"All the so-called "secrets of success" will not work unless you do." - Author Unknown
I spoke at my Toastmasters club today. I shared a speech that was previously given by General Douglas MacArthur back in 1962. In that speech he talks about not substituting words for actions nor choosing the path of comfort. That stirs something in me. To many times I spend in "lip-service" or "do as I say, not as I do" or don't put forth the effort to make changes.
Success takes effort. Effort takes determination. Determination takes responsibility. Responsibility begins with you (or me).
"Put your heart, mind, intellect and soul even to your smallest acts. This is the secret of success." - Swami Sivananda
MattyV
www.iweighedmorethanjared.com
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Clutter
"You can never get enough of what you don't need to make you happy." - Eric Hoffer
Had a garage sale this past weekend, cleared out some junk that we felt we needed at the time but ended up in the basement/garage/closet. Made a little cash, pennies on the dollar, but still cash and actually restrained ourselves from visiting other sales and buying more crap to replace the crap we just got rid of.
Do you have clutter? I don't mean just physical clutter, but mental clutter. How do you spend your week? Do you look at the end of the week and wonder where your time went? I suggest sitting down and mapping out your week. You get 168 hours, no more, no less. Successes have used their time wisely, finding ways to increase their success in all areas of life.
How's your time map looking? Spending time on 'clutter'? Change it!
"He who buys what he does not need steals from himself." ~Author Unknown
MattyV
www.iweighedmorethanjared.com
Had a garage sale this past weekend, cleared out some junk that we felt we needed at the time but ended up in the basement/garage/closet. Made a little cash, pennies on the dollar, but still cash and actually restrained ourselves from visiting other sales and buying more crap to replace the crap we just got rid of.
Do you have clutter? I don't mean just physical clutter, but mental clutter. How do you spend your week? Do you look at the end of the week and wonder where your time went? I suggest sitting down and mapping out your week. You get 168 hours, no more, no less. Successes have used their time wisely, finding ways to increase their success in all areas of life.
How's your time map looking? Spending time on 'clutter'? Change it!
"He who buys what he does not need steals from himself." ~Author Unknown
MattyV
www.iweighedmorethanjared.com
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
The Future...
"The course of life is unpredictable... no one can write his autobiography in advance." - Abraham Joshua Heschel
I recall a scene from the movie "Terminator 2: Judgement Day" where John Connor is having a conversation with his terminator protector about something his mother carved onto a picnic table - "The future's not set. There's no fate but what we make for ourselves..."
We often resign ourselves to our own self-imposed prisons by telling ourselves that it's our fate - we are where we are and that's all. Our minds have been conditioned over the years to a thinking pattern that keeps us from our true potential.
The statement above is true, the future isn't set. We have the ability to change our lives, our careers, our health (to some extent), we have the ability to act and not react to what comes our way.
Choose your own fate, follow your dream...
"The past can't see you, but the future is listening." - Destin Figuier
MattyV
www.iweighedmorethanjared.com
I recall a scene from the movie "Terminator 2: Judgement Day" where John Connor is having a conversation with his terminator protector about something his mother carved onto a picnic table - "The future's not set. There's no fate but what we make for ourselves..."
We often resign ourselves to our own self-imposed prisons by telling ourselves that it's our fate - we are where we are and that's all. Our minds have been conditioned over the years to a thinking pattern that keeps us from our true potential.
The statement above is true, the future isn't set. We have the ability to change our lives, our careers, our health (to some extent), we have the ability to act and not react to what comes our way.
Choose your own fate, follow your dream...
"The past can't see you, but the future is listening." - Destin Figuier
MattyV
www.iweighedmorethanjared.com
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
Faith...
"To me faith means not worrying." - John Dewey
Take it the way you wish, but miracles & blessings happen all the time. Some go unnoticed, while others end up being newsworthy. When you look for them, you will find them. Maybe it's that parking spot in a busy parking lot that opens up right in front of the store you need to visit. Maybe it's finding the exact change needed to purchase an item or finding a $20 bill when you thought you only had a $5 bill.
