Day 68 - Something Funny - #3

Day 68 - Something Funny

A good friend of mine shared this one with me today on Facebook:

I busted up so hard in my office after seeing this.  The comment I left was:

(Cue Superman Solo) "Do you want to build a snowman?  Batman, let's go and play!  I never see you anymore.  Come out your cave.  It's like you've flown away!  We used to be best buddies.  And now we're not.  I wish you would tell me why.  Do you want to build a snowman?  It doesn't have to be a snowman..."  :)

Came Up Short...But...

I came up short.  Today's November 25, 2014, and I'm over a month behind on my 100-day blog challenge.  You know, there are times when you look ahead at a goal, race, journey...and you think, "Oh, that will be easy."  Well, it's not always easy.  Life hits you sometimes.  It's humbling really...to make mistakes...to come up short...to struggle...  But if you've ever seen Cool Runnings, your mindset could be changed.  Based on a true story, at the end of Cool Runnings, the four Jamaican bobsledders' goal of winning an Olympic medal are dashed when their sled malfunctions and their sled is brought to a halt just yards away from the finish line.  They were on record-winning pace and then...CRASH.

It's the journey that makes it all worth while and once you start, you can't just stop.  You have to cross both the starting line and the finish line.  You "...have to finish the race."

So, that's what I'm going to do.  Except, when you come up short, you have to do what my good friend Bill Cordes always says: "Stop.  Adjust.  And go for it again."  So here's my adjustment: by Christmas morning, I'll have these 33 more blog posts up on the blog completing my 100-day challenge.

Stay tuned and... 

Keep.  Moving.  Forward.

Day 67 - Important Safety Measures

Day 67 - Important Safety Measures

If there is any blog post I think should be shared from my blog, it's this one.  Within the last work week, driving to and from work, I counted 6 cars who were texting and driving.  How could I tell?  Well, they were gradually crossing into other lanes and jerking back into their lane quickly every few seconds.  As I passed by them quickly, they were glancing down every three to five seconds.  I'm pretty sure what they were looking at was a cell phone.    

So, 6 cars in five days.  Multiple that by 52 for the number of weeks in the year.  That's 312 cars on one road, in one year, from one person's perspective.  Multiple that by our nation's population...

98,623,200,000 cars.

This math is definitely a bit ambiguous and there are so many factors not calculated in, but the math is mind-boggling as you do some self-thinking.  The math that isn't ambiguous comes from Department of Transportation (DOT) 2008 report.  In 2007, the nation as a whole lost 47,059 lives due to motor vehicle crashes.  The report goes on to say that the number of fatalities from motor vehicle crashes has remained constant over the past several years, and in 2005, motor vehicle crashes were the leading cause of death (Full Study Here).  And what are the top 3 causes of car accidents in America?  Drivers.com says 3). Drunk Driving, 2). Speeding, and 1). Distracted Driving, which includes the use of cell phones.

"Distracted driving continues to be the number one leading cause of car accidents in America...Drivers who use a hand-held device are 4 times more likely to get into a car accident than drivers that pay attention to the road ahead" (Full Article Here).

My advice for important safety measures, make a rule to stay off your cell phone if you're driving.  Am I saying this will prevent you from getting in an accident?  No.  Accidents happen all the time and can be brought on by other drivers.  But by not being on your phone, you're more likely able to react to those situations you cannot control, and are certainly more likely to not cause the accident yourself.  I'm also talking about the simple concept of just talking on your phone too.  That can be distracting.  The next time you're at a red light crossing, count how many cars are talking on their cell phones that go by you.  It's pretty amazing just how distracted we are.

Spread the word.  Tell someone you love that you care about them and want them to keep their cell phone at bay when behind the wheel.  A simple task that just may save your loved one's life.  And if we all tell at least one person we love not to use their cell phone when they're driving, think how many lives we might save?  Just my two cents.  

Save the day.  Put your cell phone away.

