Yellow Blog Journalism

The Greatest ______ in the World

In the past six months, I have had as many people tell me that I need to read Og Mandino's books. Maybe it's coincidence that I have been getting this random piece of advice, but more likely it has to do with spending the better part of the last couple years fighting a bit of burn out with a decade in EMS. It happens, and to be honest, I haven't managed it as well as I should until recently. There are probably other factors as well. Pre-schoolers are difficult, marriage is tough, dealing with hemophilia--as manageable as it has been--is still taxing and sometimes it scares the hell out of me. I've been pretty stressed and it has taken a toll.

The book isn't the only thing that I am using to cope. I have started to focus on getting healthy. Soda is out completely. I still have a ridiculous amount of root beer in the closet if anyone wants some. Pointless carb consumption is way down. Fruits and vegetables are way up. I feel better and look better than I have in a few years. 

I have gotten back into Scuba as well. I am very literally surrounded by good diving spots. I have a pretty good relationship with a dive shop that offers plenty of trips and is a great resource for lots of undiscovered (for me, at least) locations. I need to upgrade my kit, and over the next year will try to do that incrementally. 

I've been able to start taking classes at work that will hopefully help re-ignite the spark that I've lost along the way. I took an emergency ped's course a week ago that was well worth my time, re-certed my ACLS, have an upcoming advanced stroke class in August as well as a PHTLS and AMLS re-cert class before the end of the year.

So, it has been a multi-pronged effort trying to get myself back to a place of equilibrium. And admittedly I still have a ways to go. That is one of the reasons that I decided to pick up this book and begin what will be a ten month process with it. The book itself begins with an introductory parable about the mysterious origins of the ten scrolls that lead one to greatness. The secret is given away in the beginning. It is all about habits. Trading the bad habits for good ones. 

Each scroll is meant to be read three times a day for thirty days. One scroll at a time. In order. 

I began the first scroll yesterday, and it hits home right off the bat.

"Today I begin a new life. 

Today I shed my old skin which hath, too long, suffered the bruises of failure and the wounds of mediocrity"

A good start. It begins right where I have been.

Off Coke for Two Weeks

I've been concerned for several years about my waist and it's expansion.since college i've gained an average of 10 lbs a year for the last 10 years.The math it's simple and while I can carry 250 lbs on my frame without looking too bad,I can't do it the way that I did without feeling like I was constantly moving through sludge. About 2 months ago I joined a gym, started working out 3 times a week and even started considering what I could change in my diet to help my health. Cheesy eggs & sausage had to go, as did about90% of my nachos intake. Those were the low hanging fruit. Oatmeal has begun filling my bowl frequently for breakfast and my nacho intake has dropped drastically.

I soon discovered my next major problem was a pernicious coke addiction. It has been a 6 pack a day problem. Usually if I go too long without one, a headache will ensue. I've tried a few times to moderate this drinking problem, but I always end up back where I started with the high fructose corn syrup monkey right back on my back.

I don't know what triggered my motivation a couple Fridays ago. I hadn't been intending to sacrifice the drink to the mighty Pemberton, but s suddenly it happened. The wife was gone to Asia for work and I poured myself a glass
of water, grabbed a bottle of ibuprofen and started riding out the next 4 days of headaches.

So far it has been two Weeks and my water intake has gone from about 0 to 100+Oz a day. Reverse that for my soda intake. So, sorry Pepsi and choke...err Coke, but I am done.

Next week I will start my crusade against sugary snacks.