I had a noticeable blessing today. I have been belly-aching about this for quite a long time. I am a member of a local Toastmasters club, a group of people training and practicing to become better public speakers. I fell into this group when I lost weight and wanted to tell my story. It has helped me hone my public speaking skills and speaking style. I've met a lot of people and there is a core group of people that are there each week to support each other.
I've advanced in the group and I believe currently I am the highest ranking person with the designations of Advanced Communicator Silver and Advanced Leader Bronze. I am also currently serving to the best of my ability as president of the club.
Dues for the next semester are coming up on October1st and with Bren without a job and our emergency fund getting dangerously low - I was going to have to step away from the group. It was a hard choice to make, but we didn't/don't have the $40 to continue the membership. I let the officers know last week of our situation and that it may be time for me to step down until our finances got back to normal.
After the pastor's sermon on Sunday, I began to think about my decision to quit the club. I was going to let the group know today (Tuesday) at the meeting that I would be unable to continue in the club after October 1st. Instead I decided to let God lead, if He wanted me to continue my training as a public speaker, He would provide the money to do so. I was leaving it up to Him and trusting his direction.
I talked to the treasurer after the meeting and asked about possibly making payments or working out some sort of arrangement so that I could continue leading the club. He told me that the other officers had discussed the situation and felt led to pay my dues for the next semester out of the club treasury.
So, there was my answer. I guess I need to continue leading and training. I would have been a little bummed if it didn't work out, but if it did happen that I couldn't continue - I know deep down that there is somewhere else that I needed to be at that point in my life.
Keep the faith and let God lead. You never know where you'll go, but where you end up is where He wants you to be...
"Faith makes things possible, not easy." - Author Unknown
MattyV
http://iweighedmorethanjared.com/dead.aspx
Take it the way you wish, but miracles & blessings happen all the time. Some go unnoticed, while others end up being newsworthy. When you look for them, you will find them. Maybe it's that parking spot in a busy parking lot that opens up right in front of the store you need to visit. Maybe it's finding the exact change needed to purchase an item or finding a $20 bill when you thought you only had a $5 bill.
I had a noticeable blessing today. I have been belly-aching about this for quite a long time. I am a member of a local Toastmasters club, a group of people training and practicing to become better public speakers. I fell into this group when I lost weight and wanted to tell my story. It has helped me hone my public speaking skills and speaking style. I've met a lot of people and there is a core group of people that are there each week to support each other.
I've advanced in the group and I believe currently I am the highest ranking person with the designations of Advanced Communicator Silver and Advanced Leader Bronze. I am also currently serving to the best of my ability as president of the club.
Dues for the next semester are coming up on October1st and with Bren without a job and our emergency fund getting dangerously low - I was going to have to step away from the group. It was a hard choice to make, but we didn't/don't have the $40 to continue the membership. I let the officers know last week of our situation and that it may be time for me to step down until our finances got back to normal.
After the pastor's sermon on Sunday, I began to think about my decision to quit the club. I was going to let the group know today (Tuesday) at the meeting that I would be unable to continue in the club after October 1st. Instead I decided to let God lead, if He wanted me to continue my training as a public speaker, He would provide the money to do so. I was leaving it up to Him and trusting his direction.
I talked to the treasurer after the meeting and asked about possibly making payments or working out some sort of arrangement so that I could continue leading the club. He told me that the other officers had discussed the situation and felt led to pay my dues for the next semester out of the club treasury.
So, there was my answer. I guess I need to continue leading and training. I would have been a little bummed if it didn't work out, but if it did happen that I couldn't continue - I know deep down that there is somewhere else that I needed to be at that point in my life.
Keep the faith and let God lead. You never know where you'll go, but where you end up is where He wants you to be...
"Faith makes things possible, not easy." - Author Unknown
MattyV
http://iweighedmorethanjared.com/dead.aspx
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
Shortcomings...
