Day 188 - Today's Word Is

As of late I have noticed more and more folks using visual aids for motivation. More specifically the use of single words scribbled on cubical white boards, or on sticky notes slapped on their monitors, refrigerators, etc., or even up on walls in the form of vinyl letter applications. Others we know goes as far as to tattoo their fave words that inspire them on their arms, legs, chests or...

Giving the use of single words some thought, I have decided to not get tattooed. Just want to end any anticipation I have may have created in the first paragraph that I am about to ink up here. Nothing wrong with ink, just not going there; not today anyhow. Giving thought, I believe that whatever we can find motivation in that gets us to set goals and achieve them, them leverage whatever that is. If it is a word, a quote, a poster of the U.S. Constitution, then get it up before your eyes and feed off of it.

We wade into each day with differing levels of energy, intensity, desire (how is that for some rapid-fire motivational words?)... Some days we need a bump to apply ourselves towards what we desire. Sometimes that bump is a simple nudge of a reminder that there is something worthy to be achieved today. And sometimes that bump is a hard slap to the face that you are in a hole and need to stop digging and climb up, out and move onward.

Motivation is whose responsibility? It is our own, What we say to ourselves, that is what more often than not is what keeps us on mission. A word, just one, can be all it takes to provide the bump of motivation needed today. Tomorrow, the same word may be the right word for the day. Or, maybe a different word is needed to get the fire started, stoked and ablaze. Perhaps one words gets the morning moving and it is another that is needed to carry the afternoon. To each his/her own!

What is your motivational word for this moment you are in?

For myself, you see mine for the moment there in the picture of my own cubical white board: DARE
I know, not your typical word that inspoires. But today I find I need to remind myself to DARE to be better. Being better is not easy, it is not just going to happen; I need to be bold enough to DARE myself to do that which is hard and requires effort if I want to reap the rewards that are quite obvious.

Not sure what word it is that will amp you up today, that's ok. Nothing wrong with doing a little word shopping for the one that pops up and grabs you...

Accomplish ~ Achieve ~ Act ~ Action ~ Ambition ~ Attain
Attitude ~ Believe ~ Challenge ~ Commit ~ Confidence
Control ~ Conquer ~ Courage ~ Desire ~ Determination
Empower ~ Encourage ~ Endure ~ Energy ~ Enthusiasm
Faith ~ Finish ~ Fire ~ Focus ~ Goals
Happiness ~ Honor ~ Humility ~ Imagine ~ Inspire
Integrity ~ Joy ~ Knowledge ~ Laugh ~ Learn
Love ~ Mission ~ Motivate ~ Opportunity ~ Overcome
Passion ~ Perseverance ~ Positive ~ Pride ~ Risk
Satisfaction ~ Spirit ~ Spunk ~ Strength ~ Succeed
Trust ~ Value ~ Wisdom ~ Zest ~ Chicago Blackhawks

Responsibility 199 - Gotta Do It!!

Day 143 - BBQ'n & Drive'n

Hope all had a fine Labor Day yesterday. A good one was had by our clan. Since I took Sunday off from exercise I chose to exercise Monday holiday or not. My son & I got in a dumbbell routine and did five sets of push ups & sit ups. A good workout, and a needed one considering the food temptations to come.

Monday I was up before sunrise bringing the smoker up to temperature and getting five racks of baby back ribs on. See them in that picture there? Oh, no you can't, the lid is closed, silly me. Trust me they are in there. And in there they stayed for eight hours cooking slow on a low temp. When done they were proclaimed perfect.

BBQ'ing is a passion of mine and I am good at it. Mission to get healthy or not I will always get my BBQ'n on. The difference now is that I don't eat like the pigs I BBQ. Instead I exercise moderation with my passion.

Today I enjoyed just four ribs from the small end of the rack. That was probably two more than I should have eaten if I am honest with myself. The old me would have eaten an entire rack of ribs minimum. The old me was not responsible and could spell moderation even with spell-check. What, you like ribs too? Ok, here is a pic of the result for your eyes to feast upon...

Dry rub BBQ on the left and wet BBQ on the right. Two types of wet...

The bunch in front is sauced with Sweet Baby Rays and the bunch in the back is sauced with an Apple-Bacon blend.

As if the ribs weren't temptation enough I receive a call when driving home in the evening. This call comes with a request to bring home Dairy Queen for a couple of back home. It's Labor Day, sure why not some ice cream to end the holiday. Not for me, I told myself. A mile up the road I tell myself, well, I could have just a small blizzard, right? Two miles later, Nope, not going to do it; the ribs were enough indulgence today. DQ is now just a mile away, screw it, I am having Ice Cream! The DQ driveway in sight, NO! In the DQ drive thru which is six cars deep, Ok, treat yourself to a blizzard already and walk it off later. At the drive thru window I order a Peanut Buster parfait and a Oreo Blizzard, pay a ridiculous $8+ and drive of with ice cream for the sweet teeth at home. None for me; Commitment wins, Temptation loses.

And later that evening my wife and I went out for a brisk walk to end it on a healthy note. Again a fine Labor Day yesterday. How was yours?

Tuesday it is today, back to work. My day today started with a drive into work. It was an oddly congested and I'll say adventurous drive. One which I decided to try & find some fun in by capturing some of it's emotions...

#%$@&!, Cut off by a squishy little car; I hate squishy little cars!

Argh, the squishy little car has NO brake lights and is getting bigger in my windshield extremely fast!

Ha Ha!... Local radio'heads talking about Illinois politics; best comedy on the air.

Soooo, when was the last time I used my moon roof?

PLEASE... why do trains run during peak commute time?!

Um... is that cow doing a heimlich maneuver on that other cow?

Really? I left home with my own barn door wide open...

If I had three wishes, what would I do with them?

Uh Oh!

Oooo, somebody knows how to dress for traffic.

Green, the light is GREEN, