Man Down

Two weeks and three days I have been fighting this virus. I think I am on the other side of it but it still has a hold over me. 

It isn’t fun to train when your lungs are not up to par. I have had to back off on any cardio and that has not been a good thing for my shoulders and knees. I find less activity results in more inflammation.

Since physical exertion is not possible, I have been focusing on my spiritual growth these past couple of weeks. My specific focus has been on ideology and how it colours everything we perceive. I saw a Ted Koppel interview this week where he scolded Sean Hannity for focusing on attracting people who have determined that ideology is more important than facts. Hannity’s smirking reaction is a strong indication why a problem like this is almost impossible to deal with. When logic and truth have no bearing on opinion, the chance of coming to a common perspective is very slim.

"Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters." - Albert Einstein (1879 - 1955)

End of a Streak

It has been years since I have had a cold. I’ve attributed my superior resistance to my smoothie recipe that seems to wipe out any bug that comes my way. Since my kitchen has been upside down while I renovate, I have not been consistent with my smoothie consumption and now I am paying the price. I’ve been out of action for over a week but I think I am on the other side of this plucky virus. Now to get back on track and get my kitchen finished once and for all.

1 handful of broccoli
1 scoop of whey protein
1 handful of frozen blueberry/blackberry/raspberry mix
1 handful of pineapple
1 banana
1 Gala apple
1 clip of ginger root
1 handful of ice

“Never eat broccoli when there are cameras around.” - Michael Stipe (b. 1960)

Many Paths, One Destination

As my father travels through the final stages of his life, I find myself thinking of wasted time and missed opportunities. I wish I had more time with him.

I find solace and perspective in this Zen chant:
“Let me respectfully remind you: / Life and death are of supreme importance. / Time swiftly passes by and opportunity is lost. / Each of us should strive to awaken… awaken… / Take heed: Do not squander your life.”  

“We should live every day like people who have just been rescued from the moon” - Thich Nhat Hanh (b. 1926)

Perspective Part Deux

I had breakfast with a friend today whose company is sending him on a trip to Mexico in the fall. The amount of planning that they are going through to ensure he is able to get home safely is significant. Usually you only worried about things like that when you were travelling to corrupt and unstable countries. His big issue? He needs to avoid going through the USA on his way to Mexico. Who would have thought that was going to be an issue a couple of months ago?

The perspective that half the population has when it comes to fear confounds me. Xenophobia has become normalized in a way that should shock us all. The fact that so many are willing to give up some of their freedom to address their fear is even more confounding. Don’t even get me started about the number of Canadians who died in Afghanistan fighting for our freedom while Stephen Harper was dismantling the very freedom they were fighting for in the name of national security and the economy.

The world is changing, and not in a good way. If we don’t clear our perspective, xenophobia will become normalized, just as protecting the economy over freedom and the environment already has.

“ How fortunate for governments that the people they administer don’t think.” - Adolf Hitler (1889 - 1945)