"It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again. Because there is no effort without error and shortcomings, he who knows the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the high achievement of triumph and who at worst, if he fails while daring greatly, knows his place shall never be with those timid and cold souls who know neither victory nor defeat". - Theodore Roosevelt
Feeling like a failure today? At least you tried. Think of those that don't try, stay in the shadows of the "comfortable and familiar" and get up to try again!
I've failed time and time again. I've failed as a father, a husband, a friend, a co-worker, a leader. But I continue on knowing that my destiny is much greater than my weaknesses suggest.
"Be true. STAND!" - Mother Abigail, "The Stand"
MattyV
www.iweighedmorethanjared.com
Feeling like a failure today? At least you tried. Think of those that don't try, stay in the shadows of the "comfortable and familiar" and get up to try again!
I've failed time and time again. I've failed as a father, a husband, a friend, a co-worker, a leader. But I continue on knowing that my destiny is much greater than my weaknesses suggest.
"Be true. STAND!" - Mother Abigail, "The Stand"
MattyV
www.iweighedmorethanjared.com
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Communication
"People love chopping wood. In this activity one immediately sees results." - Albert Einstein
I was thinking communication recently. My youngest son turns 3 months today and we are beginning to understand his way of communicating with us. We have determined different cries mean different things. One cry means "I'm bored!" while another cry means "I'm in need of changing!". It took a little bit to understand what he wanted through this rudimentary form of communication but now that we understant him - we see instant results once we alay whatever the need is.
Communicating with yourself is important. Learning what makes you hungry, what hunger is for you, even what triggers you have for overeating or non-exercising are all important things to know in order to lose weight.
I kind of think we've been lulled into some sort of Pavlovian sense of having to eat meals at certain times of the day - even when we might not be hungry. Try this some time - fast for an entire day, drinking just water for a 24 hour period. Whenever you get a hunger pang - drink some water and wait to see if it goes away. If after 15 minutes or so it doesn't, take another glass of water. You will soon get to understand what a "false hunger" and "real hunger" pang feels like so you can better understand your body's need.
You may not need to eat until 9am or 10am or can go until 2pm to eat lunch. Once you understand your body, you will begin to see better results because you will be eating only when truly hungry and not when you're "supposed to"...
"The sculptor produces the beautiful statue by chipping away such parts of the marble block as are not needed - it is a process of elimination." - Elbert Hubbard
MattyV
www.iweighedmorethanjared.com
I was thinking communication recently. My youngest son turns 3 months today and we are beginning to understand his way of communicating with us. We have determined different cries mean different things. One cry means "I'm bored!" while another cry means "I'm in need of changing!". It took a little bit to understand what he wanted through this rudimentary form of communication but now that we understant him - we see instant results once we alay whatever the need is.
Communicating with yourself is important. Learning what makes you hungry, what hunger is for you, even what triggers you have for overeating or non-exercising are all important things to know in order to lose weight.
I kind of think we've been lulled into some sort of Pavlovian sense of having to eat meals at certain times of the day - even when we might not be hungry. Try this some time - fast for an entire day, drinking just water for a 24 hour period. Whenever you get a hunger pang - drink some water and wait to see if it goes away. If after 15 minutes or so it doesn't, take another glass of water. You will soon get to understand what a "false hunger" and "real hunger" pang feels like so you can better understand your body's need.
You may not need to eat until 9am or 10am or can go until 2pm to eat lunch. Once you understand your body, you will begin to see better results because you will be eating only when truly hungry and not when you're "supposed to"...
"The sculptor produces the beautiful statue by chipping away such parts of the marble block as are not needed - it is a process of elimination." - Elbert Hubbard
MattyV
www.iweighedmorethanjared.com
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Mistakes...
