Happy New Year!
I am sure this statement won't surprise anyone but time sure does seem to fly by. Just as I began getting used to writing 2022 at the end of the date, I now have to start all over again and change that final number over to a 3. I think back to the beginning of the year and in one sense, it seems like forever ago and in another, it seems just like yesterday. Same could be said for the past 5, 10, 20 or 30 years. I hope that for all of us, this year brings on joy and happiness to you and those close to you. Personally, my plan for this year is to stop saying things like, "I will do it tomorrow. I will do it next week. I will do it next month, year or decade" and start saying I will do it right now. Contrary to the popular Rolling Stone song Time Is On My Side, we don't always truly have time on our side. At any given moment, our life can be drastically altered. When I hear stories about an untimely death due to illness, accident, or self-afflicted measures, I often think how fragile life is. One moment, someone is here, the next, they are gone forever. Tomorrow is not a guarantee and I hope to live my life in a way that honors that. Action today, not action tomorrow! What I've Been Thinking About... I came across a formula recently that I could actually understand. It went E + R = O or Event + Response = Outcome. Often times, I feel that we let certain events that our outside of our control dictate what that effect will have on our lives. To give you a recent example, the COVID lockdowns really did a number on some local businesses. Some owners changed their processes and did whatever they could to make things work and stay in the game. Other places used the event of a global pandemic to be the reason for their demise. They said things like "there is nothing that we can do" and their lack of appropriate response ultimately led to the outcome that they did not want. In their case, it became E = O as their response was nil. The events that occur in your life do not equal the outcome. They play a role but their is one factor that greatly effects who you become: your response. When tough things happen, it is important to look for the greatest good and make the most out of whatever is thrown our way. Fitness Tip of the Week The holiday season seems to add on some additional mental stress and if not managed appropriately, this stress can manifest itself into physical ailment. When we feel overwhelmed, things like headaches, upset stomach, lower pain tolerance, muscle tightness, and in some cases, bodily pain can start to show its ugly little head. That pain or discomfort is your body telling you to pay attention to something. In this case, that something is the mental strain that you are feeling. Stress is something that is part of the human experience and it is never going to truly go away. The best thing that we can do to help mitigate these stressors are the same type of things that can make your quality of life feel that much better. Participating in exercise or physical activity can help alleviate stress and give you an outlet to relieve some of those feelings. So too can outdoor activities, ensuring you are getting proper sleep, participating in your favorite hobby (preferably not on a device), or spending some time together with friends. Nothing seems to ease the mind better than joking and laughing with some buddies about the good old days. Lastly, take some time to yourself and check out for a little bit. Just as your muscles need rest to recover after a tough workout, your mind will need a break after the holiday stressors or stimulation. What I've Been Watching... Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery After a long day of holiday festivities, Marisa and I decided to look for a movie on Christmas night. After struggling for a few minutes I clicked on the trailer for Glass Onion and was intrigued. This is one of those murder mystery movies and it has a great cast (Ed Norton, Kate Hudson, Daniel Craig, and more). In addition to the whodunnit component, there is tons of humor, mystery and entertainment wrapped into a 2+ hour movie. Plus, to the annoyance of others (aka Marisa), I base most of my movie decisions off of the Rotten Tomatoes score. This one scored over 90% by the critics and fans and a score like that has never let me down! Quote of the Week "To appreciate the beauty of a snowflake it is necessary to stand out in the cold." -- Aristotle I hope you all have an awesome week! Chris Fluck
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