Day 66 - Great Lessons Learned

Day 66 - Great Lessons Learned

While attending college, I was fortunate enough to participate and practice Tae Kwon-Do through the Oldest Collegiate Traditional Tae Kwon-Do Program in America, the UNI Tae Kwon-Do Club.  It was there that I earned my 2nd degree Black Belt under Jr. Grand Master Joseph Philip, an 8th Dan instructor and the first non-Asian to named a Grand Master.  When I tell people that I earned my 2nd Dan, I think they are baffled.

"Really?!  But you don't beat up on people."

You're right!  Because that's not what Tae Kwon-Do is all about.  Tae Kwon-Do is a way of life and it is based on the values of courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control, and indomitable spirit.  This 2,500+ year-old martial art form teaches discipline and respect for one's self and others.

When I was in 2nd or 3rd grade, I was a pretty rambunctious kid.  I wasn't well-behaved, didn't concentrate in school very well, and was pretty hard on myself.  I was fortunate to have a mother who recognized this and thought Tae Kwon-Do might be something I would benefit from.  So, she put me in Tae Kwon-Do and I started learning things.  I don't really recall the adjustment that was made, but  my mother always says how much of an impact it had on my upbringing.  I practiced Tae Kwon-Do for about a year, then my mother and I moved to Exira, IA where there were no practicing organizations.

Tae Kwon-Do would find me again in 7th grade.  We had just moved to Eldora, IA and I was struggling to get acquainted with the area.  I had very few friends at the time.  I was overweight for my age and I lacked self-confidence because of my social surroundings (I can honestly say that 7th grade was my worst academic year ever).  However, I was fortunate to have found a Tae Kwon-Do organization in the area that allowed me to practice the martial art form once or twice a week.  Tae Kwon-Do brought me through that year.  I looked forward to practicing on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and was really starting to work my way up.  Not more than a year later, the organization closed.  I was bummed, but I started getting involved in sports, and things took a turn for me socially.  I got connected to some great friends.

Tae Kwon-Do came back into my life once again when I attended UNI.  I became highly involved in the organization, attending tournaments, and working my way up the ranking system.  I can honestly say that I have learned a great deal through the art form throughout my life, but it was my involvement in college that truly impacted me.  

There was always a challenge and a thrill in Tae Kwon-Do.  I was excited and nervous all at the same time throughout practices, testings, and tournaments.  And that's what life is all about.  It's exciting and nerve-racking all at the same time.  As I grow older, I have come to appreciate the symbol within the South Korean flag.  A Yin Yang.  There truly is good and bad in this world.  There's good news and bad news.  There's good times and bad times.  There's good guys and bad guys.  But we learn through both experiences.  We grow from experiencing both the good and bad.  

Even though I have been in and out of the art form throughout my lifetime, I truly believe Tae Kwon-Do has shaped my life in many ways.  Not to brag, but I do carry with me a great deal of courtesy, self-control, and perseverance.  I do think I am compassionate and I show a great deal of respect for others (even when they sometimes don't deserve it).  These characteristics and qualities have made me a loving and hard-working human being and I feel very fortunate to have been connected to the art form.  I have my mother to thank for that.  :)

So there you have it.  These were some great lessons learned.  Check out the UNI Tae Kwon-Do Club at www.unitkd.com.  Our KwanJangNim has promoted 737 Black Belts since starting the organization 45 years ago.  He's one incredible man.  And below, a few pictures of me participating in the organization back in college.

 

Day 65 - Lessons from Superman #9

Day 65 - Lessons from Superman

There's some major stuff happening in the Superman comics these days.  Doomsday--the villain that killed Superman back in 1992--has come back and battled with Superman in a series called "Superman Doomed."  It's pretty SUPER and it's intense.  Let's just say it's SUPER intense.  :)

I don't mean to give this away, but Superman does defeat Doomsday in this series.  But in the midst of it, Superman becomes infected with a virus that's turning him into Doomsday.  So the people of earth are beginning to fear Superman, and those close to Superman (Lois, Wonder Woman, Batman, etc.) are worried.

