Lightening up…

Work, stress, the economy, and the state of world affairs being what they are today, those fast, convenient, sweet foods seem to be calling our name.  They can even be delivered right to our office or doorstep by Uber Eats, Door Dash, etc. for what we salespeople call “a nominal fee”. 

I think our “battle of the bulge” in the face of today’s job stress needs a little reinforcement.  Though retired there’s no exception here; I’m 21 pounds over my college playing weight.  Margaret Thatcher reminds us: 

You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it. 

Did you see this recent Facebook post?

Making matters even more challenging, we’re surrounded by lots of nutrition misinformation, true?  We can’t even rely on our favorite Unknown Sage: 

Question: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?

Answer: Well, if you have a body, and you have body fat, your ratio is one-to-one. If you have two bodies, your ratio is two-to-one, etc. 

Question: I’ve heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life.  Is this true?

Answer: How could that be true?  Your heart is only good for so many beats, and that’s it.  Everything wears out eventually, so how could speeding up your heart make you live longer?  If you want to live longer – take a nap. 

Question: My wife says I should cut down on meat, and eat more fruits and vegetables.  What do you say?

Answer: Look, what does a cow eat?  Corn.  And what’s corn?  A vegetable.  So a steak is nothing more than an efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system. 

Question: Is beer bad for you?

Answer: Look, it goes to the earlier point about vegetables.  As we all know, scientists divide everything in the world into three categories: animal, mineral, and vegetable.  Well, we all know that beer is not an animal, and it’s not on the periodic table of elements, so that only leaves one thing, right? 

My advice:  Have a burger and a beer and tell everyone you’re on a vegetarian diet.                  

                        Unknown Sage 

Battling for good health over job stress is definitely worthwhile.  It was none other than Colonel Harlan Sanders (yes, that Colonel Sanders) who said: 

Make sure you don’t wind up the richest person in the cemetery.  You can’t do business from there.                                 

So here’s to lightening up on ourselves, our job, and our intake; burgers, beer, ice-cream and otherwise! 

GAP 

When life gets tough we could get a helmet… or… we could leverage the peace and share the power of a positive perspective.

 

Well, almost…

Last year I asked the Federal Government for $5,000.  Oh, it wasn’t for me. It was a donation request to support a nonprofit’s community festival.  Similar to all our governmental entities, non-profit organizations “run on money”.

I thought… I pay taxes; the government spends taxes; why not ask for a little?  My request of $5,000 was almost nothing within the context of more than $4 Trillion in taxes collected each and every year.  Logically, my request should have had a chance, right?  Well, almost…

I’m a huge Air Force fan.  In the 1940s, my Dad served in the Army Air Corps (which preceded the United States Air Force).  I’m a big fan of the Air Force Academy’s NCAA Division I football team, too.  So when I decided to solicit the Federal Government I focused on the USAF as my “target”. 

One solicitor to another, I sent an email of introduction outlining my request to the local US Armed Forces Recruiting Office; specifically a contact there from the Air Force.  Well, almost…  The contact I had was no longer working out of that local office.  My email was forwarded on a circuitous route until it finally ended up in the in-box of Master Sergeant Anthony Woodall. (Did he lose a bet?)

Seems like our government and the business world have a lot in common when it comes to emails aimlessly wandering along from in-box to in-box until someone (anyone!) eventually responds.  MSgt. Woodall responded.  We agreed to meet at his office.

“I have the money” was Anthony’s greeting.  Before I even introduced myself; before we shook hands; before I sat down; he declared he had the money I was requesting.  Well, almost…

After-all, there is that thing known as red tape:

To the government, cutting red tape often means slicing it into long strips lengthwise.

Norman R. Augustine

MSgt. Woodall had to “run it by his up-line”.  Plus, there was the paperwork.  Anthony said it was straight forward.  Well, almost…  Actually, filling out the government form was indeed straight forward.  It was where that form was routed that tested one’s perseverance.  Literally weeks went by with no word on approval; rejection; more information required; nothing.  I wanted to believe Anthony when he said this was normal, but the delay brought Herodotus to mind:

Very few things happen at the right time, and the rest do not happen at all.

As we approached the event deadline to his credit Master Sergeant Woodall contacted me with the bad news.  My request from our government was rejected.  His consolation was maybe it could happen in 2025 since we already went through their process. But in the back of my mind all I could think of was… Well, almost.

                                                            GAP

When life gets tough we could get a helmet… or… we could leverage the peace and share the power of a positive perspective.

Am I not what I don’t eat?

The difficult job climate is impacting graduates from the Class of 2020.  It’s even worse for job seekers from the Class of 1975.  Not that we’re ancient relics - but once you’re over 60, some hiring managers think that way. 

For those young or old seeking gainful employment appearance is a factor, especially weight.  It’s no secret that obesity in America has been out of control.  The 2020 stay at home orders have increased calorie intake while decreasing calorie burn rate for many of us.  Our “battle of the bulge” needs some reinforcements. 

