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Category Archives: Health


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Why I Run

Why I Run

I started this crowdfunding campaign to raise money for the Hope Water Project. I am running the Detroit Marathon and my goal is to raise five thousand dollars towards a fresh water well for the Pokot Tribes in Africa.

You see, for these people, a shining light comes in the form of fresh water, for me, my light came in an unexpected journey.

Fifteen years ago today my family had to walk into the hospital because they thought they had lost their loved one. I was in a severe car accident where I flipped my car six times. This trauma left me lonely and confused and it took some time before I was able to get back into the swing of things.

Being athletic I took up running as an expression of my gratitude because I felt I was lucky to be alive.

But as I look back, I can’t help but wonder ‘What was I running from?’

A few years later, on the fatal morning of 9-11, a day that will live in history as tragedy, I found myself in yet another miracle in my life despite the world being in chaos. I was in New York City, moments away from what would have been a deadly sight seeing trip to the World Trade Center. It was after this I found my life to become challenging and I questioned a lot of why I was there, why me? Why was I so lucky? Not once, but twice.

I turned to running as therapy and so began running more and more and I even ran my first marathon, and it did not stop there. As I look back I can’t help but wonder ‘Where was I running to?’

It was during this period of my life I found myself questioning things, often asking myself what was the meaning of my life? During this exploration I remembered the story about Alexander Papderos and his mirror. You see, as a young child during the war he would play with the mirror as a toy reflecting light into dark places where the sun would never shine. As he became a man, he grew to understand this was not just a game, but a metaphor for what one might do with his life. He came to understand that he was not the light, or the source of the light, but the light is there and will only shine in dark places if he reflected it.

And therein lies why I run.

I realized I was not running from or to anything, but what I was attempting to do was reflect light into my dark places. Dark places that when they finally filled with light became love and inspiration to others.

You see, when I run, each step is an attempt to shine light in the dark places of others.

“I’ve learned that finishing a marathon isn’t just an athletic achievement.

It’s a state of mind; a state of mind that says anything is possible.”

-John Hanc

To support my project, go to:FNDRB.LT/dae

Thank you in advance for your support!


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Something to Ponder…(or, Work- & Self-Management)

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Yesterday’s Conscious Quote spoke about the fact that there are only 24 hours in a day; choose your actions wisely. Much like our earlier post, “Tick & Flow”, Parthasarathy speaks of time as mutable in nature.

And it is.

To help balance my own work day, I do things outside the office to help me stay fully present in my work day. I run, practice yoga, and have at least 5 books going at any given time. At first glance, it may seem ridiculous that someone could do all of this on top of a busy, demanding job in one week day.

But hey, it all gets done.

And, while I find these tasks enjoyable, they also take focus, time and energy.

A good friend (and also yoga teacher) gave me a book called “Governing Business & Relationships,” by A. Parthasarathy. A scholar of Eastern Philosophy, Parthasarathy says that when we complain about “time management,” the actual issue is work- and self-management, and that should be the priority.

“Time Management = Work management = Self Management”

I find it quite easy (and rather satisfying) to complain about a bevy of external vagaries that somehow “got in the way” of the work I was supposed to be doing (hello, procrastination). But rather than focusing on the outside environment, the real work is about inner discipline.

This is what is meant as “self-management.”

So, if things keep getting in the way or your work, perhaps it’s time for a “software update.” This updated programming will have a few layers that help build a solid foundation for effective action. I like to use a model concocted by one of my favorite TED speakers, Simon Sinek. Sinek says to “start with why.”

In other words, think of your work projects and/or career in this order:

1. Why are you doing what you’re doing? What’s the motive, the mission?

2. What is it that you actually need to do? What do you want to do?

3. How will you take action? What’s the game plan?

Basic questions, big results. Ask yourself these in any situation where you find yourself stuck, and observe what comes up. You might be happily surprised at the effect on your work day and life!

More on this subject (“Why?”) coming up – stay tuned.

