As the years go by, thanks to received wisdom and the ageing process, our organism will go through a significant number of changes. For me, one of the standout changes in attitude was recognising the need to take grater care of myself.
I used to get sick, again and again, (on average catching 3 to 4 colds a year) I was desperate to boost my immune system and stop getting run down and boy did I find the trick.
After googling how to never get sick again I discovered Wim Hof ‘The Iceman’ to be in everyone’s top 10. His enthusiasm and spiritual charm was all the inspiration I needed to give the cold water exposure a try.
That was almost 2 years ago now, since I first woke up to the power of the cold shower and incredibly I haven’t been sick since.
Those of you who are waiting for the sanctuary of summer to come around before dipping your toes in the water are completely missing the point.
The reaction to the cold is what empowers us, do not be afraid, embrace your body’s ability to adapt and evolve as it learns to protect you better.
Certainly don’t wait for life to change you, those who instigate the process are rewarded the most. I can assure all concerned a great fortune will favour the brave when they do....
Everyone is told that cold is,
Too cold for the oldies,
What a bunch of baloney,
If only we didn’t grow weak,
Then we could so teach,
Each other to know these messages,
That are as precious as gold leaf,
Or a soul beached in the Maldives,
Only, don’t get cold feet,
Heap the pressure on me,
It’s better on freeze,
Until I’m an old geez,
You can bet I’ll be-low key,
As I slowly repeat ever so sweet...
Posted (31/12/19)
It’s quite simple, the more you have to do the more gets done. If you’ve got nothing to do you’ll get nothing done. Sounds obvious I suppose when simplified in this way, however, for a great many of us it doesn’t seem to be obvious enough.
When there is a time pressure hanging over us we simply have to manage our workload with a greater urgency. By adding more and more to our plate we find ways of juggling them successfully because we must.
We agree with ourselves that ‘This’ whatever ‘That’ happens to be, needs to be done now because now is the moment you have agreed with yourself is the time to do it. The decision has been made, making the action as good as done.
The secret is to ignore the excuses of the mind and plow on full steam ahead becoming more ambitious and more capable with every passing day. Most importantly of all, you mustn’t be afraid to work as hard for yourself as you do for others.
The enemy is being empty,
Sometimes the numbers game,
Numbs the brain aplenty,
Some would say there’s too many,
And succumb to the strain,
What was fun to gain,
Is no longer Penny,
Once the funds have waned,
But for heavens sake Wayne,
Don’t worry or run away,
Have a seat,
One plus one is sweet,
And repeat,
That’s the secret magic seed,
To getting even,
Even when we’re seeing red,
Guess I’m never leaving then,
Cos like a pleasure demon,
I’m forever seeking sense,
Before that treasured feeling ends...
Posted (20/11/19)
I imagine some people might say; there just isn’t enough time in the day for all the things we want and need to do and still be lazy. I disagree. By taking small actions regularly we are perfectly placed to take advantage of the pro-active mindset that is cultivated.
In this spirit of maximising time, fitting in a quick stretch before eating seems like a genius move. It’s a sneaky way to guarantee the maintenance of my physical organism without seemingly even trying.
We eat so frequently that all the little efforts add up significantly over time. I happen to have chosen yoga as my pre-munch activity but clearly this pocket of time can be filled with whatever you want.
Having said that, why not follow in my footsteps and wake up just as the season closes. By that I mean experience breakfast up a skyscraper in the early morn in late autumn, and not before performing Yoga.
It was thanks to my wise and loving girlfriend, that I was lucky enough to get to experience the high rise Yoga at Dawn. Not just anywhere though, at the Sky Garden with the diamond sun climbing the horizon. What a supreme start to the day that was.
Every morning the sun rises,
Its highness flys in,
From over the horizon,
While the early birds tweet,
The world is still and still asleep,
One millimetre at a peep,
Yoga people head their feet,
To the edge of the mat,
Where the sense of relaxing,
Is measured in facts,
And perhaps that’s why,
It’s one of the best pass-times you’ll try,
Sometimes the vibe,
Even strikes a faint lightning,
On the far side of your mind,
Here the spine intertwines,
With the light that you find,
Which likely sparks the insight,
To learn this,
That turning slightly in earnest,
Day and nightly,
Just might be enough,
To keep our furnace burning brightly...
