From Adversity Comes Strength

Napolean Hill, the author of Think and Grow Rich, wrote that from every negative or adverse experience comes an equivalent benefit.  Another way of saying look for the good in everything.

We all know that's easier said than done, especially as parents.  You find out how truly vulnerable you are in life when you have children.  You want to do everything to shield them from life's rough patches, you want to soften the blow when life deals one of those unfair "why me" moments.

We recently experienced one of those very moments just this past week at our son's lacrosse game.  As  senior captain on the team, he was looking forward to enjoying a great season with his friends and teammates.  While the team was playing its second game of the season, Alex was blindsided by a vicious check that left him unconscious and fractured his jaw.  Our baby was broken. Season over.

I watched in disbelief as the play unfolded, and after what seemed like a time delay of 5 minutes but was more like 5 seconds, hopped the fence to be by his side as he lay motionless and unconscious on the field.  All the thoughts well up inside of you, "Is he going to be OK,  Is he paralyzed,  Is his neck broken".  After about two minutes with his eyes rolling back in his head, he regains consciousness and begins moving,  he's still unsure of where he is or what happened but I can at least exhale. I kept telling myself he's fine, he's fine while the tears, anger, and frustration all welled up inside me. How do you explain to him that this makes any sense or is fair after he's invested so much time and energy just to play his last high school season.

After leaving the hospital with the diagnosis of the broken jaw and hearing the news that his mouth would be wired shut for 4-6 weeks, you try to move forward.  Look to the future. You try to turn the page on the senselessness, violence, and that the entire play and act was unnecessary.  You try to reason with yourself, your son, and your family that injuries are part of sports and that things like this happen, but deep down they don't happen to you, they don't happen to your baby.

Times like this is where we earn the big bucks as parents. When we ourselves our rattled, we must turn our fear into fortitude.  When Alex was in the emergency room afterwards, his coach and teammates came to visit and were truly amazing in lifting all our spirits. The simple act of saying that you care, that you are not alone, is inspirational.

We as a family are all a little broken now, but with the help of family, friends, coaches, and teammates we will heal. The positives are a little hard to see now but I know they're out there. As we look for the silver lining, it may be simply that the injury could have been much worse, that he will heal, recover and be good as new.

With Love,

Tom Kaufmann
Coach K

Namaste

The beautiful word Namaste originates from India and simply means I bow to you.  Namaste acknowledges the divine spark within each of us and is a way of recognizing the human spirit that connects us all.  Another way to think of the word is that the spirit or soul in me honors the spirit or soul in you.

The word can be said silently to everyone you meet or spoken to someone that you may be having a challenging time with at the moment.

An easy kind gesture to bring more harmony into our lives and world.

Namaste!


With Love,

Tom Kaufmann
Coach K
Coachkaufmann.com

Treat the Impostors of Success and Failure the Same

The Virus that has swept the globe and has altered our daily way of life is just such a crucible where our strength and inner fortitude have a chance to shine.  While we all must do our part, one of the most important things we can all do is to keep calm and continue to move forward.  This too shall pass.

We have history, great literature, and great leaders to lean on during these challenging times such as -

The great English poet, Rudyard Kipling who said, "that if you can keep your head when all those around you are losing theirs and blaming it on you. If you can meet with triumph and disaster, and treat those two impostors just the same; yours is the earth and everything that's in it".

We will survive these challenging days.  We must not succumb to the fear and hysteria.  We must support and help one another, and know that this storm will pass and the sun will shine again.


With Love,


Coach K

Nutrition - A Healthier Way

Sugar has found it's way into our food stream in a myriad of ways, and many times without our knowing.  The natural product grown from the good earth sugar cane is fine, but when we begin the processing we need to be mindful. We need to know the various names for sugar these days fructose, high fructose corn syrup, sucrose, added juices, and the list goes on.

The cheap man made ingredient HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP permeates all of our food products, from crackers, bread, beverages, to soups.  Now as the health dangers of HFCS have come to light the manufacturers simply rename the product and use the label Corn Syrup.

Our processed foods are laced with these products. Stick with a balanced diet concentrated in natural products and loaded with vegetables and fruits.  Read the label and if you can't pronounce the ingredient move on.  I know this is challenging for many of us that have been raised on these products, but our very health and well being is at stake.

