadfast, and inspired individuals.

But what some forget is that those of stated generation suffered many maladies similar to those we associate more with modern times.

In the late 1700’s, in New England for example, there were drunkards and morphine addicts.  There was violence, brawling, and yes even dueling.  There were sexual predators, sex addicts who frequented brothels and otherwise loitered in Boston’s “red-light” districts.  And of course, there was the abominable practice of slavery (a rejection of liberty in an absolute sense).  Sadly, even New England was scarred by this practice.

Opposing such behaviors stood many brave men and women who were beacons of light, truth, hope, liberty, and empowerment to help their fellow man overcome and be healed from the above mentioned behaviors and institutions.

It was an epic time to be alive, and amazing history unfolded which has materially changed the world.

While today finds us with very advanced technologies, surreal prosperity, and endless fountains of truth to be found, there are dark corners of the internet, forces pushing for eternal militarized conflict, and a blitz to censor free speech under the pathetic guise of “politically correct”/ “PC” culture.

Perhaps more significantly there is also the pervasive disintegration of the family unit as the base for morality training and temporal security.

In it’s place has arisen the hegemonic monster, the State.  Yes, there have always been governments.  But generally the actions of government were limited in that it had difficulty replacing family functions on a large scale.

What am I referring to?  Take for example our welfare society, today this includes various government sponsors programs, i.e. Social Security, Medicare, Welfare, Food Stamps (EBT cards), Disability, Medicaid, Section 8 Rental Assistance, and many other programs.

What is the outcome of all these government programs and institutions?  We still have poverty.  But the family unit is now in comparative shambles.  Why?  Because previous generations would place the responsibility of many of these things on the father of the family or on extended family in difficult circumstances.

Now that the government has given notice of taking over these responsibilities, many fathers who previously felt an obligation (whether through social pressure from their community or hopefully pressure they put on themselves) to care for wife and children, now (all too often) defer to the state to handle such critical responsibilities.

How do children and single mothers fare when the father has abandoned them?  Generally not well.  While a determined woman and/or child can accomplish great feats and even match or exceed others from nuclear families, the fact is that statistically it is far more difficult and less likely that they will.

More of these children will be impoverished.  More will be imprisoned.  More will have addictions.

Also, prior to massive government social programs for the elderly, parents would raise more children; in part, they were realizing that they would need children to take care of them in their old age.  With the state handling elder care to a much greater extent, many couples elect to have fewer children or no children at all.

Previously, individuals, churches, corporations and others would donate to fund hospitals, medicinal treatment for the poor and elderly, food and clothing given for the downtrodden as well.

While many wonderful individuals and organizations still do these things, it’s far less prominent in society as the state has in many ways destroyed true charity.

True charity is when someone gives or does something voluntarily from the goodness of their heart.

Both giver and recipient are empowered and lifted by such acts.

When the state steals from Peter to pay Paul, it robs the act of charity, crushing what would otherwise be uplifting, and instead creates resentment from those who involuntarily pay huge taxes and simultaneously creates entitlement among the recipients of such state run “benefits”.

Separately, the massive US military, and it’s companion military-industrial complex, both hallowed by many, is sadly a very real destroyer of families too.

Men (and an increasing percentage of women) thrown into the fog of war often experience and/or do horrible things; all while physically separated for long stretches at a time from their spouses and children.

They often come back broken physically, mentally, emotionally, and sadly many times don’t even come back.

For what?

For some powerful interest to hope to control or profit off something that wasn’t previously in their control or didn’t previously pad their pockets.

I’m speaking broadly, but the above examples happen all to frequently.

Oops, I just did it myself.  Back in the good old days when government was smaller, when the US didn’t police the world…

While the challenges change, there are forces for good and evil in every generation.

As I’ve mentioned in a prior post, the future is bright, there is so much force for good today.

So many avenues to pursue truth, to reach out to others, to seek peace, to improve oneself, to empower those around you.  It starts with being determined to make an impact in some area of life I control.

I’m unlikely to change the world.  But maybe I can positively impact somebody today.