Posted (20/10/19)
‘Turn to table tennis and you might just turn the tables on the ageing process....’ Perfect for all ages, Ping Pong is the cross-generational activity that gets us all going. Played in short bursts, it rewards all levels of fitness and I love it.
It is one of the few games that can be immensely fun to play even when losing. Staying valiantly with your opponent in a rally can sometimes be as rewarding as winning the point itself.
Most importantly, perhaps for some, is that it’s generally free. Found in a growing number of public spaces, the tables are all you need really. Other than your own bats and balls that is, which are hardly hard to come by.
If you haven’t already turned to table tennis but have even just a partial interest in doing so, then I strongly recommend you give it a go. It may even change your idea of fun and influence what your willing to do to stay fit, healthy and happy.
There aren’t many in the game,
That know this,
But if you turn to Table Tennis,
You might just turn the tables,
On the ageing process,
And for those that may have noticed,
This is no fun quip,
For the truly potent thing is,
I’m not joking one bit,
Listen up quick,
This is the main event,
Took an ‘L’ last time,
Can’t wait to make amends,
That’s why the top-spin king wants in,
Face to face with fate again,
Everything is great when you win,
And go ape with a grin,
Just watch as the wizard wakes,
And with a flick of the wrist,
Makes the vicious hate dissipate,
At the end of the day,
It’s a game,
Now, just imagine King Kong in a crate,
Playing Ping Pong with a grape,
And don’t dilly dally,
In the middle of the rally,
Hit it mate...
Posted (20/09/19)
A slight twist on a common saying here. Clearly, eating vegetables (fruits, nuts etc...) is the wise choice when trying to make sensible decisions regarding nutrition. It must be said, this article is aimed primarily at those who find it difficult to consume their 5-a-day minimum.
Before I became a vegetarian I frequently struggled to get enough fruit and veg in me. Smoothies became the obvious solution, my go to play when I needed an injection of goodness. They’re perfect anytime even when you’re feeling like a treat. Use some frozen fruits in your mix and your smoothie quickly becomes a desert.
Sir Real Smoothie Recipe #1. Blend two bananas (preferably frozen) half a bag of baby spinach and a table spoon of peanut butter, filling the container half way with milk (or milk alternative). Finally, adding a tea spoon of chia seeds before blending up the magic and serving.
Satisfaction is guaranteed or your money back. Not really, but the main thing is that you enjoy whatever concoction you come up with because in my book trying to be healthy shouldn’t be a chore, it should be a pleasure.
If you’re asking me to be the first,
MC to eat a verse,
Then their’s no reason for me,
To mince these meaty words,
As we freely and blindly see,
We are what we mindlessly eat,
So we might as well be,
Armed to the teeth,
With an army of beats, shoots,
Seeds, roots, greens and garden fruits,
They’re the secret to the sharpest you,
With a lasting boost,
For that meeting at half two,
Forget eating fast food,
Or sipping a large brew,
The smart move,
Is to grind some blueberries,
Very quite smooth,
And keep the delightful fuels,
Sliding inside you,
Mind you my blues partner,
Is the rather classic,
Baby spinach & banana,
With lashings of crunchy peanut butter...
Posted (28/08/19)
The idea of looking after ourselves sounds obvious right, yet if it was really that obvious our loved ones wouldn’t have to keep reminding us to do it. When we fail to keep this basic principle in mind our lives quickly fall apart.
The most common sign we’re on the decline is when we catch a cold. It’s a clear indication our body is missing the strength and power needed to fight off infection. It doesn’t have to be this way.
While acknowledging the ominous shadow of death that hangs over us all, we must not allow this inevitability to play out before the battle has even begun. Every action we take builds a future of our own making. Generally the most satisfying, not to mention rewarding, require lasting commitment to the cause.
When we are grateful for what we have we naturally try harder to protect it. Such disciplined thinking allows the wise to take solace in their own vitality. Quite simply, we must appreciate our health because it won’t last forever.
If you want to prolong your song,
And sing before you’ve succumb & gone,
To the grand beyond,
Then never regret a crumb,
Of what you’ve ever done,
Just be aware of this message,
That no matter the wreckage,
To always protect number one,
Not just when you’re winning,
But when you’re in a slump,
For whether or not we ponder on,
What belongs beyond,
The expanding pond we’re on,
The one thing I find proper brilliant,
Is that the spinning sun,
Will simply keep on spinning son...