Won a speech contest today. Based the speech on the topic of making mistakes. I've made plenty and expect to make many more over my lifetime. I learned a few things about mistakes:
1 - Everybody makes them (don't kid yourself)
2 - You need to learn from them (see examples below)
3 - Don't dwell on them (probably THE most important thing to remember)
The Apple LISA was a commercial flop. What did Apple learn? Enter the Apple Macintosh & Apple's OS X software (both have roots in the LISA computer)
The Ford Edsel was also a commercial flop. What did Ford learn? Enter 2 of the most popular Ford lines, the Mustang & the Taurus
Wilson Greatbatch developed the implantable pacemaker (including it's corrosion-resistant battery) years after he put in the wrong part into an external heart monitor.
I love speaking. I can't explain it. It was envigorating being up there and sharing the speech I had prepared. I need to develop this talent...
MattyV
www.iweighedmorethanjared.com
1 - Everybody makes them (don't kid yourself)
2 - You need to learn from them (see examples below)
3 - Don't dwell on them (probably THE most important thing to remember)
The Apple LISA was a commercial flop. What did Apple learn? Enter the Apple Macintosh & Apple's OS X software (both have roots in the LISA computer)
The Ford Edsel was also a commercial flop. What did Ford learn? Enter 2 of the most popular Ford lines, the Mustang & the Taurus
Wilson Greatbatch developed the implantable pacemaker (including it's corrosion-resistant battery) years after he put in the wrong part into an external heart monitor.
I love speaking. I can't explain it. It was envigorating being up there and sharing the speech I had prepared. I need to develop this talent...
MattyV
www.iweighedmorethanjared.com
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Courage
"Every man has his own courage, and is betrayed because he seeks in himself the courage of other persons." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
This past weekend I was watching some episodes of a television show and happened upon a little nugget that was hidden in amongst one of them.
In an exchange with two characters, one was telling the other that they had more courage than the other. They had the courage to be themselves. They had the courage getting out of bed knowing that they had to be themselves.
Of course the entire exchange was meant to be comedic in its intent, but there is a lot of truth in that exchange. Most of us are scared of being who we truly are. Afraid of what others think of us, conforming to what we think they find "acceptible".
Do you have the courage to be who you are? Or are you conforming to what the "world" wants?
"Courage is doing what you're afraid to do. There can be no courage unless you're scared." - Edward Vernon Rickenbacker
MattyV
www.iweighedmorethanjared.com
This past weekend I was watching some episodes of a television show and happened upon a little nugget that was hidden in amongst one of them.
In an exchange with two characters, one was telling the other that they had more courage than the other. They had the courage to be themselves. They had the courage getting out of bed knowing that they had to be themselves.
Of course the entire exchange was meant to be comedic in its intent, but there is a lot of truth in that exchange. Most of us are scared of being who we truly are. Afraid of what others think of us, conforming to what we think they find "acceptible".
Do you have the courage to be who you are? Or are you conforming to what the "world" wants?
"Courage is doing what you're afraid to do. There can be no courage unless you're scared." - Edward Vernon Rickenbacker
MattyV
www.iweighedmorethanjared.com
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
Fear...
"Many of our fears are tissue-paper-thin, and a single courageous step would carry us clear through them." - Brendan Francis
Fear can motivate. Fear can immobilize. We need to have a healthy respect for fear ONLY when it deserves such. I have been and still am afraid of many things - failure, abandonment, etc. but these fears do not deserve the respect that I give them. We need to grow past our fears in order to move towards where we want to be. One person was quoted that in order to succeed we need to double our failure rate. Those are interesting and yet true words. How can we achieve success if we do not fail?
Figure out what you are afraid of and see which ones deserve the respect and which ones are "paper-thin" that can be broken through to access the next level in your life.
"There are very few monsters who warrant the fear we have of them." - Andre Gide
MattyV
www.iweighedmorethanjared.com
Fear can motivate. Fear can immobilize. We need to have a healthy respect for fear ONLY when it deserves such. I have been and still am afraid of many things - failure, abandonment, etc. but these fears do not deserve the respect that I give them. We need to grow past our fears in order to move towards where we want to be. One person was quoted that in order to succeed we need to double our failure rate. Those are interesting and yet true words. How can we achieve success if we do not fail?
