Why?

My workout buddy of 22 years looked at me strangely and asked "Why, then?"

I pumped out a rep and said "Not to look good. For function!" And I, in turn, looked at him funny. Like... dah!

We were discussing me going to a charity ball in a tux and that led to... talk of looking good.

We have had similar conversations before, I reminded him of function over form... "I don't want to look good... it would bring too much temptation... but I want to be able to press a car out of me if I need to." I don't need to impress anybody. Looking plain but having the strength and endurance of an athlete is what it's about.

I am a mild mannered engineer during the day, but I am an athlete the rest of the time.



I hike more miles under adverse conditions than anybody I know... even on a dark, rainy and cold winter evening. I'm not good-looking, I'm tough... and I enjoy it.


- copyright 2013 by Willy.

Fantasy Vs. Reality

When reverence, faith or love enters the picture, rationality goes out the window. We find another's behavior adorable or put up when loved ones treat us poorly. This is true of a person, a political party or a football team. They appear to be capable of doing no wrong. For someone with objectivity looking in, it appears puzzling at best and intolerable at worst.

This is reality distortion.

We all have it. We live our fantasy. It may be that we think we are indispensable, like I do. That your lover cares. That you're not fat. Or that there will be a tomorrow, like voters do.

The solution? Monks have been trying to control their thoughts for centuries. Think, Willy! Get rid of those clouds in your head, and think clearly.

- copyright 2013 by Willy

Incognito

"Act with kindness but don't expect gratitude." -Confucius.

Why do we do what we do? For emotional reasons, of course. Logical or rational thinking is trampled by emotion, every time. In an interaction with another, emotional thinking is difficult to accept from both perspectives: from the giving and from the receiving. We get disgusted with ourselves, and we also don't trust the other.

It messes with your head.

The solution? We should do everything with kindness. We should do things for others without an ulterior motive.

Kindness is done best when it is felt but not attributed. When the receiver does not know the source, it is then true and unselfish goodness.... expecting nothing back.

"There is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don't care who gets the credit." - Ronald Reagan.

Leave protein shakes and bananas for others at the gym. Clean the sink and toilet at gym and work. Rack the weights. Leave hockey tickets out. Make like Santa. It's about the small things.

"The best leave no track." - Willy.

- copyright 2013 by Willy.

Afraid of Shadows

It does bug me that life has become a TV daytime soap opera. The same never-ending drama, day in and day out, year in and year out. Somebody cattle-prodding us to jump through hoops, increasing anxiety to the point where sleep is difficult. The uncertainty is making us be afraid of shadows.

The last time government closed, about twenty years ago, I cashed in frequent flyer miles and went on the best vacation of my life. This time I do not have the confidence to go off. This one is different. This time it is much worse.

God, help us all.


- copyright 2013 by Willy.