MESSAGE #648 I FOUND IT!

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“You don’t have to be great at the start, but you need to start to be great.” -author unknown

I found optimism – it was on TV last night.

I don’t watch much television. I feel that most of it is either a waste of time or trying to put fear into you (the news), or trying to make you buy something. I’ll watch Yankee games, some Tennis Channel and DVDs, that’s pretty much it.

Well last night, the great Melissa Sapio called me and left a message saying, “There’s something you might want to watch at 10pm.”

Boy, was she right! The show was called “Michael J. Fox: Adventures of an Incurable Optimist.”

It was amazing.

Michael J. Fox, famous for his roles in “Family Ties,” “Spin City” and “Back to the Future,” was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 1991. Instead of becoming a pessimist and asking why (Why me?), he became an optimist and asked how (How can I make the most of this?).

The show was about optimism, and how you can find it anywhere in the world.

You can find it in Lance Armstrong – who feels that his life is better because of his challenges.

You can find it in the man who hands out free newspapers in New York City – who feels that you can choose to be optimistic every day.

You can find it in dairy farmers – who now work together and think outside the box in times of trouble.

You can find it in Bhutan – where happiness is a national pastime.

You can find it at Wrigley Field – where their Chicago Cubs are cursed, but fans still feel that every season is a new one and that “this is the year.”

And finally, you can find it in Bill Murray on the golf course – who instantly got it when Michael J. Fox said, “It’s about doing the right thing.” He also said that it’s not about winning, it’s about accepting yourself.

Other quotes I liked…

“I have gratitude in everything I do.”

“Do what you love.”

“Be optimistic, it’s contagious.”

I think that some people are born optimistic, but everyone can become optimistic. It’s a choice.

You don’t need a lot of money to be optimistic. You don’t have to live in a certain part of the world. You just have to have the right mindset.

The show ended with Michael J. Fox taking his last shot on the golf course. He said, “This is gonna be the best shot of the day…”

And it was.



Thanks for reading.

MESSAGE #647 SOURCES OF VITAL ENERGY

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“A person of intellect without energy added to it, is a failure.”
-SEBASTIEN-ROCH NICOLAS DE CHAMFORT

I see people working out at the gym and they are lifting all these weights and getting big, but they can’t even bend over to tie their shoes. What these people are actually looking for is more energy.

How is your energy…

after work or after school?

There are three types of energy: physical, mental, and emotional.

Your physical energy is affected by the way you manage your environment and the way you care for your body. Your mental energy is influenced by the inventory of to-dos and projects you store in your memory bank. And your emotions reflect your inner feelings and how you deal with them. Attending to all three of these areas will enable you to recharge your batteries, plug energy drains and increase your ability to maximize your capacity for greatness.

Rate the following statements on a scale from 1 to 5. 1=Never/NO and 5=Always/Yes

Physical Energy

I eat well and get plenty of exercise and sleep; I take care of my health. ____

I take time for myself to enjoy hobbies, pamper myself and otherwise physically re-energize. _____

My home environment is clean, neat and uncluttered, and reflects who I am. _____

My work environment is efficient, productive and facilitates productive activity. _____

My belongings are in good condition, meet my needs and reflect my personality. ____

Mental Energy

I only accept requests that fit within my time constraints and reflect my values and priorities. _____

I handle tasks as they come in (or make sure they’re appropriately scheduled for handling) instead of trying to keep a mental to-do list. ______

I only worry about the things I can personally control or address, and release those I can’t. ______

I accept what is and what can be, and let go of what isn’t, what could have been and what can’t be. ______

Emotional Energy

I express myself clearly, honestly and openly, even when it’s uncomfortable or about sensitive matters. ______

I don’t let issues build up – I address issues, problems and questions in the moment and only with the people they concern or who can do something about them. ______

I set clear boundaries on my time and attention. I respect other’s boundaries, and expect the same respect from them. ______

I accept and honor the emotions I feel – good or bad – and try not to judge myself or avoid my feelings. _______

Choose one of these types of energy and ask yourself the following questions…

Which statement is poorly rated or are out of sync with my priorities, values or needs?

What am I currently doing to address this issue?

What am I avoiding around this issue? Why?

What could be possible for me if my available energy in this area matched or exceeded my current needs?

What is stopping this from happening?

Finally, complete the following sentence…

This week, I will increase my energy by ______________________________.

NOW GO DO IT!


Thanks for reading.

MESSAGE #646 HOW TO SUCCEED…

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“To laugh often and much;
To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;
To earn the approbation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty;
To find the best in others;
To give of one’s self;
To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition;
To have played and laughed with enthusiasm and sung with exultation;
To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived —This is to have succeeded.”
-RALPH WALDO EMERSON

MESSAGE #645 SECRET TO SUCCESS…

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“The good life is a process, not a state of being. It is a direction, not a destination.”
-CARL ROGERS

DO WHAT YOU LOVE…

GIVE IT YOUR ALL…

LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES…

BE GRATEFUL…

HELP OTHERS…

THAT’S SUCCESS.

MESSAGE #644 WORLD LAUGHTER DAY…

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“Angels can fly because they take things lightly.”
-author unknown

Yesterday was World Laughter Day.

Is this a necessary day?

Well, we have Administrative Assistants Day.

We have National Nurses Day.

And we have National Boss Day.

I think that people create special days because of under appreciation.

The power of laughter is certainly under appreciated.

Laughter can strengthen your immune system, reduce stress, lower blood pressure, improve brain function, protect your heart, and make you feel good.

Oh, and I forgot…

Laughter can help you perform better in your sport and job.

Do you ever get nervous? Do you ever feel pressure? Do you ever feel like you’re thinking too much?

Laughter can help. It loosens you up.

