No Regrets

Yes, I went and it was a great time. I got to see a ton of my friends that I really had not seen in 15 to 20 years.

The entire night flew by and it really did not feel like I had enough time to talk to everyone, oh well.




I actually won an award as well which was the "Michael Jackson Award(most changed male & female)" Don't know if that is a good thing or not?

Here are some pictures if you went to School with me and want to know if or who a certain person is in a photo hit me up with a comment and ask!

If you hate your job this much, maybe a career change is in order?

Overworked Policeman Stabbed Himself

Updated: 12:09, Monday June 04, 2007
An overworked policeman stabbed himself in the stomach so he could get time off, investigators in Japan have said.
The truth came out after detectives launched an attempted murder investigation but could not find any suspects matching the alleged victim's description.

The 44-year-old took a knife to himself because he was worn out by overtime and weekend working, they discovered.

He knifed himself at his home in north west Japan but told fellow officers he had been attacked.

They began to doubt his story when they couldn't get anywhere with the inquiry.

Suspicions were also raised because the officer had waited an hour before reporting the alleged attack, the spokesman said. His wounds were not life-threatening.

The officer, whose name was not released by police, had been in charge of disaster relief work for the aftermath of an earthquake in the area that killed one person, injured more than 300, and damaged or destroyed more than 14,800 homes.

Police thought he became distraught after putting in long hours without a break.

"He became very busy, he felt like he couldn't handle the work he had to do," said the spokesman.

The officer admitted the truth after he was released from hospital and is now under investigation for filing a false report.

Death from overwork, known as karoshi, has steadily increased since the Health Ministry first recognised the phenomenon in 1987.

The Older I Get!

OK, I know you all were waiting with baited breath to see if I was going! So, yes I am going we actually went to dinner last night with a bunch of the old Rat Pack as we were calling ourselves and it was really fun. Anyway, will let you know more later and hopefully more pictures as well.

June 3rd

Oh 1995, OJ Simpson is found Not Guilty, Digital Video Disc is introduced, The San Francisco 49ers win the Super Bowl and I meet and marry the love of my life! I have been so blessed oh these past twelve years, I have only one thing to say about that there wedding in Broken Arrow, "I WOULD NOT CHANGE IT FOR THE WORLD!"

Rachel you complete me.


I love you and know you are the most beautiful woman in the world!


Happy Anniversary!

TO GO OR NOT TO GO?

Yes, it is that time and I can't freakin believe it is my 20 year reunion! Ugh, How did I get so old so fast? Well here is the deal, not trying to sound like I am making excuses not to go.

But, it is my 12 year anniversary and I have made plans to be without our children from Friday afternoon to Saturday afternoon and we are going out on the town Friday night. My wife has made a commitment that she can't break Saturday Night and we don't have child care so if I do go I have to go alone! How lame will that be showing up alone?

Maybe I am just being a big wiener?

What do you think should I go? Y?

Fill in caption below:

This is (a.) Boy if I keep pulling this string my button will fall off. (b.) Man I can't believe how sticky that dental floss is! (c.) Only manly men have 5" nipple hair.

Yes it is (c.) and yes that is sooooo gross!

SUMMER IS HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

First, Jackson celebrates his birthday on the 28th so we went to Adventure Island on Friday and had a blast!

Then, we had Pancakes with Desiree and The Heckman's on Saturday.

Sunday my brother and his girlfriend were in town and they came over to celebrate Jackson's birthday along with Ashley Mayer. We had a big old BBQ and played ball it was a great time.

So below are some pics, ENJOI!

Memorial Day

This Memorial Day I would like to add this again:




GOD BLESS ALL WHO SERVE AND HAVE SERVED!!!!

WE LOVE YOU AND APPRECIATE ALL YOU SACRAFICE!!!!!!

STAY AWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This has been two years of hell!

I have never had so many problems with a company in my life!

1. I would have to call every month and spend 2-3 hours on the phone correcting my bill.

2. I would be charged for roaming in downtown Tampa?

3. They would try and get me to make changes to my plan constantly to rope me into a longer term.

4. Finally, they tried to charge me an early termination fee for porting my number prior to my contract ending!

Bottom Line Don't ever get a contract or service with Sprint they SUCK!

CHOKE

I know this photo looks like it is early morning fog, but no it is a sunny mid-day in Florida. This is smoke from the fires here and let me tell ya it sux! It looks like an overcast day and smells like Billy Bob is burning his leaves and brush scrub again. The major problem is you can't get away from it, even going inside the smell and smoke is still there.

Bottom line, it needs to rain here bad!

I used to be Sirius now I am XM?

OK, so I had Sirius radio and loved it! Being that I drive 600-700 miles a week in town it was nice to have so many (Kinda) commercial free choices. Well I got a new car and it came with XM. I called Sirius and canceled my service. I was kind of bummed at first cause I knew all the stations and would play a little text message game with my bro, when either of us heard a song we liked we would text each other with the station it was on. For some reason 43 was a popular station, old school stuff.

Now that I am on XM I really do like it a ton more. It has a ton more choices and channels and I really don't miss Howard Stern, not that I listened to his crap to begin with. Anyway if you are considering one or the other I would say XM is the way to go!

The Joys of Every Word Being Taped

This is a great example of what happens when every word you say is put on Tape!

I still can't believe 10,000 people?

MY GURL AND HER DAY

Well, as you read this Rachel is half way to Kansas to celebrate her B-day with her Gewd friend Kishan and already we miss her immensely. Though we know she is going to have a great time we miss her so much! Love you babe have a great time!

STOP! Leeuwner Time!

Forget Hammer Time it is Leeuwner Time, with one of the more selfless acts of the year Martin and Betsy choose to come to surprise Rachel for her Birthday. Boy what a surprise it was, we left church on Sunday and went to a local restaurant and who was sitting at the table? That is right Martin and Betsy and boy was Rachel flipping out! It was stinking so awesome, the next four days were filled with partying and debauchery at levels on plane with the Warp tour.

Well thank you Leeuwners you rock and by the way Happy Anniversary!

We Love you guys!

That's it get out and walk home!

I have heard of a husband making his wife walk, but swim?

Man Throws Wife Off Boat

STUART, FL (AP) -- Authorities say a verbal argument ended when a Stuart man threw his wife from a boat and left her in the ocean about a quarter of a mile from shore.

The Martin County Sheriff's Office reports that Julie Talley treaded water on Sunday until she was able to flag down a passing boat.

Once the woman got back to dry land, she told deputies that her husband -- Robert Talley -- had tossed her overboard and left her but that she had wanted to get off the boat anyway.

Despite his wife's protests, Robert Talley was charged with domestic battery. He was released Monday on a $5,000 bond.

ONLY IN FLORIDA AYE!

• In the state legislature in Tallahassee, a bill was filed to require restaurants never to run out of toilet paper or soap.

• A 50-year-old man in Port Charlotte was charged with ripping a $6,000 cardiac monitor off a wall of a hospital emergency room, along with a $600 otoscope and a $100 blood-pressure cuff. The outburst occurred after he asked for something to eat and was told he couldn’t have food until he had been seen by a doctor.


• A woman from Haiti was arrested in Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport when authorities found a human skull in her luggage. As a practitioner of voodoo, “she truly does believe that a skull will protect her,” her lawyer advised the court. The judge accepted the explanation and gave the defendant 2 years’ probation, even though it’s against the law to bring body parts into the country without certification for scientific use.

• At a murder trial in Miami, a nurse called as a prospective juror was excused after she told the court she could not sit on the case if the jury were to be sequestered for several weeks, because no one was available to sit for her pet ferret.

• A student at the University of Central Florida was arrested and charged with starting a fire in his dormitory, just so, he said, he could meet women during the evacuation.

• The Lee County sheriff reported that a man robbed a hotel desk clerk shortly after midnight while talking all through the holdup on a cell phone.

• A 29-year-old was arrested in Clearwater and charged with stealing motorcycle parts after police recovered photos of the parts, which they believed were taken by the suspect. At the bottom of each photo, the photographer’s bare toes displayed the tattooed words “white” and “trash,” matching tattoos on his own toes.

• Also in Clearwater, lawyers for a divorced husband asked the court to let him stop paying $1,250 a month alimony to his ex-wife because she had since become a man after a sex change. They argued that because it’s illegal for a man to marry a man in Florida, it should be illegal for a man to pay alimony to a man. Counsel for the former wife countered that the husband agreed to pay the alimony until his ex-spouse dies or remarries and she has done neither.