No exception here; I’m 20 pounds over my college playing weight.  If I’m going to address that it will have to come from the intake end vs. the burn rate end.  I’m reminded of Margaret Thatcher’s quote:

You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it.

Some have said, “You are what you eat.”  Does that mean you aren’t what you don’t eat?  But I digress.

In today’s always online world it’s easier than ever to get caught up in our job; our in-box; social media.  It’s easy to get hooked on working hours instead of working out.  Add-in close proximity to the kitchen and the convenience of Door Dash and our waist lines are engaged in a battle with our cravings.  And here’s the thing, from my former manager Tom DeFloria:

     Abs are made in the kitchen; not in the gym.

There is nowhere to hide.  To make matters worse, there is a tremendous amount of misinformation about food, diet, and approaches to maintaining a healthy weight.  Here are a few examples:

Question:      How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?

Answer:        Well, if you have a body, and you have body fat, your ratio is one-to-one.  If you have two bodies, your ratio is two-to-one, etc.

Question:      I’ve heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life.  Is this true?

Answer:        How could that be true?  Your heart is only good for so many beats, and that’s it.  Everything wears out eventually, so how could speeding up your heart make you live longer?  If you want to live longer – take a nap.

Question:      My wife says I should cut down on meat, and eat more fruits and vegetables.  What do you say?

Answer:        Look, what does a cow eat?  Corn.  And what’s corn?  A vegetable.  So a steak is nothing more than an efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system.

Question:      Is beer bad for you?

Answer:        Look, it goes to the earlier point about vegetables.  As we all know, scientists divide everything in the world into three categories: animal, mineral, and vegetable.  Well, we all know that beer is not an animal, and it’s not on the periodic table of elements, so that only leaves one thing, right?  My advice:  Have a burger and a beer and tell everyone you’re on a vegetarian diet.

                            

Unknown Sage

I think it was none other than Colonel Harlan Sanders (yes, that Colonel Sanders believe it or not) who said;

Make sure you don’t wind up the richest person in the cemetery.  You can’t do business from there.

                                 

Yes weight and work are connected.  Being overweight is nothing to take lightly; we might all want to lighten up our in-take. Our health is much more important than just a job.  When Uber Eats delivers a salad and protein shake we can still say “Bon Appetit!

GAP

When life gets tough we could get a helmet… or… we could leverage the peace and share the power of a positive perspective.

A Bear and a Beer…

Springtime is here; warmer weather; reminds us summer is on its way.  Summer makes me think of a cold beer on a hot day; which makes me think of my Dad.  He loved a cold beer on hot days. 

When I think about my Dad I can’t help but remember his perspective about how much things cost.  He’d always pine, “Oh, the cost of gas is outlandish!”  Or he would complain about the price of bananas; milk; bread; you name it.

I bet you’ve heard these complaints from the older generation.  They are “Depression Era Babies”; people who grew up in very different times than ours.  Now, I don’t like over spending any more than the next guy, but I know I am truly blessed.   Of course, I get that annual shock about this time of year when income taxes are filed.  Reminds me of the saying from our favorite, Unknown Sage,

When I first started working I used to dream of the day when I might be earning the salary I'm starving on now.

When my 401-k statement arrives?  Well, my Dad’s complaints on how far a dollar can’t go any more come back to mind.  I think of the,

Market Terminology for Dummies:

Bull Market - A random market movement causing the investor to mistake himself for a financial genius.

Momentum Investing - The fine art of buying high and selling low.

Standard & Poor - Your investment strategy in a nutshell.

Mailbits.com

         

So it’s obvious that I’m going to be working for “a while”.  Let’s just say that I’m not quite to the point of being a Wal-Mart Greeter, but I am paying closer attention to where their employment application kiosks are located.  I’m trying not to let this get me down, though - I love my work, and I’m blessed with my income. 

I’d like to keep working as long as I’m physically (and mentally) able.  If you saw my golf game you’d tell me not to retire yet either.  However, like my Dad I confess that I’m starting to pay closer attention to how much things cost.  Norman Augustine, the former head of Martin Marietta Corporation did also.  He shared this story:

A bear who, displaying a $5 bill, had entered a bar and ordered a beer and; the owner of the bar directed the bartender to give the bear the beer, saying that since the bear didn't look very smart to only give it 25 cents in change.  Having done as he had been instructed, and having watched incredulously as the bear placidly sipped the beer, the bartender finally could no longer contain himself and sought to engage the bear in conversation.  You know, he said to the bear, we don't get many bears in this bar.  To which the bear is said to have replied, at $4.75 a beer, it's no wonder.

Funny thing about money; no matter how much we make, it’s not quite enough to take our minds off the price of things.  How we deal with the delta between our take home pay and our household budget has a lot to do with our daily outlook, yes?

“Houseless”, adj. 

Having paid all taxes on household goods.

Ambrose Bierce 

So whether it was my Dad’s watchful eye on prices; filing income taxes each year; or that bear placidly sipping his beer; all serve to remind me that my glass is truly half-full.

GAP

When life gets tough we could get a helmet… or… we could leverage the peace and share the power of a positive perspective.