Figure out what you are afraid of and see which ones deserve the respect and which ones are "paper-thin" that can be broken through to access the next level in your life.
"There are very few monsters who warrant the fear we have of them." - Andre Gide
MattyV
www.iweighedmorethanjared.com
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Assistance...
"It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing because you can only do little - do what you can." - Sydney Smith
I asked my oldest son if he would like to go to Home Depot with me to pick up some weedkiller. His response melted my heart and made me laugh at the same time, "I would be glad to assist you at the store..."
It was sweet, but also very poigniant at the same time. I know he couldn't do much but be company on the trip but at least he was willing to do that little part. Look around you today, how can you be of help to someone? Giving up your seat on the bus or subway. Help someone load their groceries into their vehicle. A tiny act of kindness can not only help others but also makes you feel good and uplifts your spirits. What kind of assistance can you give today??
"Nobody can do everything, but everyone can do something." - Author Unknown
MattyV
www.iweighedmorethanjared.com
I asked my oldest son if he would like to go to Home Depot with me to pick up some weedkiller. His response melted my heart and made me laugh at the same time, "I would be glad to assist you at the store..."
It was sweet, but also very poigniant at the same time. I know he couldn't do much but be company on the trip but at least he was willing to do that little part. Look around you today, how can you be of help to someone? Giving up your seat on the bus or subway. Help someone load their groceries into their vehicle. A tiny act of kindness can not only help others but also makes you feel good and uplifts your spirits. What kind of assistance can you give today??
"Nobody can do everything, but everyone can do something." - Author Unknown
MattyV
www.iweighedmorethanjared.com
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Words
"A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver." - Proverbs
I whispered into my new son's ear last night. I try to do this every night. What do I whisper? Words of encouragement, words of strength, positive words. I grew up on negative words. Words like, "stupid", or "idiot", or "worthless". Those words were planted deep into my mind and the fruit from those words was bitter and hurtful.
I told my son that he was going to grow up strong and handsome and smart. I told him that both he and his brother were going to do far greater things than myself. I tell my older son that he can do anything he puts his mind to. I am planting positive seeds in the hopes of seeing better things come to fruition in both my children's lives.
What words are you planting in your daily life? Words of hope or words of despair?
MattyV
www.iweighedmorethanjared.com
I whispered into my new son's ear last night. I try to do this every night. What do I whisper? Words of encouragement, words of strength, positive words. I grew up on negative words. Words like, "stupid", or "idiot", or "worthless". Those words were planted deep into my mind and the fruit from those words was bitter and hurtful.
I told my son that he was going to grow up strong and handsome and smart. I told him that both he and his brother were going to do far greater things than myself. I tell my older son that he can do anything he puts his mind to. I am planting positive seeds in the hopes of seeing better things come to fruition in both my children's lives.
What words are you planting in your daily life? Words of hope or words of despair?
MattyV
www.iweighedmorethanjared.com
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Inner Strength
"When the world says, "Give up,"Hope whispers, "Try it one more time."" - Author Unknown
Sitting here looking at a photo that someone had taken last October of me running my first 8k race. That was a grueling time for me, there I was 34 years old and 280lbs running up and down hills around the city of Zeeland. Many racers were "professionals" looking for a quick win and accolades from the crowd. Others were teens that ran track or cross-country. There were even moms, looking for a time to chat and get a t-shirt (one pair of moms had matching shirts that said "Incredi-Moms" a play on the Disney/Pixar movie "The Incredibles").
Looking back on that time, I never quit. I was tired and suffering from "side-stitch" (dehydration causing pain in your sides) but I never quit. I knew if I had quit, I would not start again and I would be done. Teens that passed me, soon I passed as they had stopped and began to walk. They may have caught up and passed me - but I didn't stop to walk, they did.I am gathering strength from remembering that time. I didn't quit then, and I sure as hell am not going to quit now.