Posted (20/07/19)
The ‘Sun Salutation’ is the perfect way to start the day, invigorating our organism just in time to guarantee a good morning.
Depending on your religious and spiritual persuasion, you may or may not be open to saluting the sun. However, it must be said this recommendation is centred solely on the practice of a sequence of yoga poses and nothing else.
Breathing is an integral part of the sequence as movement from one pose to the next is always done in conjunction with either an inhalation or exhalation of the breath.
Once you’ve learnt this sequence, it will really help you when it comes to practicing at home, since one of the biggest obstacles we face when doing yoga (or just stretching) is figuring out what to do when we first get on the mat. Quite simply, the Sun Salutation in all its variations is the obvious answer.
Just as lungs swell,
There’s no need to be deep,
But it does help,
Breathe, stretch, repeat,
Until the sun melts,
Hell, don’t be dull kids,
Or fooled by all these cool speeches,
Because not to be moved,
Just leads to pure weakness,
Like being bored at weekends,
C’mon the floor is speaking,
It’s calling all weaklings to the mat,
Because it matters for a reason,
You’re arming your health,
Why be an alarming shadow,
Of your former self,
Pausing for hours on the couch,
Like you’re guarding a trench,
Simply pause for thought,
As you crouch on the floor instead,
And be sure to use your head,
As you do a door or bench,
Because whatever you invent,
What you really need to do is,
Do it with true intent...
Posted (20/06/19)
We should all eat well when we can. While opinions differ on how best to go about this some advice is almost universally accepted. One such recommendation is to eat oats. Oats are held in high esteem due to being a great source of important vitamins, minerals, fibre and antioxidants.
A number of studies have shown that oats and oatmeal have many health benefits. They are known to lower blood sugar levels and in turn reduce the risk of heart disease. Clearly further reading is highly recommended.
In addition to the many health benefits they provide, oats are very filling, making them an incredible weight loss friendly food. It doesn’t stop there as they’re also a panacea (a cure all). Got a sore knee? Then slap on some hot porridge and it will speed up your recovery, it gets right to the heart of things, making its power almost seem magical.
At the end of the day, oats are among the healthiest foods you can eat. So why not plan ahead and make yourself some ‘Overnight Oats’ in a pot mixed with berries and milk. By the morning the fruits will soften and blend with the mixture raising the level of your breakfast to officially wholesome and certainly awesome.
It’s no secret at all,
But for those that need to know,
How to feast on slow-release,
Energy on the go,
Then the open secret is,
To be devoted to eating oats,
It slowly seeds,
The kind of growth we need,
When we need it most,
Apart from feeding goats and us,
Oats have a host of other uses,
In some places,
It’s still used as a poultice,
For aches and pain and scrapes,
While it’s mainly consumed as fuel,
Perhaps it’s greatest gift of all,
For those that eat it every day at least,
Is the daily routine and ritual,
Dramatically reduces cholesterol...
Posted (20/05/19)
If you’re not one of those people who are highly motivated to get everything they ‘need’ to do done, then you will very likely have some ‘work’ to do. Be it serious or fun, cleaning or crafting the important thing is to keep progressing.
As I have needed to become more and more productive with my Word Factory I have had to develop techniques that can jump start the process. One such method involves using the commercial breaks on TV as a trigger to get pro-active.
Personally, I find watching tennis to be the most rewarding programming to use in this way. Aided in particular by the fact there is a break roughly every two games. Add to that the 2 minutes between sets and you get plenty of opportunities to be productive when you would otherwise just be sitting doing nothing. At the very least you don’t need to watch ‘That’ advert for the 100th time. Doing something else, whatever it is, has to be better.
Even if you can fast forward what you’re watching, don’t. Use this precious time to chip away at you’re obligations. The key is to always adhere to doing something productive. Once the ad break is over, if you carry on with whatever your doing then great. You’re likely to be much happier about doing whatever it is than worry about missing a bit of tele.
Ad breaks are great,
They give you a way to create space,
While making haste,
There’s no debating,
Which is a better state of being,
Hesitating or wading in like a laser beam,
Sometimes the change is way supreme,
Other days we imitate lazy bees,
Whichever way we see it,
Believe me kids,
Thanks to the aid of TV,
Now we can take it easy,
As we seed the change that’s needed...
Posted (01/04/19)