• In Fort Myers, a 240-pound man charged with punching a mother at a mall while he was wearing an Easter bunny suit at a holiday photo shoot pleaded no contest and got probation. The defendant and his wife had argued with the organizer of the event, and police alleged he finally took off his bunny head and clouted her while frightened youngsters looked on.

• Citing a personal code of honor, a retired Air Force pilot refused to pay for his $15.99 shrimp and scallop verdura dinner in Palm Harbor because it contained only five small shrimp and five scallops. He told a reporter he wouldn’t be able to look at himself in a mirror if he paid or even negotiated a settlement, so he hired a $500-an-hour New York lawyer and got an acquittal.

If pulled over for a DUI, you can: A: Politely admit your mistake B: Say you only had one beer, hope for the best C: Cause $1100 damage to a cop car?

DUI suspect does $1,100 worth of damage with his head


A DUI suspect caused over a $1,000 worth of damage to a Savage police car with his forehead.



Police say Joe Cummings, 36, smashed his head repeatedly into the hood of the patrol car after being arrested on suspicion of DUI Saturday night.



“He broke free, he bolted and lunged himself head first onto the hood of the squad car and then began to ram his face repeatedly with a great amount of force into the hood,” Capt. David Muelken of the Savage police department said.

Cummings’ wife said her husband had lost his job earlier that day.

She said he did the same thing in Chaska when he was pulled over for a DUI there.

The Modern Day Beatnik

You know who you are? You are sitting in Starbucks drinking your coffee on you Powerbook Pro sipping your Solo Espresso Macchiato writing existential thoughts about life, liberty and the pursuit of caffeinated bliss! Today's Beatnik no longer sits in the coffee shop openly playing out their thoughts on the bongos, but bangs the thoughts out on the keyboard instead. Well as I cross the earth I see the same thing at each Starbucks I patron the lonely beatnik sits putting out a new post for the Cyber world to contemplate. Funny how some things change and some don't!

When your son asks to borrow money, do you A) Give him the money, B) Tell him its time to get a job, or C) Throw all caution to the wind and shoot him

Father Shoots Son After Argument Over Money
Posted Apr 17, 2007 by Vidisha Priyanka
Updated Apr 17, 2007 at 11:43 AM


By Mike Wells
The Tampa Tribune


GIBSONTON - A father recovering from recent surgery shot his adult son Saturday night after their argument over money turned physical, Hillsborough County sheriff’s spokeswoman Debbie Carter said.

At 7 p.m., Freddy Peddy III, 55, fired a handgun once at his son, Freddy Peddy IV, 30, Carter said. The younger Peddy was visiting his parent’s home at 10926 Sonora Dr.

Peddy IV, of 3236 10th St. North, St Petersburg, was rushed to Brandon Community Hospital, where he died from the injury to his upper torso.

No charges have been filed.

Half Life

As I approach what is known as half life some things become more and more apparent to me. Age is in your head, although your body has a mind of its own!

What it looks like when we go home to our Father!

This is what I imagine it is like when we go home to the Lord!

FREAKIN FREEZIN IN FLORIDA

Al Gore is right, but this has to be global cooling cause I can't believe it is April and I am C O L D in Florida. We should be at the Beach right now!

So, what am I to do? Move to VI, my friend Brian Wahlen's mom and dad live there so it would not be like I wouldn't know anyone and I am sure I could get a job riding a Rik Shaw!

" W IS FOR WESTSIDE G!!!!!!!!!!"

Like they say at Abercrombie in International Mall here, straight up Gangsta Shopping!

Betting on the SURE THING!

Odds on that God exists, says scientist


Stewart Maclean, Catherine Bolsover and Polly Curtis
Monday March 8, 2004
Guardian Unlimited


A scientist has calculated that there is a 67% chance that God exists.
Dr Stephen Unwin has used a 200-year-old formula to calculate the probability of the existence of an omnipotent being. Bayes' Theory is usually used to work out the likelihood of events, such as nuclear power failure, by balancing the various factors that could affect a situation.

The Manchester University graduate, who now works as a risk assessor in Ohio, said the theory starts from the assumption that God has a 50/50 chance of existing, and then factors in the evidence both for and against the notion of a higher being.