Namaste, @cjpatryck


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FYI Friday, June 7: Week in Review

LIFE

ku-xlargeHow Manic Are You About Organizing Emails?

I get a lot of email. Not so much that it’s threatening my quality of life, but definitely a lot. I mainly use Gmail and I have some basic organizational systems in place (a label here, a star there). I have to keep up with the daily onslaught and maintain my inbox, but like I said I don’t associate a lot of stress with it. Email is embedded pretty deeply in my subconscious at this point. But some people I know have organizational methods that I find scary, and any system breakdown causes them emotional turmoil. Are you intense about inbox maintenance, or do you take a come what may approach? Organize your thoughts below. Read more here.

HEALTH

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The Science of Hangovers

Hangovers only exist because it keeps us from partying and drinking and going nuts every single night. It’s a fail-safe for humans so we don’t all devolve into skinny blonde mid-twenties actresses at once. It’s payment for fun. It sucks. But what’s the real science behind it? It all boils down to three things.

Dehydration. Acetaldehyde. Congener. Damn those three things. Damn them in the morning. Damn them in the afternoon. Screw them at night.Read more here.

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Shredded Cabbage w/ Cranberries & Balsamic[Vegan]

Super simple, super fast to make, and super delicious. What’s not to love? The crunchy cabbage serves as a great platform for the sweet and tart flavors of cranberry and balsamic. I wasn’t so sure about a salad made with cabbage that wasn’t a coleslaw, but once I took a few bites, I found it to be really tasty and it makes a great side dish for many mains.Read more here.

ENVIRONMENT

express-biker-vending-machine-bike-parts.jpg.400x300_q85_crop-smartVending Machines Sell Bike Parts Debut in Brooklyn

A company called Express Biker has created a self-serve vending machine that sells bike parts around the clock. The goal is to help cyclists who might be riding late at night or far from bike shops, basically times and/or places where getting a flat tire (for example) would be very inconvenient. The vending machines will sell things like tubes, lights, co2, patch kits, various tools and parts.

There are already two machines in function in Brooklyn: One on the border of South Williamsburg and Bedford-Stuyvesant at the Emporium Gas Station on Flushing Avenue, and one at the Mobil Gas Station at 415 Empire Blvd. a few blocks away from Prospect Park. They want to partner with outdoor locations near major bike routes throughout NYC that are open for 24 hours, such as gas stations, parks, etc.
Read more here.


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Friday, May 31: Week in Review

LIFE

set your imagination freeThe Benefits of Boredom

No matter how old – and busy – I get in life, when summer rolls around, I still think of the leisure of the season as a kid. As much as I looked forward to the open-ended days of running wild, however, at some point I’d inevitably find myself bored. My best friend would be away on vacation. The weather would be too consistent. Whatever the case, I’d find myself feeling like I’d seen and done all there was to do a million times over. I’d mope and grumble (gaining no sympathy in the process). In those days, there was no gadgetry to surrender attention to. It was mostly the power of invention and imagination – the two best aspects of childhood if you ask me. Eventually, I’d conjure something good enough to get out of my funk. In fact, my greatest schemes and misadventures seem to have came out of those lulls. The thought makes me wonder: in this age of easy preoccupation, do we undervalue boredom?
Read more here.

url-5The Only Thing Better Than a Fireworks Show Is a Fireworks Competition

There’s something wonderful about watching things blow up in sparkly, colorful explosions. You might even have your own little display over the holiday weekend. But this explosive timelapse video of the massive annual International Fireworks Competition in Da Nang, Vietnam will make your backyard show look puny by comparison.

Over two nights, five firework shows from the top manufacturers from the U.S., Russia, Japan, Italy, and Vietnam light up the Han River. The winner takes home a prestigious trophy, but really, everyone wins at a fireworks competition.Read more here.

bloodcellsDoes Your Blood Type Determine Your Optimal Diet?

