I went for a 4 1/2 hour walk today.  A few things happen when you walk for that long of a period of time.  Among them are:

• Your head clears;
• You watch people;
• You notice things others do not notice.

One thing I observed several times today (and have been noticing for the past few weeks) is that way too many people seem to be in a hurry.

I’ve seen people do the following, on many occasions:

• Roll through stop lights instead of actually stopping at them;
• Speeding (excessively – not just a few miles over the speed limit);
• People cutting people off in traffic; and
• People driving through the front sections of parking lots at grocery stores at 25 to 30 miles per hour (while talking on their cell phones).

In fact, I observed someone today driving through a grocery store parking lot so fast, I waved my arms at him and told him to slow down.  He looked at me like I was nuts, but the 4 or 5 seniors who were around me at the time all looked at me and said, thank you . . .

As a result of the busy holiday season, I have no doubt in my mind that similar scenarios are being played out all over America and the world, as I write this.  In fact, I’d be willing to bet that if just 1000 people drive like this person did in the parking lot, that at least one of those people will wind up hitting somebody’s car as their backing out, and even worse, they might strike a pedestrian, injuring or killing them.

All because we’re in such a damn hurry.

I’m reminded of a lesson I learned approximately 34 years ago at the age of 16.  I was driving on the freeway in Houston, Texas.  It was the week before Christmas.  I was zigging and zagging back and forth in traffic, driving approximately 95 miles per hour.  Basically, I was being a foolish, reckless kid who was in a big hurry.

All of a sudden, this unmarked car came up behind me, flashing their lights and the driver held up his badge and motioned for me to pull off the road.  It was an off-duty policeman who was going to teach me a lesson.

What did he do?  He did NOT write me a ticket, as he was off-duty.  He did NOT make me sit there and wait while he called an on-duty policeman to write me a ticket.  He did NOT take me into jail.  He did none of those things.

Instead, he took me aside and told me:  “Son, this is the week before Christmas.  Don’t kill anybody.  Stop driving like that.”

Basically, he scared me like I’d never been scared before.

Then he let me get back in my car and continue on to my destination.  That’s all he did.

He did NOT punish me.  Instead, he taught me a lesson, BEFORE it’s too late.

It’s a lesson that I still remember to this day.  Since that time, I have never once driven like I was doing on that day when he pulled me over.

His message was clear and I got it.  Slow down.  Relax.  Don’t be in such a hurry.  Don’t kill anybody.

That’s a lesson we all should learn.  Not only will slowing down reduce the chances of you killing somebody, it will probably reduce the chances of you killing yourself.  It will reduce the stress in your life and you will feel much better as a result.

So, in the midst of this holiday season, please slow down!

I was driving home tonight listening to some great music in the car and it hit me.

IT HIT ME HARD !

WHAT WAS IT THAT HIT ME?

What hit me was the realization that I feel fantastic.  I’m 50 years old and my health is excellent.  In fact, I’ve never felt better in my entire life.

That’s what hit me.  I’m on a roll right now.  I’M ON FIRE !!!  MY PASSION IS HOTTER THAN EVER !!!

I’ve decided that, to the extent possible, I want to go through each and every day feeling 100% good about myself.  Not 90%, not 80%, not anything else.

Just 100%

I’ve been paying special attention to virtually everything I’m doing these days.  I’ve basically been working on bringing balance into my life.

For those of you who aren’t sure what I mean by balance, it’s simple.

Balance is decreasing everything that is excessive and increasing everything that is deficient.

What Have I Increased?

Exercise – I now do 2 to 3 hours of physical activity EVERY day.   I’ve been doing this for nearly 5 months.   I’ve been sore quite a bit, but my body is starting to feel a lot better and the soreness is starting to leave my body.

Healthy Eating – I’m now VERY careful about what I eat each day.  I only choose to eat foods that are healthy and good for me.

Love For Myself – I take time each day to appreciate myself.

Meditation – I’m still working on this one, but I’m starting to meditate more each day.  What I’ve actually found that works for me is walking meditation.  I go out in the hottest part of the Arizona days and walk for 2 to 3 hours (yes, I drink a liter of water per hour while doing it).  I then meditate while I’m walking as I’m by myself and it’s quiet.

What Have I Decreased?

Soda Pop – I have not had a soda pop in 5 months.  While I’m not 100% convinced that they’re bad for me, I am 100% convinced that they’re NOT good for me.  Hence, no more soda pop.  I’m not saying I’ll never have one again, but for the near future, I don’t want it.

Alcohol – I have not had any alcohol for 2 months.  Same as soda pop here.  While I’m not 100% convinced it’s bad for me, I am 100% convinced that I don’t need it to feel good.  Hence, no alcohol.  I’m not saying I’ll never have alcohol again, but for the near future, I don’t want it.

Junk Food – Quite simply, I feel so good right now that eating bad food makes me feel terrible.  My wife and I took a vacation last week and while we were on the road, I wasn’t always able to find my regular food choices.  I did not like the food and I didn’t feel good about eating it, but after 3 days back home I felt great again.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS YOU WANT TO INCREASE OR DECREASE IN YOUR LIFE?

Please feel free to comment. I’d love to know what changes you have made (or want to make) in your life.

SOME RECOMMENDED READING

Laws Of Positioning #4  – Position Yourself To Be Balanced

Laws Of Positioning #69 – Position Yourself To Be Passionate

Repeated Short Term Discipline Brings Long Term Rewards

Some Definitions First

Short Term – Of or pertaining to a short term, esp. one year or less.

Discipline – Activity, exercise, or a regimen that develops or improves a skill; training.  Behavior in accord with rules of conduct; behavior and order maintained by training and control.

Long Term – Covering a relatively long period of time.

Rewards – Something given or received in return or recompense for service, merit, hardship, etc.

Discipline Is Not Something You Have To Do, It Is Something You Get To Do

All too many people look at being disciplined as something that is awful; that takes too much work; that is simply no fun.

I’m here to tell you that nothing could be further from the truth.

The reality is that IN THE BEGINNING, discipline is quite often awful; it quite often takes too much work; and it quite often is simply no fun.  HOWEVER, ONE YOU GET STARTED, discipline becomes a thing of beauty.  Discipline becomes a pleasurable experience.

I know this based upon my own recent experiences.

Over the past 4 months, I have worked my way up to exercising a minimum of 3 hours daily.  It didn’t start out that way.  At first, I was only doing about 30 minutes a day.  It was a pain.  It was not fun.  It would have been much more fun to sit at home, eat and watch TV while sitting on the couch.

BUT I KEPT GOING.  I REMAINED CONSISTENT.  I PUT ASIDE THE SHORT TERM PLEASURE OF SITTING AT HOME, EATING AND WATCHING TV WHILE SITTING ON THE COUCH.

The Results

Over the past 4 months, I am now exercising a minimum of 3 hours daily and as much as 6 hours on some days.  When I say exercise, it might be something as simple as walking or biking or such.  When I say exercise, I mean physical activity.  I have gotten up off my butt and I’m getting at least 3 hours of physical activity each day.

During that time period, I’ve lost 60 pounds.  I feel fabulous and I’m about 80% of the way toward getting in the best shape I’ve ever been in during my entire life.  That’s not bad for a 50 year old guy who ruptured his achilles tendon about 20 months ago and who put on a bunch of weight as a result.

The other good part is that everyone at the gym is starting to admire me and I’m proud to tell them what I’ve done.

My Conclusion

I now consider it a privilege to get up off my butt each day and do some physical exercise.  I can’t wait to get started each and every day.

Don’t get me wrong, some days I don’t feel like it and that might be a day where I take the day off.  While I”m getting in shape, I’m not Superman, so I do have to rest every so often.  That’s just part of being human.

Why Am I Doing This?

Simple reason:  Regret Weighs A Ton.  Discipline Weighs Ounces.

I am 50 years old and I want to live a VERY long time; a VERY LONG TIME.

If I don’t show a little discipline now, I know that I will regret it later in life.

It’s just that simple.

Some Additional Reading For You

Law Of Positioning #24 – Position Yourself To Be Disciplined

Law Of Positioning #103 – Position Yourself To Fulfill Your Potential

Listen to this podcast to hear why I love to exercise in a quiet environment.

Silence is indeed golden.

This is a podcast containing dated, Saturday, June 20, 2009 that contains my thoughts about my birthday experiences at Canyon Ranch, specifically my thoughts about the Spirit Lodge experience from this past Thursday night.

It took me a little time to sort everything out and put it into words.  You can hear that I”m a little out of breath while recording it, but I was hiking uphill on a hot day, so I did the best I could.  I also included a small audio containing some typical sounds of the desert, in this case quail chirping in the background.

Below the podcast button are a few pictures I took that might help put the podcast into perspective.  You can click on any of the pictures to make them bigger.

THE CANYON RANCH LABYRINTH

THE CANYON RANCH KIVA NEAR THE LABYRINTH

THE TEEPEE NEAR THE LABYRINTH

THE SPIRIT LODGE FIREPIT

THE SPIRIT LODGE ITSELF

A VIEW OF THE CANYON RANCH SKYLINE

A VIEW OF SOME OF THE SAGUARO CACTUS ON THE PROPERTY