I hope I can be a benefactor to this generation, particularly the individuals whose lives I actually touch.

I also hope to learn from the past; maybe I can then make my kids and grandkids world a little bit better.

They will have the option to themselves choose good and eschew evil.

The very same challenge of every generation before theirs.

 

 

 

Voy a intentar escribir algo en español.

No es mi idioma natal, pues me perdonas cualquier equivocación.

Les voy a contar del Huracán David, uno y dos.

Los que viven en República Dominicana seguro han escuchado de tal Huracán (si no vivieron el paso del mismo) y están pensando: “¿Uno y dos?  Sólo había uno mi amigo…”

Bueno déjame explicarlo.

Pues, para contarlo en breve, David aterrizó en la República Dominicana, un tormento monstruoso categoría 5, el 31 de Agosto del 1979.

Dejo más de 2,000 muertos y era extremadamente impactante.

Pasó por el mismo Santo Domingo y luego atravesó la isla causando mucha inundación y destrucción.

Menos de 4 Semanas después nació David Paredes, nombrado por dicho huracán.

Luego les explico porque le menciono.

Yo llegué a la República Dominicana en Julio de 1999.  Estaba haciendo una misión por la Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Últimos Días (también conocido por el apelativo de “Mormones”).

Cuando llegué sólo tenía dos meses de aprendizaje intensivo del idioma española, mejor dicho, no sabia nada.

Empecé en un barrio llamado Mendoza, en Las Américas, parte de Santo Domingo.  Conocí muchas personas bastante buenas y amigables en esta área, pero la verdad es que lo estaba pasado bastante deprimido.

Hasta entonces me causaba dificultad acostumbrarme a las nuevas situaciones, y para mi lo que estaba pasando era un gran cambio.

Sentía que no podía expresarme bien, me hacía falta mi familia y amigos, estaba sudando como un recién llegado al infierno (jaja, imagínense el verano en RD y andando en pleno sol en las calles del capital), y no pensaba que estaba impactando a nadie.

Esto lo sufrí mucho, porque sentía que realmente Dios me había llamado para servir en éste misión y pensaba yo que no estaba cumpliendola como debía.

Pasaron dos meses, llegué a una área nueva, Villa Mella, en el norte de Santo Domingo.

Despues de casi un mes en Villa Mella estaba aún mas desesperado.

Hablé con mi presidente de la misión, creía que tal vez tendría que rendir y volver a mi casa.

Creí que estaba fracasando.  No quería ir a mi casa, pero no veía como superar.

Mi presidente de la misión, Robert Johns, me dijo “¿Crees que un profeta de Dios te haya llamado a servir en este misión?”  Le contesté que “Si.”  Luego me dijo “Entonces TIENES que hacerlo, aunque sean 24 meses del infierno.”

Esto llegó al mismo centro de mi alma.  Y yo sabía que tenía que seguir para adelante.

Pero me dijo mi presidente “Pero no van a ser 24 meses del infierno, las cosas van a mejorar, y pasarás tiempos buenos tambien.  He estado trabajando en conseguirte una ayuda, lo que estoy llamando el programa.  Sabrás más dentro de poco.”

Bueno, me puse una firme determinación de perdurar a pesar de las circunstancias inmediatas, porque lo que estaba haciendo era correcto.

Como una semana después había una transferencia e iba yo a tener un compañero nuevo.  Los misioneros Mormones andan en dos, el que te corresponde en el momento es tu “compañero”.

Se aterriza el Segundo Huracán David:

Cuando me di cuenta de que iba a tener un nuevo compañero, y que “el programa” de que me habló mi presidente no era algo escrito, mejor, fue un hombre Dominicano, admito que tenía un poco de temor.

Pues, hasta entonces me habían puesto con otros misioneros Americanos, y ahora iba a ser obligado a comunicarme en español nada más (yo creía), sin alguien que me tradujera cualquier cosa que no comprendía.

Pero se me fue mi temor en un instante la primera vez que le vi a David Paredes luego que me ganó como amigo con sólo su sonrisa.  Los que conocen a David sabrán de que estoy hablando.