Factors that were considered included recognition of goodness, which Dr Unwin said makes the existence of God more likely, countered by things like the existence of natural evil - including earthquakes and cancer.

The unusual workings - which even take into account the existence of miracles - are set out in his new book, which includes a spreadsheet of the data used so that anyone can make the calculation themselves should they doubt its validity. The book, The Probability of God: A simple calculation that proves the ultimate truth, will be published later this month.

Dr Unwin said he was interested in bridging the gap between science and religion. He argues that rather than being a theological issue, the question of God's existence is simply a matter of statistics.

"On arriving in America I was exposed to certain religious outlooks that were somewhat of an assault upon my sensibilities - outlooks in which religion actually competes with science as an explanation of the world," he said.

"While I could not be sure, having slept through most of the cathedral services I had attended during secondary school, this did not seem like the version of faith I had remembered. In many ways, this project was for me a journey home - a reconciliation of my faith and education."

Despite his findings, Dr Unwin maintains that he is personally around 95% certain that God exists.

However, Graham Sharp, media relations director at William Hill, said there were technical problems with giving odds on the existence of God. "The problem is how you confirm the existence of God. With the Loch Ness monster we require confirmation from the Natural History Museum to pay out, but who are we going to ask about God? The church would definitely confirm his existence."

Mr Sharp said William Hill does take bets on the second coming, which currently stand at 1,000/1. For this confirmation is needed from the Archbishop of Canterbury.

"We do take bets on the second coming, whether that confirms the existence of God is up to the theologians to argue, most people wouldn't believe that, though."



With all the things to bet on in this world it is nice to know that the odds are in favor of God existing. Better yet the odds are even greater that the Second Coming is going to happen? So, if the odds are 1000 to 1 on the second coming and 7 to 1 on God existing wouldn't that be contradictory irregardless of confirming the obvious of God's Existence or not?

Have a Great Good Friday and if you happen to be in Vegas put down a sawbuck on God for me!

You Choose Which One?

The fact is all of us at one time of our lives are faced with the ominous reality of using the "PUBLIC TOILET." I know for many of you just seeing the image makes you cringe. As a road warrior I can pretty much tell you within a fifty mile geographic region where the cleanest toilet is within a square mile radius. Funny thing is I never think about the dollar bills that pass through my hand throughout the day.

So the question is "Are We Getting Germs From Sitting on the Seat?"

"No," said Janse. "You're not going to get germs from your backside. You're going to get them from your hands." "Usually, actually the floor is the dirtiest, as you might guess."

* The floor test revealed about 2 million bacteria per square inch. Gerba says
that's about 200 times higher than a sanitary surface.
* Not surprisingly, the sanitary napkin disposal unit also failed the test and
rated as the spot with the most germs in our ladies' room.
* But our sink, an area that is usually a haven for germs, was found to be
unexpectedly clean. The biggest surprise was found on the toilet seat. It was deemed a sanitary surface.

A sanitary surface is something clean enough to eat off of, with no more than 1,000 bacteria per square inch. The toilet seat passed that test, but
a desk failed.

So, what about money? Well, a study at the University of California at San Francisco cultured 113 examples of "real life" cash from a deli, a post office, a newsstand, and so on. Most grew harmless organisms, but 18 percent of coins and 7 percent of notes had some less friendly bacteria on them, including the odd colony of Escherichia coli and the potential pathogen S. aureus.

What will be obvious by now is that anything that gets on hands can get on money. And hands are hardly germ-free. While not the germiest parts of the human body--they're too dry for that--hands have a local population of bacteria quietly grazing on their skin debris. In the late 1930s, the surgeon P. B. Price discovered something rather odd and shocking about our hands: no amount of washing with soap or antimicrobial agents can sterilize them. "Even after 10, 15 washings," says James Leyden, a dermatologist at the University of Pennsylvania, "bacteria are there by the thousands."

So, what do you do? Enjoy your life and live it to the fullest, I think washing hands is important, but equally so is realizing that many of the greatest fears in life are in our heads and not on our behind!

My Famous Wife

OK, I am probably going to get beat for this, but I was checking out the website to a church we went to four churches ago and guess what I see under their women's section! A picture of three women who have not gone there in years. I could not help but chuckle and think they might need to update their website or maybe not? You be the judge!