"The race is not always to the swift, but to those who keep on running." - Author Unknown
MattyV
www.iweighedmorethanjared.com
Sitting here looking at a photo that someone had taken last October of me running my first 8k race. That was a grueling time for me, there I was 34 years old and 280lbs running up and down hills around the city of Zeeland. Many racers were "professionals" looking for a quick win and accolades from the crowd. Others were teens that ran track or cross-country. There were even moms, looking for a time to chat and get a t-shirt (one pair of moms had matching shirts that said "Incredi-Moms" a play on the Disney/Pixar movie "The Incredibles").
Looking back on that time, I never quit. I was tired and suffering from "side-stitch" (dehydration causing pain in your sides) but I never quit. I knew if I had quit, I would not start again and I would be done. Teens that passed me, soon I passed as they had stopped and began to walk. They may have caught up and passed me - but I didn't stop to walk, they did.I am gathering strength from remembering that time. I didn't quit then, and I sure as hell am not going to quit now.
"The race is not always to the swift, but to those who keep on running." - Author Unknown
MattyV
www.iweighedmorethanjared.com
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
An Update & Today's Thought
Just an update, took some time off after the birth of my second son. Gave me some time to think about the weekly blogging and how I want to press forward. I've decided that I am changing the weekly blogs to Tuesdays because Fridays are already hectic with trying to post an audio Podcast and a webshow on YouTube. I think I will also break that up by posting the audio Podcasts on Wednesdays and leave the YouTube show to Fridays. Trying to do too much packed into one day has worn me out a bit. So, stay tuned each Tuesday for a new thought for the day...
"An idea not coupled with action will never get any bigger than the brain cell it occupied. " - Arnold Glasow
There is another old saying that goes, "The road to hell is paved with good intentions..." which is true for the most part. We can talk all we want about what we plan to do with our lives, but it's when we actually sit down and put things to action that causes change to happen.
What is in your craw, deep down that you wished you could change? Write it down and then execute it.
"Small deeds done are better than great deeds planned." - Peter Marshall
Matty V
www.iweighedmorethanjared.com
"An idea not coupled with action will never get any bigger than the brain cell it occupied. " - Arnold Glasow
There is another old saying that goes, "The road to hell is paved with good intentions..." which is true for the most part. We can talk all we want about what we plan to do with our lives, but it's when we actually sit down and put things to action that causes change to happen.
What is in your craw, deep down that you wished you could change? Write it down and then execute it.
"Small deeds done are better than great deeds planned." - Peter Marshall
Matty V
www.iweighedmorethanjared.com
Friday, May 16, 2008
Freedom...
"It is easy to take liberty for granted, when you have never had it taken from you." - Dick Cheney
Freedom isn't free. It's not a right that everyone is entitled to. It's something that was fought for, died for, and unfortunately we as a country have taken much of it for granted. We have the freedom of choice of what to eat at any time of the day or night. From the fridge to the corner store, to even fast food restaurants open at all hours of the day or night. Freedom of choice, but it's up to us to make the right choices as far as our eating habits.
The more processed and preserved food we choose over making something from scratch, the more we perpetuate the cycle of obesity in our country and what we pass down to our children.
I am going to try harder to make better choices in what I eat and what I feed my family. Join with me to break this cycle in America!
"In the truest sense, freedom cannot be bestowed; it must be achieved." - Franklin D. Roosevelt
Matty
www.iweighedmorethanjared.com
Freedom isn't free. It's not a right that everyone is entitled to. It's something that was fought for, died for, and unfortunately we as a country have taken much of it for granted. We have the freedom of choice of what to eat at any time of the day or night. From the fridge to the corner store, to even fast food restaurants open at all hours of the day or night. Freedom of choice, but it's up to us to make the right choices as far as our eating habits.
The more processed and preserved food we choose over making something from scratch, the more we perpetuate the cycle of obesity in our country and what we pass down to our children.
I am going to try harder to make better choices in what I eat and what I feed my family. Join with me to break this cycle in America!
"In the truest sense, freedom cannot be bestowed; it must be achieved." - Franklin D. Roosevelt
Matty
www.iweighedmorethanjared.com
Friday, May 09, 2008
Setbacks...