Paredes y yo andamos juntos como compañeros de la misión por los próximos 4 meses.

Le debo a él mi fundación de español.  El sabía mucho inglés también, y le podía preguntar mucho de como decir cosas, también que él me explicara lo que significaban muchas cosas que no entendía, pero principalmente hablamos en español y perdí mi vergüenza y aprendí mucho.

Pero me enseñó Paredes muchas otras cosas preciosas también.

Por ejemplo, como gozar la vida diaria, como tratar a las personas, como tener paciencia, como reírse y divertirse, y como apoyar el uno al otro.  La forma en que lo hizo David, era un arte, natural y sin esfuerzo.

Claro, había otras personas que me habían ayudado hasta entonces con todo esto, pero mi enfoce no es en ellos hoy, sino David.

El Segundo Huracán David no era algo destructivo.

Al contrario, cuando impactó, en vez de destrucción, dejó por su camino un hombre reconstruido y más fuerte (yo).

En vez de destruir vida, me enseñó como mejor vivir (y gozar) la vida, y como auxiliarles a otras personas en sus vidas.

En vez de inundación, un fuente de amistad que brinda sus buenas aguas hasta el día de hoy.

Dios nos manda el auxilio que necesitamos, y muchas veces las bendiciones más potentes llegan a través de un hermano o una hermana.

Somos todos hijos literales de nuestro Padre Celestial.  Y somos todos hermanos y hermanas.

¿Pero somos hermanos o hermanas veridicos?

¿Estamos siendo una bendición para las personas quiénes nos rodean?

Por su ejemplo, David siempre me ha inspirado ser un verdadero hermano a los demás.

Le agradezco a Dios que por mi gran amigo, mi vida ha sido bendecido desde entonces.

Gracias a ti también.  Seguro que eres alguien que me ha impactado en formas buenas si estás leyendo esto.

Ojalá que yo puedo ser una bendición en tu vida y en las vidas de las personas que yo puedo alcanzar.

 

 

 

 

 

I should be asleep right now…

But the future is so bright that it’s hard to close my eyes…

Like anyone, sometimes current events, the news, personal struggles, and other issues get me down.  I do try to keep up with what’s happening and ensure potential contingencies.

At a certain point though, I don’t remember exactly when (maybe it was a process I’ve always been going through), I decided that I must not worry about things I have no control over.

Yes, I can prepare myself, but why waste mental and emotional energy on anything that is out of my control?

More importantly, I can search out the good things in this world.  There are SO many.

I see this as the most incredible, most amazing time to be alive, and guess what?  Things are just getting better.

Some of the modern tools that get most maligned are also the greatest tools for good, for spreading joy, and empowering individuals to become better.

Some personal examples from recent memory:

About two years ago, I came across a YouTube video “The 10,000 Calorie a Day Sumo Diet”.

After watching, I was interested to know more about Sumo Wrestling.  I had remembered seeing it years ago on cable.

Long story short, I’ve since become a huge fan of Sumo, I watch daily recaps, matches, and highlights throughout the 15 day tournaments that happen every two months, via different YouTube channels.

This past January, a Sumo Wrestler named Kisenosato won the tournament and became a Yokozuna (the highest rank in Sumo).

He had been toiling away for years working toward that promotion; in fact it was his 89th tournament that he finally won, after years of frustration in the shadows of Hakuho (arguably the greatest Sumo of all-time).

Kisenosato had finished second place 12 times.

After Kisenosato won he was in tears.  I was in tears.

Who would have thought two years ago that I would have such a love for this sport and feel such an emotional attachment to one of the athletes, that I could be brought to tears?

Isn’t that amazing?  20 years ago that would be impossible, unless I was living in Japan or had some obscure satellite channel that I watched in the middle of the night.  Even then unless it was translated to English I wouldn’t have much hope.

So thank you YouTube, and more importantly, thank you to the individuals that bring amazing things to YouTube.

I was a long-time Facebook holdout.  I do worry about privacy issues of course, but having been on Facebook for a few months I can see the massive utility for good it holds.