From Left to Right: Pastor Kerri, Stephanie and My Rachel!

Rockin Out In FLA!

OK, So Rob and the Boys of Pillar came to FLA, Late but hey they came!

Unfortunately, their bus broke down and they had to rent a new bus and were delayed so they did not make it on Wednesday as planned.

That was alright because we met them and took Linda and the Little Rocker Baby on Thursday, while Pillar played Tampa, Gainsville, Miami and then Orlando. Where we took Linda and Hudson Cash back to meet his Dad again for the ride home and watched them play for the second time in four days and the millionth time in their career. They are seriously so stinkin talented and only one relationship away from a huge promotion!

It is funny how you take certain things for granted.

Here are a few of my own personal examples:
1. How cute a baby could look with a Dew Rag on(also how many servers will attack you at a restaurant because you have Dew Rag on your baby)!
2. The fact that your own baby is old enough to want to go to the mosh pit and is forced to stand at the front of the stage instead! (See second picture from the top)
3. Being in a bar with a 8,9 and 13 year old is not a big deal to you or them?
4. People are People, always have been, always will be, the only difference is some act real and others act real fake! I glad Rob and the rest are not the latter.
5. True Friendship is important.
6. Finally, we don't have to take our clothes off to have a good time. (OK, that one is a joke)

Anyway, it was a GEWD time and we look forward to them coming again in May. We even got to hang with my bud from High School Brian Whalen who lives in Orlando! Pretty Cool to say the least.

Abe

The Last Thing You Do

I heard a song today that went like this:

If the last thing you did was the last thing you do,
Would you be OK with the way they remember you?

Wow, I know country lyrics can be cheese, but that really hits home. When you think about the last thing you did being the last thing you do, it kind of scares ya?

It does me, kind of like living for the moment. I find myself questioning things like, is it just enough to enjoy life? Or am I required to do something amazing with my life? In comparison to others I pale and yet I don't think I am not faithful with what I have been given? Or am I?

Then I think well if I am to live like every moment could be my last then should I go buy a Ferrari? Skydive? Bungee Jump? Buy my wife a big rock? Proselytize Aggressively? Question Authority More? It is never ending?

What would you do if the last thing you did was the last thing you do?

Please no Miss America answers, we all want to End World Hunger and want World Peace!

The Real Linda Beckley Please Stand Up!

HANGING WITH TRUE FRIENDS

So we got to spend some time at the beach with our new friend Hudson Cash! Wouldn't you know it though, there is always someone crashing the picture! If anyone knows who that guy is let me know I would like to give that guy a piece of my mind!

Displace Me!

For those of you who don't know about this it is an incredible story! Go to www.invisblechhildren.com to check it out. Readers Digest version is three guys from Cali went to Uganda with a video camera to learn about the children abducted into being soldiers as young as 6 years old. They started a Nationwide movement. April 28Th is a chance to speak out voluntarily displacing yourself by camping out over night to show our Nations leaders you want them to do something about the Northern Ugandans' trial of being displaced for the past ten years. Want to learn more about what you can do watch this video! If you get an opportunity to watch a screening of the film they made, DO IT!

Amazing Art!

Yes, art is everywhere. What is amazing is the medium and the paint of this art. While the medium is the back windows of vehicles the paint is dust! Yes, that is right all these images were done out of the dust accumulated on the back window. The only thing more bizzare is after all this work they are washed away at first rain. Want to see more? Check out DirtyCarArt

Feel Like It!

It’s funny how sex factors into the way people describe the state of their relationships. Studies show that, when things are going well, sex contributes only 15 percent to the overall satisfaction of a relationship. But if things aren’t going well, it contributes 85 percent to the overall dissatisfaction.

Sex has many advantages to both people involved. Here are just a few.

Twenty Reasons to Have Sex When You Don’t Feel Like It

1. Because you said so

Even though you may not have promised to “love, honor, and have sex once a week” when you made a commitment to your relationship, it was understood that sex would be part of that bargain.

Imagine how the marriage rates would go down if people said, “I’ll marry you, but don’t expect sex.” If you polled one thousand people on the street and asked them, “Is it reasonable to expect to have to have sex when you are married?” the overwhelming majority would say yes. If you expect a monogamous commitment from your partner, then it stands to reason that you will be a cooperative sex partner.