Today's Lessons from Superman comes from the 3rd Annual Issue of Superman: Action Comics.  Superman continues to fight the virus, but while doing so saves Lois Lane from the infamous Brainiac, who was essentially mind-controlling Lois (I know what you're thinking.  How do you keep this all straight, TJ?  There's multiple villains, mind controlling, Superman has a cold...what?  How can Superman get a cold?  He's SUPERMAN!)

So let's get to the point.  Lois has been saved by Superman (once again).  As Superman takes flight to avoid harming Lois with the Doomsday virus, Lois shares the following thoughts with Superman telepathically (Superman and Lois were somehow able to communicate with one another by thoughts.  I know, I know...):

"Clark...you've freed me from Brainiac's control...but I still have the telepathic powers he gave me.  So I can feel your fear as the Doomsday virus surges again.  Not for yourself.  Never for yourself.  You're worried about...me...as well as the seven billion other people who might burn and die if you...listen to me Clark.  And remember this forever, okay?  You are not alone.  You've given us everything you have.  More than we deserve, with all our fear and hate...so I'm going to say it again...I don't care about Brainiac or the Doomsday virus or anything else...I believe in you, Clark Kent.  I believe in Superman.  And we're never going to stop fighting by your side.  No matter what happens next." ~ Lois Lane

The point here is this:

No matter what, there's someone out there that's got your back.  A parent, a spouse, a brother, a sister, a friend, an aunt, an uncle, a cousin, a grandparent, a colleague, a teacher, a classmate...someone has your back.  And when you're struggling, they can usually see it.  When you're struggling, allow those that have your back to help you.  Ask for help.  Even the Man of Steel needs help once in awhile.

There's a story about a boy who was trying to lift a heavy boulder.  He couldn't lift the boulder and when his father walked by he asked, "Are you using everything you've got?"  The boy said, "Yes."  The father replied, "No, you're not.  You haven't asked me to help you.  You've got me here to give you some extra strength." 

Don't be afraid to ask for help.  Those that care about you believe in you and are there to help you fly.  Utilize them.  They'll stand next to you and fight by your side, "no matter what happens next."

Day 64 - A Challenge

Day 64 - A Challenge

So, "World Hello Day" is on Friday, November 21st, 2014.  I don't know about you, but there are days when I question saying, "hello" to someone in passing.  I make eye contact, but they don't make eye contact back.  I look down and then wonder if I should still say, "hello."  As I pass by, I question myself, "Why didn't you say, 'hello?'  That would have been easy."

It's this constant struggle over something so simple.  So, I'm going to say, "hello" to everyone in passing on Friday.  Regardless if there is a "hello" in return, I'm going to do it.  I challenge you to do the same.  Just greet one another.  Simple, right?  "Hellllllloooo?!" :)

Spread the word.  Celebrate "World Hello Day" by saying, "hello" on Friday, November 21st.

Read more about "World Hello Day" here.

Day 63 - Advertise Something

Day 63 - Advertise Something

For the past few weeks, I've been DJ'ing a morning radio show at the Wartburg College KWAR radio station.  My show is called the "Morning Mentor."  It's a radio show designed to share the stories of individuals who are pursuing their callings.  Most of these individuals are alums, but I plan on having others share their stories as well.

In addition to the vocational story telling, I typically share a weather update, campus events, special days of the year, and a daily dose of positive piece.  On days when I don't have a guest calling in or sharing a recording, I'll usually come up with a variety of inspirational stories and thoughts that can hopefully get people's day off on the right foot.  They tend to be more reflective thoughts in nature.

Now that I have the soundboard figured out, I'm really starting to have fun with this.  I never know who's listening, but the other day, I did receive a phone call from someone stating that they enjoy the show.  So, I know I have at least one listener.  :)

Nevertheless, I thought it seemed appropriate to put a plug in for my show considering the post topic.  If you're interested in listening to a 30-minutes of positive media, tune into 89.9 KWAR every Tuesday morning at 9:30am CST.  For those who reside outside the Waverly area, you can tune in online at:

http://wartburgcircuit.org/kwar/

Click on the giant banner that says, "LIVE RADIO KWAR," go through the steps that your computer requests, and you should be all set.

Thanks so much!  :)