When you laugh, you loosen up physically.
When you loosen up physically, you lighten up mentally.
When you lighten up mentally, you play better.
When you play better, you win!

Seek out ways to laugh: watch a funny DVD, go to a comedy club, listen to comedians while driving, seek out funny people.

“If at first you don’t succeed, then skydiving definitely isn’t for you.”
-STEVEN WRIGHT


Thanks for reading.

MESSAGE #643 MENTAL FITNESS TRAINING…

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“Why not go out on a limb? Isn’t that where the fruit is?”
-author unknown

All success begins in the mind.

Are you mentally tough in tennis…playing the piano…in your job?

Everyone knows that the mental side of sports and life is probably the key ingredient to success. But very few people have these skills.

Here’s the good news…

Your mental fitness is just like your physical fitness – it comes from training. You are not lacking mental skills, you just haven’t practiced them sufficiently.

Dr. Albert Ellis, an American psychotherapist, was the founder of cognitive-behavioral therapy.

Ellis, who was born in 1913 and raised in the Bronx, was a painfully shy teenager, unable to bring himself to speak to women. But one afternoon he decided to make a change. He sat on a bench near the New York Botanical Garden and chatted with every woman who sat down. In one month he spoke with 130 women. “Thirty walked away immediately,” he said. “I talked with the other hundred, for the first time in my life, no matter how anxious I was. Nobody vomited and ran away. Nobody called the cops.”
(The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle)

So what does this mean?

You have to practice.

You have to put yourself in situations where you are forced to face your challenges.

The more comfortable you are being uncomfortable, the better your results will be.

Thanks for reading.

MESSAGE #641 OUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE NEW…YANKEE STADIUM

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Babe Ruth played there.

Mickey Mantle played there.

Derek Jeter played there.

Muhammad Ali played there.

Pink Floyd played there.

Vince Lombardi played there.

Nelson Mandela played there.

John F. Kennedy played there.

It sure is sad to look across 161st Street at the old stadium, empty with the lights turned off.

Last night, I attended my first Yankee game in the new stadium. It was absolutely beautiful. I got off the D train, walked up the steps, and walked into my first souvenir shop. After checking out a couple shops, I headed towards my favorite hotdog stand outside the stadium (next to the bowling alley). Make sure you get one with onions and mustard.

After my treat, I took some quick photographs outside the new stadium. It was time to enter the new cathedral. We entered through Gate 4 and proceeded to walk down the Great Hall. Wow, breath-taking.

Next stop was Monument Park, which is back to it’s original location, behind the center field wall. I paid respects to the Babe, Gehrig, DiMaggio, and the rest of the gang. It was good to see my old friends again.

After that, we headed over to the Yankee Museum on the 200 Level. You walk in and see an autograph wall in between statues of Don Larson and Yogi Berra. There are signed baseballs by Babe Ruth, and players from the DiMaggio days up until the recent Jeter years. Seats from the original stadium were on display and a spectacular ball wall with autographs from almost every player who wore the pinstripes seemed like the main attraction. Last but not least, you can see Thurman Munson’s locker as you exit the museum.

We walked along the concourse, and I loved the fact that you can not only see the entire field, but also circle the entire stadium on the same level.

Our seats (thanks to Mike DeBlase) were Section 432B, Row 4, Seats 11 and 12 in the Grandstand in left field. As I took it all in, I was in awe of the new stadium’s beauty, but then I got a chill.

This was a new stadium, but there is something eerily familiar about it.

I could sense the pride and tradition all around me.

Do I miss the old stadium?

Of course, but nothing lasts forever. Sometimes you just have to move on.

There’s no sense dwelling on things you cannot change. Embrace the new. Live for today.

Thanks for reading.

MESSAGE #640 KILL WITH KINDNESS…

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“Kindness is the language the deaf can hear and the blind can see.”
-GENE BEDLEY

The best way to make yourself happy is to make someone else happy…

Compliment somebody.

Ask someone how they are doing and really mean it.

Call a family member and say you love them…

Do it today!


Thanks for reading.

*TENNIS ANYONE?*
TENNIS. FITNESS. NUTRITION. MENTAL TRAINING.
With Ed Tseng, Pro of the Year USTA/NJD 2005

MESSAGE #639 IT’S GREEK TO ME…

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EXCELLENCE…

Vince Lombardi said, “Perfection is not attainable. But if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence.”

Aristotle said, “Excellence is an art won by training and habituation. We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but we rather have those because we have acted rightly. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.”

Abraham Lincoln said, “Whatever you are, be a good one.”


Can we all attain excellence, or is it reserved for the select few?

I believe excellence is already inside of all of us.

But what does excellence mean to you?

I’ll tell you what it means to the Greeks – Dia Phoron.

I love it.

Why?

Because literally translated, it means “follow through.”

Finish what you start.

Do what you say you’re going to do.

And be excellent.



Thanks for reading.

MESSAGE #638 LIPSTICK IN SCHOOL?

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According to a news report, a certain private school in Washington was recently faced with a unique problem. A number of 12-year-old girls were beginning to use lipstick and would put it on in the bathroom. That was fine, but after they put on their lipstick, they would press their lips on the mirror leaving dozens of little lip prints. Every night the maintenance man would remove them, and the next day the girls would put them back… Finally the principal decided that something had to be done.

She called all the girls to the bathroom and met them there with the maintenance man. She explained that all these lip prints were causing a major problem for the custodian who had to clean the mirrors every night (you can just imagine all the yawns from the little princesses).

To demonstrate how difficult it had been to clean the mirrors, she asked the maintenance man to show the girls how much effort was required. He took out a long-handled squeegee, dipped it in the toilet, and cleaned the mirror with it.

Since then, there have been no lip prints on the mirror.

There are teachers. . .. and then there are educators.

-Source unknown