2. Sex helps you forget

Oxytocin, which triggers orgasm, has an amnesic effect that lasts up to five hours. So for a period of time you forget that he maxed out your Visa card or she was an hour late getting home from work. Women get an additional benefit. During orgasm that parts of the brain that govern fear, anxiety, and stress are switched off. (Faking orgasm gives no such benefit.)

3. Sex rewires you for pleasure

Every time you share a positive experience with your partner, your brain comes to associate him or her with pleasure. You can transform any relationship simply by increasing the number of enjoyable times you share together.

4. Sex puts the “P” back in partnership

Passion is what separates your relationship with your intimate partner from those with girlfriends and buddies. Yes, you two are best friends and confidants, but without sex you will not have passion.

The following are from a 1997 study in the British Medical Journal-

5. Heightened sense of smell

After sex, production of prolactin surges, causing stem cells in the brain to develop new neurons in the brain’s smell center (olfactory bulb).

6. Weight loss

Rambunctious sex burns a minimum of two hundred calories, about the same as running fifteen minutes on a treadmill. British researchers determined that the equivalent of six Big Macs can be worked off by having sex three times a week for a year.

7. Reduced depression

Prostaglandin, a hormone found in semen, modulates female hormones. Orgasm releases endorphins, producing a sense of well-being and euphoria.

8. Pain relief

During sex, levels of oxytocin surge five times their normal level, releasing endorphins that alleviate pain. Sex also prompts production of estrogen, which reduces the pain of PMS.

9. Healthier heart

Women who have more sex have higher levels of estrogen, which protects against heart disease.

10. Cure for the common cold

Once-a-week sex produces 30 percent higher levels of immunoglobulin A, which boosts the immune system.

11. Better bladder control

Sex strengthens the pelvic muscles that control the flow of urine.

12. Peppy prostate

Some urologists believe they see a relationship between infrequency of ejaculation in men and cancer in the prostate. In this case solo sex works just as well, but why out on all the other benefits?

13. Shiny hair, glowing skin

For women, extra estrogen from orgasm makes hair shine. Sweat produced during sex cleanses the pores and makes skin glow. Serotonin produces the after glow of sex.

14. Calming effect

Sex is ten times more effective than Valium, with no side effects.

15. Relief for a stuffy nose

Really. Sex is a natural antihistamine. It can even help combat hay fever and asthma.

16. Firmer tummy and butt

Regular sex can firm your tummy and butt, plus improve posture.

17. Boosts immune system

Endorphins stimulate immune-system cells that fight disease.

18. Forever young

Sex actually slows down the aging process. It lowers cortisol levels in the bloodstream, which reduces stress and slows down the aging process.

19. Protection against Alzheimer’s and osteoporosis

Women who have more sex have higher levels of estrogen, which protects against Alzheimer’s and osteoporosis.

20. Euphoria

Who wouldn’t want more? The best way to get a natural high is sex!

Steven Stosny, Ph.D. and Patricia Love, Ed.D

Excerpted with permission from their brand new book:

The things I do for Love!

I got a call from my wife last week and she was acting really weird to say the least. While I am trying to figure out what she did wrong, she tells me she made an "Executive Decision?" This is probably one of the most uncomfortable things you can hear as a husband. I don't even get to make "Executive Decisions," so what gives? Well it turns out my wife, the one who says over and over she won't own another dog! Yes, that is right, we not only adopted one, but two of these guaranteed heartbreaks. They are purebred Shitzus and as cute as they are they have already christened the house more than me! The brown and white is the boy Gomez, sorry, I mean Gizmo. The black and white is Sasha. They are cute dogs, but just like driving a mini-van they are pretty emasculating to walk.

I can't believe I watched the whole thing!

That is what you will be saying, I promise though the ending is worth it!



Thanks for video Los!

God save the Queen, He is loyal to the Caffine!

More surprising than Paul McCartney leaving Capitol Records after forty years is who he signed with! The one the only Starbucks, you may be thinking to yourself Paul is training to be a Barrista? No, Starbucks has actually gone into the record business and the first to sign is Paul. Now I am not against be diversified, but I can only imagine the artists being hyped up techno and mellow decaf sounds. Anyway, just when you think you heard everything!