"Adversity is like a strong wind. It tears away from us all but the things that cannot be torn, so that we see ourselves as we really are." - Arthur Golden
I've had some setbacks the past few weeks. Boy, can really bring you down, down to the ground and have you begging for mercy. But sometimes that's when break-throughs occur, some sort of enlightenment happens. Thomas Edison failed at creating a lightbulb over 10,000 times. But each time he was able to get back up and try again.
Reminds me of the movie, "Real Genius" starring Val Kilmer. His character's laser project failed spectacularly and thought he was at his absolute lowest. Then he had a break-through moment where everything seemed to click. He went back and solved the problems and succeeded (although to dire consequences - which were later rectified).
Setbacks are times to step back and maybe take new look at an old problem...
"You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you." - Walt Disney
Matty
www.iweighedmorethanjared.com
I've had some setbacks the past few weeks. Boy, can really bring you down, down to the ground and have you begging for mercy. But sometimes that's when break-throughs occur, some sort of enlightenment happens. Thomas Edison failed at creating a lightbulb over 10,000 times. But each time he was able to get back up and try again.
Reminds me of the movie, "Real Genius" starring Val Kilmer. His character's laser project failed spectacularly and thought he was at his absolute lowest. Then he had a break-through moment where everything seemed to click. He went back and solved the problems and succeeded (although to dire consequences - which were later rectified).
Setbacks are times to step back and maybe take new look at an old problem...
"You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you." - Walt Disney
Matty
www.iweighedmorethanjared.com
Friday, May 02, 2008
Boredom...
"Grasp your opportunities, no matter how poor your health; nothing is worse for your health than boredom." - Mignon McLaughlin
I struggle with boredom and have been falling into old habits of eating when I am not hungry and just bored. There are plenty of things I could be doing, but rather don't have the gumption or energy to do them.
That's when I (and possibly yourself) need to take a stand and just find something to do. Something that engages our brains and our bodies, something that takes our pre-programmed synapses of eating mindlessly and transfers that energy to something more productive.
Join with me, won't you? Let's try hard to re-program our brains to better ourselves when we are bored...
"Boredom is an emptiness filled with insistence." - Leo Stein
Matty
www.iweighedmorethanjared.com
I struggle with boredom and have been falling into old habits of eating when I am not hungry and just bored. There are plenty of things I could be doing, but rather don't have the gumption or energy to do them.
That's when I (and possibly yourself) need to take a stand and just find something to do. Something that engages our brains and our bodies, something that takes our pre-programmed synapses of eating mindlessly and transfers that energy to something more productive.
Join with me, won't you? Let's try hard to re-program our brains to better ourselves when we are bored...
"Boredom is an emptiness filled with insistence." - Leo Stein
Matty
www.iweighedmorethanjared.com
Friday, April 25, 2008
Gratitude...
"If a fellow isn't thankful for what he's got, he isn't likely to be thankful for what he's going to get." - Frank A. Clark
I was reading in the book, "A 2nd Helping of Chicken Soup for the Soul" and in it was a section on obstacles. One of the stories caught my attention and made me think. The gist of the story was that of a man walking down the street and noticing a friend with a forlorn look on his face. The man greeted his friend and ask how things were and instead of a quick dialogue it ended up to be a long diatribe of problems.
The friend said that he would donate $5k to the man's favorite charity if he knew of a place that he could go without problems. The man took his friend up on the offer and walked him down to the local cemetary. The dead, you see, have no problems.
Whatever problems or adversities you are facing today, be thankful for them. I know that sounds weird, but really - if you had no problems, then you wouldn't be growing. Problems prepare and stretch us...
"We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude." - Cynthia Ozick
Matty
www.iweighedmorethanjared.com
I was reading in the book, "A 2nd Helping of Chicken Soup for the Soul" and in it was a section on obstacles. One of the stories caught my attention and made me think. The gist of the story was that of a man walking down the street and noticing a friend with a forlorn look on his face. The man greeted his friend and ask how things were and instead of a quick dialogue it ended up to be a long diatribe of problems.
