Anticipation - Looking Forward

While we live in the present moment, it's also important to look to the future and plan for the days ahead. Our future plans something as simple as looking forward to a dinner, meeting a friend, or some other future activity help smooth out our days and improve our work life balance. 

When we have future plans and future goals they help with our motivation and can smooth out the grind of daily work with our anticipation of that weekend getaway, attending the big game, or planning the dream trip to Italy.  

The anticipation of tomorrow can help fuel the work of today. 

When we balance the joy of living in the moment with the anticipation of all the good things life has in store for us we can look forward to the bright horizon and the blessings of tomorrow knowing that 

The best is yet to come!

 With Love,

 Coach K

 

 

 

Golf - The Game of Kings

 The Beauty and Power of Golf

I come from a family of four boys and we were all athletes playing mostly basketball and baseball, but every sport in its season whether it was street hockey, tackle football at the park, wiffle ball, horseshoes, box hockey, tennis, and yes golf. 

We grew up "economically disadvantaged" or a funny way of saying poor.  Food stamps, welfare, the works.  A single mother with four young boys does what she has to do.  We never felt poor though growing up in the wonderful tight knit working class town with the funny Indian name of Conshohocken, Lenape for Pleasant Valley, and indeed it was a Pleasant Valley.  

 We excelled in all the traditional sports growing up, and would have some legendary games of 2-on-2 hoops with the two middle Bros versus me and the Baby.  We would get them most of the time, and those years of little brother taking a licking would pay dividends as he became the best player in the history of our local high school. 

I was introduced to many other great games as a young teenager from Chess, Foosball, Ping Pong, and the best of them Golf.  My dear friends, coaches, and mentors at the local community center Coach Frank, Jimmy, Reeno, and Dennis would be an extended family to all of us, but had a special influence on me.  

Dennis and Coach played golf, and Coach even caddied so knew the game well.  Dennis and Coach cobbled together a set of clubs when I was 13, and I learned the game on the local legendary Woody's golf 9 hole chip-n-putt  and the 18 hole par 54 courses. I was smitten and hooked immediately.  I was a baseball player so I felt an immediate connection with hitting the ball. 

As I played the game for the past 40 years, I have come to realize it's one of the few sports that you can enjoy playing throughout your entire life.  I get even more enjoyment now than I did when I was younger. And I've realized that the best part of the game is that it connects generations of family and friends.  We would take family vacations when the children were younger at golf resorts and always enjoyed the people, hospitality, and community. 

I have the pleasure and joy of playing with our 20 something's and what's nice is that we get to spend 5 quality hours together out in the fresh air and sunshine without cell phones, Tv's, social media, and computers.  I'm grateful and thankful for all the time we spend together on the course. How refreshing! 

And while golf is known as the sport of Kings and originated in it's present form from the home of golf Scotland.  Some of the game's best players started out from modest means.  The great Tom and Tommy Morris' were caddies who became legends of the games.  Tiger Woods played and learned on a Naval base community course.  

Do yourself a favor and start playing, teach your children the game, and you will find that Golf can be the start of a wonderful family experience that will last generations.

With Love,

Coach K

Wolgang Amadeus Mozart - Let The Music Play

There is a wonderful saying, "Don't live without sharing the music inside you." The incredible Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart born in 1756 composed some of the most beautiful, exquisite, classical music ever heard. Mozart was blessed with a devoted father Leopold that instructed and encouraged him at a very young age.  Leopold was an accomplished violinist and better known for being an extraordinary teacher of the violin. The violin was his preferred instrument and he would encourage Wolfgang to play the violin despite his reluctance.

Mozart spent his childhood immersed in music which launched his virtuoso talent at the age of three. He and and his sister Nannerl would play and perform to kings and courts across Europe. He not only was a virtuoso harpsichord or piano player, where he was pretty much self taught but he also was a virtuoso violinist.  He actually wrote five violin concertos in his teens and never composed another piece for the violin.

Mozart maintained a bit of child like wonder throughout his 35 years of life.  He composed and produced a tremendous amount of beautiful music in a very short period of time and that music has resonated down through the ages. Despite only living 35 years, he made sure that he shared his incredible talent and music with the world, and we are all better for knowing his divine creations. 

For those of you that have not experienced Classical music whether it's Mozart, Bach, or Beethoven take the time to give it a try and a listen.  After being exposed to pop and rock music for most of my life, I listened to Mozart for the first time when I was 30 years old and was stunned and astounded by the melodic sound. I remember quietly saying wow! This is the most beautiful music I've ever heard.  That's why it's lasted 270 years!