Take 2

Want some Relish on your hot dog or life?

Sometimes I post for myself because I know I am the only one who reads this, then sometimes I post for others. I wonder which one this is for?

The Habit of Rushing

However the occasions when we genuinely need to rush are really a lot less frequent than we convince ourselves. The simple truth is that rushing has become a habit for many of us. And it has a negative effect on our mental, spiritual and physical health.

Negative Effect of Rushing

When you are rushing the body literally is in panic mode. The physical systems feel as if they are constantly being stressed to meet imaginary deadlines. An occasional shot of adrenaline might be good for you but a continuous stream of it will wear down the body and its immune system. You will tend to get sick more often, feel more fatigued, enervated and listless.

When you are rushing mentally, your mind is always ‘on’. Thoughts of things you need to get done and things you have not yet gotten done keep streaming through your mind making you feel out of sorts and unaccomplished. You may even feel panicked and have trouble sleeping and relaxing. Instead of turning to chemical sleep aides, why not change your habit of rushing around?

Become aware of your rushing habits

First you need to become aware of your daily habits and thoughts. Most of the time when we are rushing, we do not even realize it because it is such an automatic response. For example, I walk fast naturally – excessively so. I walk as fast as I can no matter if I am talking a Sunday evening stroll or trekking across the office compound.

How effective is rushing?

Once you are aware of those hurried habits, examine their effectiveness. For instance, most times walking fast at the office helps me to maximize my time and get more work done. So it is sometimes effective in that environment. However, walking fast while out for a stroll actually defeats the purpose. For each hurried habit you identify, ask yourself if it is necessary and if it is effective.

Stop rushing

If it is neither necessary nor effective, make an active effort to change that habit. Identify exactly how you can slow down. In my case, I simply practice strolling or walking slowly. It’s never easy to break a habit but it is well worth it to your mental and physical health to spend the time and energy breaking these habits of rushing around.

Mental Rushing

Mentally you need to restrict your thoughts. If you mind is constantly overrun with anxious thoughts of things to be done, practice scheduling a time to think about those things. And refuse to allow yourself to think about them at any other time. Particularly if your thoughts are obsessive rather than constructive.
Obsessive thoughts are those that merely go over and over the task again and again, serving no useful purpose except to remind yourself of it. Constructive thoughts are those that generally seek a solution.
Slowing down for bedtime

If you have trouble shutting off your mind at bedtime, be sure to change your routine about an hour before bedtime. Turn off the television, and refuse to think of thoughts of the day gone by or the day to come. Try to relax. Sit outside and watch the stars.

Slow down to accomplish more

If you feel that your life and your work is so hectic and important that you cannot possibly relax, remember that scientific studies have shown that people who spend less time at the office, and more time relaxing are significantly more productive and effective. When your mind is not constantly worrying about the next item on your “to-do” list, it is free to focus on being creative and naturally comes up with effective solutions for increasing productivity.
Be realistic about daily goals

Remember also that only so many items can be accomplished in any 24-hour period. Do not overextend yourself or overestimate your time. Set realistic objectives for each day. And take the time to relish your achievements. If you have ten items on your “to do” list and you achieve eight, relish the fact that you achieved 80% of your objectives rather than obsessing about the other 20%.
Be patient

Remember tomorrow is another day, and while you do want to maximize your time, there are items that will get done tomorrow rather than today. The expression “Don’t leave for tomorrow what you can do today” speaks about what you are able to do today. Not everything can be done today. As my hubby is famous for saying “Have patience. Rome was not built in a day.”

Above all, slow down, relax and enjoy your life. These are the days of your life that you are living right now, not just some goal you are working towards at some point in the future. Take the time to relish them.

I think of all the important things to think about the last paragraph sums it all up!

Peas
Abe

The Outreach Linebacker

See if you notice any stars in this film?

Moving on up!

To a deluxe apartment in the sky! Now I know only a select few old people like myself will get that. So, we closed and moved in and are unpacking! It is so awesome and we are so blessed. Thanks to Sean for all your help moving out and in! I know I am gonna be sore for a few weeks. Thanks to all for your thoughts and prayers. It is so great to have a neighborhood for the kids to play and I even have an office/dog house. Yee haw!