I get a lot of emails about the “Eat Right For Your Type” diet, also known as the blood type diet, which asserts that specific optimal diets exist for each blood type. In this post, I’ll take a look at whether there’s anything to this idea, and whether you should change the way you’re eating based on whether you’re Type O, A, B or AB.

The proposed diets all tend to be pretty decent, whole foods-based ways of eating, and they’re all better than the standard American diet of industrial processed junk, but differences do exist. Here’s the basic breakdown of all four blood type diets…Read more here.

JJH_8333-1.jpg.400x300_q85_crop-smartGrilled portobello mushrooms stuffed with sauteed leeks and spinach [Vegan]

I can’t pass up a grilled portobello mushroom, especially when it is stuffed full with sauteed leeks and spinach. Talk about a hearty summer main dish. This recipe is extra flavorful thanks to the balsamic vinegar mixed in with the leeks and spinach. The melted cheese on top is a delicious addition. I added roasted red peppers with the cheese topping for a little extra flavor.
Read more here.


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FYI Friday, May 24: Week in Review

LIFE

ku-xlarge-1Why Your Ears Pop (And What to Do If They Don’t)

The surface of the Earth is covered in a thick atmospheric soup. Though only a fraction of the density of our oceans, the atmosphere behaves much the same way. Just as water pressure increases the deeper you go, air pressure increases the closer you get to sea level. In both cases, that’s because as you go deeper, you’ve got more and more air/water above pushing down on you. FULL ARTICLE.

ENVIRONMENT

dot1.jpg.400x300_q85_crop-smartMore Proof That Bike Lanes Boost Business

In any discussion about installing bike lanes the argument often is put forward that they are bad for business, what with the loss of parking spaces and the increased difficulty of loading and deliveries. But what if this is completely backwards? TreeHugger alluded to this in How bicycles bring business to your community and There IS a Bicycle Economy, Two Cities Find, but here is the real proof from New York’s Department of Transportation.
FULL ARTICLE.

ku-xlargeA Wind-Powered Factory That Makes Chairs, Scarves, and Pillows

It’s not often that we get to talk about engineering and knitting in the same sentence. But Merel Karhof, a Dutch-by-way-of-London designer, is an expert in both.You might remember Karhof from her 2010 project, the Wind Knitting Factory, a knitting machine powered by a small windmill. Built entirely from scratch, Karhof’s the four-foot-wide mill leveraged the wind to power a small, circular loom, which churns out scarves and textiles with a quiet mechanical speed. Karhof “harvests” the fabric every day or two (depending on the weather) and sells them on her website—along with a tag that indicates how long it took to knit.FULL ARTICLE.

HEALTH

JJH_3962-1.jpg.400x300_q85_crop-smartThe “Anything Goes” Savory Tomato and Bean Stew (Vegan.. if you want)

I’ve been doing The Cooking Project for about two months now, and with nearly 50 different recipes tried and tested during that time, this non-recipe couldn’t have been a better celebration of what I’ve learned about cooking so far. This stew is all about cooking intuitively, figuring out what flavors you like and what will mix well together, and knowing how to use what you already have in the cupboards.
FULL ARTICLE.

StrongmadesimpleTracyCrawling, Balancing, Rolling: The Importance of Practicing Natural Movements

My job is essentially to get people to have fun. I am a MovNat Natural Movement Certified Trainer and Parkour coach at True Nature Training who uses play and unconventional programming to get people active without realizing they are getting a workout. It’s so common to get stuck in our fitness routines. Push ups, pull ups, squats, and sprints are all obvious choices for a primal fitness program, but when we get bored or hit a plateau it can help to widen your repertoire to introduce new things. In many cases, this great “new thing” is actually very old. Natural movement is a movement philosophy with a set of principles defined and popularized by Erwan Le Corre, founder of MovNat, and based on natural human movements that we have evolved doing. Our ancestors had to crawl, climb, run, jump and more just to survive. Yet…FULL ARTICLE.

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