If you want to know a little more about Mozart, there is an excellent movie called Amadeus that perhaps takes some poetic license but still is an enjoyable story. 

We are all given inherent gifts from God and it's up to us to use them. 

Let's make sure we share our Music with the world and remember to 

Let the Music play!

With Love,

Coach K

Be A Pro - Larry Fitzgerald

 How to Be A Professional

We can be a Pro in our own everyday lives.  The great Larry Fitzgerald of the Arizona Cardinals is a tremendous example for all us.  What did Larry do that we all can emulate?  He showed up every day ready to work, to improve, to better himself, and to honor and hone his craft of professional football. 

Larry spent his entire career playing for a mediocre Cardinals team, appeared in few if any playoff games, and never went to a Superbowl throughout his long career.  But what he did do is respect and honor the gifts and talents he was blessed with and continually strived to be the best player he could be both on an off the field.  He was the consummate teammate, leader, an outstanding member of the community and contributed to the team both on and off the field. 

Simply stated he was a Pro. He was passionate.

He put on his uniform every day just like many of us do and went to work. He didn't half-step, call out, or mail it in.  He showed up and showed out. And played like a champion even when the team did not. 

He didn't win Superbowls or Championships but he became a Hall-of-Famer playing on average and underperforming teams.  He excelled even when the team did not.  He was a beacon of greatness in a sea of mediocrity.  He put in the work, was dedicated, and cared about his performance and his legacy.

We can do the same.  Whatever our daily work or profession we can be professionals.  We can work hard, improve ourselves, be passionate, and strive to do and be our best regardless of the challenging circumstances we face.

We can be Hall-of-Famers in our right and leave a legacy of accomplishment, achievement, and greatness. 

Larry Fitzgerald had a long and distinguished playing career and by most accounts he is even a better human being. He earned his success and the rewards followed.  The lesson applies to us as well.  When we work hard, are good teammates, and do the right thing, the rewards will surely follow.

Be a Pro.

With Love,

Coach K

Healing Your Nervous System - Anxiety and Panic

 Anxiety and Panic have become part of our daily existing and it is wreaking havoc in our lives.  Particularly, for those under 30 years old.  Looking back what were we worried about in our teenage and young adult lives.  We had our challenges but today it seems as everything is coming at us in waves. 

The nervous system is just like any other body part.  When it is overtaxed and constantly stressed it begins to wear out just like the heart, knee, liver, and kidneys that get overworked from food, drink, or other toxins. 

When we continually feed our brains and nervous system with a stream of violence, negativity, pictures, movies, video games, social media and daily news.  Everyday we get hit with the Tragedy-of-The Day. Shootings, natural disasters, pandemics, accidents, the stream is endless. We are immersed in the negativity.

But we have a Choice.  And we MUST EXERCISE THAT CHOICE to turn off the stream of negativity. For those that say it's reality, I agree it is a part of reality but not the only part.  And we need to know that WE control OUR reality.  If you continually plug into the stream of violence, it will make you sick, anxious, depressed, and unhealthy both mentally, emotionally, and physically. 

We need to turn it off and unplug. Remove ourselves from.  The other reality is beauty, peace, love, compassion, nature, goodness, and kindness.  For every negative event there are millions good things happening in our world and the world around us.  A birthday, anniversary, marriage, newborn, a championship, a sunrise, sunset, even just waking up this morning and being thankful for the gift of life, for each moment.  We can now see when we remove ourselves from the negative stream, we can have a whole new experience one that is empowering and uplifting.  

Just like you are what you eat.  Junk food versus good food.  Your brain, nervous system, mind, body and soul are the same way.  Junk versus good.  Same result.

Choose the good stuff! To your health. 

With Love,

Coach K

 

 

 https://www.amazon.com/Hope-Help-Your-Nerves-Anxiety/dp/0593201906/ref=sr_1_1?crid=92NWWH0XXL70&keywords=hope+and+help+for+your+nerves+by+claire+weekes&qid=1676389549&sprefix=hope+for+your+nerv%2Caps%2C151&sr=8-1

 

 

 

Put Down That Fork!

 Optimal Health

The best and fastest way to Optimal Health is to stop eating! Ah yes, I am genius.  We all know how hard it is to change our eating habits but our health, vitality, and quality of life are worth the changes. 

I know Fasting is the new diet buzzword. But when you really think about our eating habits and the American diet, you realize we are eating constantly. Three meals a day and constant snacking in between.  The body and the digestion system is always working to process those calories, most of which are empty and unnecessary.  

There is a better way that will change your life, health, and outlook.  We simply put down the fork and stop eating.  Or said another way, we learn to eat in a better way and more optimal way that enhances our health naturally and also provides all the nutrition we need. Fasting enables the body to heal itself by turning off the overheated digestion process and allowing our organs and biological systems to recover, and begin working normally again.

When working properly the body naturally produces Testosterone, Human Growth Hormone, and IGF (Insulin Growth Factor) at any age and provides all we need for lean muscle mass, strong bones, and good health.  

Fasting is a simple way to change our eating habits will improving our health  Fasting is not starving yourself.  You simply eat in a continuous 8 hour window, say from noon to 8pm.  You can choose the 8 hour window but the other 16 hours, 8 for sleeping and 8 for living are don't without eating anything significant.  So, some coffee, water, green tea are good to consume in the 16 hour non-eating window. 

This simply eating shift can/will change your life if you're struggling with your weight, energy levels, mental and emotion outlooks, or just want to improve you overall health and quality of life. 

Try to eat healthy in that 8 hour window but you can still treat yourself.  Start small if need be, you can eat in a 10 or 12 hour window as you work your way to 8.  Give it a try and see how it works for you.

The other benefit of Fasting is it eliminates for the need dubious testosterone, estrogen, and HGH supplements. By giving our bodies a break with all the eating/digestion we allow our body, organs - liver, kidneys, and pancreas to heal and begin operating normally.

Fasting is an effective and cost free way to achieve optimal weight and health.  Fasting may even help with reversing and curing some of the chronic diseases.

To Your Health,

Coach K

Feel Good

 To Feel Good Is To Feel God

When we are bombarded with negativity and the latest greatest calamity in the world it impacts our psyche, our spirit, our outlook.  We begin to think the world is a dangerous place, that things are bad all over, and what's the point of trying to live a good life, or make a contribution to society. 

We need to know, especially the younger generations that the negativity is a mirage and that how we experience the world is our choice.  While there may be a storm in a part of the world there is also beautiful weather in another part.  With a planet of 8 billion people there is always happiness and sadness going on at all times.  As in our own lives most of the experiences are good.  When we do experience setbacks, we learn, grow and become better.  We don't just dwell and immerse ourselves in the negativity. 

But we have to make that Conscious choice.  Many of our negative experiences are of our own choosing not a reality that we actually experience in our lives.  While the devastating storm in another part of the world is sad, we help how we can, say a prayer and move forward.  We also have to be careful and mindful to not just focus or dwell on these "negative" events for if we do it will be hard to get out of bed in the morning. Because there's always another negative shoe to drop right behind the next one. We are constantly bombarded with the negative stream.  There is another and better way. 

We have a choice. 

Turn it down. Turn it off. Our daily lives can be challenging enough at times without adding the weight of the latest tragedy to our daily agenda.  There are so many incredible daily miracles happening in our own lives and right around us that we sight of them when we soak in the negativity.  When our focus shifts to the positive, uplifting, and overwhelming goodness in our lives the world changes and we go from darkness to light.  

Most areas experience more sunshine than rain but many of us live our lives as if it is only raining every day. We willingly and sometimes unknowingly ingest this constant stream of violence and negativity in our entertainment, language, music, and relationships which damages our physical, mental, and emotional heath unnecessarily and leads to unhappiness.  We can just as easily watch uplifting entertainment, or exercise, read a good book, play the guitar, sing, paint, or any other positive activity.   Or even better read the Bible and the words of Jesus that will cure what ails you! The Choice is ours and we need to be proactive, aware, and conscious of the choices we are making.

Just eliminating the daily news in our lives can have a profound impact on our health and well being.  We deserve to feel good to feel God.  A lovely expression is to feel good is to feel God.  When the sunshine washes over your face, the wind freshens your walk, or the rain feeds your garden, you are feeling and experiencing God.  This goodness permeates our lives and daily existence if we choose it, focus on it, and allow God's grace to wash over us.  We don't ignore reality but we also don't soak in negativity either.  We have wonderful lives to live and great big life to experience all the gifts of Life.

And we need to remember that Life itself is a gift and indeed each moment and day is a miracle and gift from God.  When we live from this higher part of our selves we are humbled and awed by the mystery and wonder of life.