We can use good nutrition to energize and heal ourselves with our food and eliminate the need for  prescription drugs. Try limiting the sugar and processed foods for a week, see how you feel. See how your mood and energy levels elevate.  See how you begin to lose the extra pounds.

To our health!


With Love,


Coach K

Where Else Will You Live?

The Most Beautiful Home

I came across a great quote today, "Take care of your body where else will you live?"

The food that we eat today in many ways is close to poison.  The sugar, the high fat, processed, fast food nutrient devoid food is slowly poisoning us and creating sickness and disease.  To think that we consume sugary battery acid on a regular basis and to know that this is a staple of our children's diets has to cause us to rethink how we feed ourselves.

As the food we eat creates sickness, we look to the latest pill to help alleviate the symptoms realizing that these same pills are wreaking havoc on our bodies with their side affects. It becomes a vicious circle. Some simple changes can lead a to a life of health, wellness, and robust vitality.

Give the gift of life to yourself and family. Feed your body with fruits and vegetables and fresh water.  Treat your body with the love, respect, and dignity that it deserves.

Begin caring for yourself and body, it's the most beautiful home you will ever live in.

With Love,


Coach K

Dirty Laundry - Turn Down The Noise

TURN DOWN THE NOISE
It seems that everywhere you turn we are bombarded with the latest news.  The TV, newspapers, movies, and internet continue to inform us of the latest crisis, war, and natural disaster.  We all know that bad news sells.

BAD NEWS SELLS
We know that this bad news sells but do we know how it impacts us.  The United States is one of the most accomplished and wealthiest countries in the history of mankind, but we have high levels of disease, sickness, depression, and anxiety.  Every channel markets non stop that latest medication for the latest illness all in the name of health.  Our continuous exposure to this endless negativity is like being exposed to continual darkness without feeling the warmth of the sun.

A SIMPLE SOLUTION
We can make a conscious shift to limit or end this constant exposure to the news.  Do we wonder why sleeping pills are so popular when we watch the news for the crisis before we go to bed.  We can take back control by simply using the off button.  We need to limit the media exposure especially with our children that are so influenced by all the negativity.  Our reality is what we make it, yes there are bad things that happen but how about the many good things that happen in our daily lives that get totally ignored.

We should try an experiment. For a week, let's limit our exposure to negativity and focus on the goodness in our lives.  From simply waking up in the morning, enjoying a sunrise, having family and friends, or the simple joy of experiencing our senses.  The positive list is endless.  The simple joy of life and being part of nature can go a long way to restoring our health and balance in our lives.

SILENCE
When we eliminate all the dirty laundry or negative news, we open space for light, peace, and joy to fill our lives.  We can begin by turning down the noise and immerse ourselves in silence.  Silence is golden, and the quiet will help bring harmony back into our lives.

With Love

Tom Kaufmann
Coach K
CoachKaufmann.com

An Orange

BE LIKE AN ORANGE

I once heard the expression be like an orange from Wayne Dyer.  Dr. Dyer goes on to explain that an orange remains constant no matter what.  When you squeeze an orange you get orange juice. While many of us for the most part are caring or kind, we often react differently when we are squeezed.   

 
When we are in a good mood and life is treating us well, we can be friendly and generous with family, friends, even strangers.  But when life squeezes us, when we are stressed or frustrated when often are rude, mean, and ill tempered.  Especially, with the ones we love.  The family members that mean the most to us and do the most for us.

Always kindness. This concept of treating everyone including yourself with kindness at all times is a terrific idea although not always easy to do.  When you have children you are always balancing teaching them right from wrong, disciplining them, and encouraging them.  When we or someone else screws up it's hard to respond with kindness, but like anything else we can improve with practice. When my child's grades were not what I thought they should be I reacted with anger. Once a day or two passed, the frustration subsided and I was able to turn the experience into a teaching moment.  They say children are the best teachers.

Our reactions of anger and frustration instead of kindness are just the universe's way to telling us we have more to learn.

I like the idea of being like an orange and when I'm squeezed instead of pouring out sour grapes,  I can just let the pure sweet orange juice flow.

With Love,


Coach K