So many wonderful posts, so many people that share joyful things, amazing accomplishments, etc.  Being able to reconnect with friends and family.

I get that there is a lot of negativity too, or potential for viewing others lives through a filtered lens.  But if you are looking for good in the world, there is so much to be found.

The internet, social media, electronic devices all have huge risks and potential for negative outcomes.  But they are just tools.

These tools can also be used for empowerment, knowledge, joy, gratitude, guidance, friendship, and empathy; just to name a few.

This age is the age of personal empowerment.

Am I using the tools I have to positively impact the world?  Am I using these same tools to be positively impacted?  I’m trying.

When I eschew what’s wrong with the world and grasp for what is beautiful, I FIND it.

When I find it, I’m elevated.

Sometimes, I even cry for joy.

Even when it’s a 385 pound guy defeating his 340 pound rival, in a far away land, to finally ascend to the top rank in his profession, after years of difficulty and disappointment.

How great is that?!?

 

 

 

I was reading something recently that discussed learning from failure.  As I contemplated this, it made me think of how grateful I am for failure.  Yes grateful…

Not that I enjoy failing.  But in an odd way, I kind of do.

Failure allows you to set benchmarks.  Failure reveals your current limitations and weaknesses.  Failure can show you what to change.

Generally the road to success and improvement is paved with failure.  What’s critical is that one learns from and leverages failure.  If you don’t learn from it or grow from it, then yes, failure is just failure.

Here are some examples from my own life:

I love to lift weights.  Yes, I know what you’re thinking…despite my diminutive frame, I actually like weightlifting.

To grow or strengthen a muscle you have to first break it down.  Often this requires taking that muscle or group of muscles to the point of failure.

My favorite lift is the deadlift, which is a very simple lift.  When attempting a maximum, there is a high chance of failure.  Usually this means not even getting the weight off the ground.  I have had the joy of this failure many times.

I look ridiculous when I can’t even budge the weight.  But when I finally get a new personal best it feels amazing, especially when I’ve previously failed.

That’s the gym.  I’ve failed at far more serious things too.

I failed at my marriage.  I won’t bore you with the details, but alas after 14 years of marriage…failure.

I believe I’m learning from it.

I want to do so much better.  There are so many things I can improve at and utilize to make me better at relationships and in all my interactions with others.

I read “The 5 Love Languages”.  I’m glad I have that information to utilize.  I’ve read a number of articles, I’ve evaluated myself, my weaknesses and strengths.  I’m getting better.  I can’t let failure go to waste, especially for the serious things in life.

I failed so many times as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Early on in my mission I wanted to go home.  I had always wanted to go on a mission and I knew that Jesus Christ is my savior.  I believed I was doing what was right.

About 6 months into my 24 month mission and I was in total despair.  I was lost.  Even though I didn’t want to, I thought I was going to return home.

I talked to the President of my mission.  He knew my heart and thoughts even before I told him.  He then knew what I needed to hear.  He asked me if I believed that I was called by a prophet of God to my mission.  I did.

He told me something that I’ve never forgotten: “Then even if it means 24 months of hell, you need to do it!”  He knew that I didn’t have a physical or psychological impediment to being there, I just needed to have the raw determination to be there, even if it was hell.

He also told me: “But it won’t be 24 months of hell, things WILL get better.”

He was right on all accounts.  Things did get better, much better!  In fact, my life is completely different (in many positive ways) because I was thereafter determined to stay on my mission, come hell or high water.

I had to accept that I was human, far from perfect, and failure was an option; but that didn’t mean quitting.  It just meant being steadfast in overcoming failure and pushing forward, because I knew that what I was doing what was right.

I hope that I continue to learn and improve, even if it is through the crucible of failure.  I can’t let fear of failure determine my path.

I need to do what I believe is best, what is right, regardless of how failure may impact me going forward.

What are your thoughts?  Have you had failures in life that have impacted you beneficially?

Have you had a spectacular failure that it just too good not to share?  Feel free to comment!