The friend said that he would donate $5k to the man's favorite charity if he knew of a place that he could go without problems. The man took his friend up on the offer and walked him down to the local cemetary. The dead, you see, have no problems.
Whatever problems or adversities you are facing today, be thankful for them. I know that sounds weird, but really - if you had no problems, then you wouldn't be growing. Problems prepare and stretch us...
"We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude." - Cynthia Ozick
Matty
www.iweighedmorethanjared.com
Friday, April 18, 2008
The Past...
"The one charm of the past is that it is the past." - Oscar Wilde
I love that quote. It's true, the past is the past. Although nothing can change it, we can learn from it and start from now to change the future.
I still get haunted by the past from time to time but when that happens I try to remember that whatever happened then cannot be changed. I can only deal with the here and now. Each day is a new day to learn from the past and press forward with that knowledge.
"What you need to know about the past is that no matter what has happened, it has all worked together to bring you to this very moment. And this is the moment you can choose to make everything new. Right now." - Author Unknown
Matty
www.iweighedmorethanjared.com
I love that quote. It's true, the past is the past. Although nothing can change it, we can learn from it and start from now to change the future.
I still get haunted by the past from time to time but when that happens I try to remember that whatever happened then cannot be changed. I can only deal with the here and now. Each day is a new day to learn from the past and press forward with that knowledge.
"What you need to know about the past is that no matter what has happened, it has all worked together to bring you to this very moment. And this is the moment you can choose to make everything new. Right now." - Author Unknown
Matty
www.iweighedmorethanjared.com
Friday, April 11, 2008
Strength...
"The shortest answer is doing." - Lord Herbert
Where do you derive your strength? Is it in the accolade of others? In your abilities? In your desires? When the chips are down, the race is only half over, defeat is on the horizon - where do you find the strength to press on?
The accolades of others wane. Your abilities can be robbed of you in an instant. Your desires can often be false to what you really want. Is your strength in your sense of self-worth?
No one can rob you of your self-worth unless you give them the opportunity.
"All know the way; few actually walk it." - Bodhidharma
Matty
www.iweighedmorethanjared.com
Where do you derive your strength? Is it in the accolade of others? In your abilities? In your desires? When the chips are down, the race is only half over, defeat is on the horizon - where do you find the strength to press on?
The accolades of others wane. Your abilities can be robbed of you in an instant. Your desires can often be false to what you really want. Is your strength in your sense of self-worth?
No one can rob you of your self-worth unless you give them the opportunity.
"All know the way; few actually walk it." - Bodhidharma
Matty
www.iweighedmorethanjared.com
Friday, April 04, 2008
Boldness...
"Put a grain of boldness into everything you do." - Baltasar Gracian
Ever dare to be bold? Dare to try something new even though you might fail? On this weight loss journey I have been bold plenty of times and I am always looking for more things to try. Some things stuck with me like running races while others weren't cohesive to my personality or interests.
You need to break out of your mold, step out of your comfort zone and dare to try things. I started with donating blood. Something simple. And it grew from there, 5k races, charity walks, chili cook-offs, speaking in public.
Try something different. If it doesn't work, it doesn't work. How will you know if you don't try?
"Freedom lies in being bold." - Robert Frost
Matty
www.iweighedmorethanjared.com
Ever dare to be bold? Dare to try something new even though you might fail? On this weight loss journey I have been bold plenty of times and I am always looking for more things to try. Some things stuck with me like running races while others weren't cohesive to my personality or interests.
You need to break out of your mold, step out of your comfort zone and dare to try things. I started with donating blood. Something simple. And it grew from there, 5k races, charity walks, chili cook-offs, speaking in public.
Try something different. If it doesn't work, it doesn't work. How will you know if you don't try?
"Freedom lies in being bold." - Robert Frost
Matty
www.iweighedmorethanjared.com
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