We need to be grateful and thankful for all that shows up in our lives.  I try to say Thank You throughout the day for beauty of each moment and start each day we one my favorite quotes,

This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be Glad! And with God all things are possible!

When we feel good, we feel God.

With Love,

Coach K

Peace

Let There Be Peace

 Let there be Peace on earth and let it begin with me.  We have learned that the three most important virtues our Faith, Hope, and Love, and that the greatest of these is Love. And who can argue against the power of Love.  

But just as important is Peace.  Peace is one of the highest emotions, feelings, virtues we can experience. In the terrific book, Power Vs Force Dr. David M. Hawkins explains how everything has an inherent energy that can make us stronger or weaker.  Loud rock music can make the arm go weak while classical music makes the arm strong.  Violent images emit weakness while scenes of nature produce strength. 

There are a range of human emotions from boredom, apathy, anger, happiness, joy, compassion, to love. And those that have lived on earth and reached the highest level of Conscious have radiated Peace.  

Peace in our lives is so important and is just essential for our health and well being as good nutrition and exercise. Without peace we become anxious, fearful, and even depressed. We can achieve Peace by simply turning down the noise, and eliminating the constant stream of violence we ingest. Our entertainment is littered with violence. UFC fighting,horror movies, tv shows, video games, music, commercials, sports. My friend was watching a John Wick movie and it was sickening. Why is this trash produced and why do we consume this garbage. The violence poisons our mind and Spirit, permeates our culture and society leading to even more violence in our everyday lives. And the concern is that we have become immune to it and think it is normal, and even worse we can exposing our children to this violence at younger and younger ages. We must do better.

The rise of anxiety, depression, panic attacks, sleeplessness, and mental illness can be directly linked to the rise of violence in our everyday lives.  But we can choose to disengage from the negativity and bathe ourselves in Peace and Light.  We can use our spiritual resources and free will to choose a better way to live.  Turn down the noise and violence and focus on the beauty, the wonder, the goodness, and the miracle of each moment and each day.  Choose better forms of entertainment and watch how your health improves, your fear and anxiety subside, you sleep better, your mood and outlook brighten, and you have better outlook.

What we focus on expands and we can choose Peace, love, and joy.  The choice is our.

With Love,

Coach K

Your Body - Your Temple

The Divine You

Think of your body for a moment.  We take it all for granted.  This magnificent gift from God. Our bodies. Thousand of chemical reaction happen without our knowing, breathing, heart pumping, electrical and electromagnetic pulses fire off instantaneously ensuring we perform at optimal levels. 

Our bodies are special in many ways but most importantly because our Soul or Divine Holy Spirit resides within each one of us.  Our bodies are simply a Temple hosting our Divine Spirits. 

When you look at yourself and your body as a holy person and place, you find yourself wanting to nourish and care for it not abuse or fill it with junk food and toxins. 

 Your health and well being is the optimal performance of the Mind, Body, and Spirit working in harmony to create the best you.  It is very difficult to create Peace, Health, and Harmony in your life when one is out of balance.  Faith, Hope, and Love are the greatest of virtues but the most important may be Peace.  You need to bring Peace into your life to have good health.  All the good nutrition and exercise will not bring you health if you are not at Peace with your Mind or Spirit.

When we eat well, drink well, get proper exercise and sleep we can begin to renew our health.  But we also need to care for our minds and souls.  Violent movies, shows, and entertainment damage our spirit and mind.  When we ingest low energy content or engage in self-harming activities we suppress and weaken our bodies and immune systems.

We all have our self indulgences and that's normal.  We just need to be mindful to not let those indulgences become the norm. Be proactive in bringing more peace and harmony into your daily life. We are so plugged in and interconnected in essence 24 hours a day.  You walk into a room and three friends are on their phones and not conversing with one another.  Try unplugging, disconnecting, and expanding the quiet, the silence, and the solitude in your lives.  Let it wash over you and soothe your busy brain, overtaxed nervous system.  A little yoga, meditation, and prayer can help balance the mind, body, Spirit connection and have a feeling good as new. 

Tranquility and peace are stronger than any dumbbell and more uplifting than any spin class. When we acknowledge our Divine essence and nourish our Spirit we gain an inner strength and fortitude that in transcendent.

When we have harmony between the Mind, Body, and Soul we can live from our optimal selves and experience our Divine Essence in harmony with God.

With Love,

Coach K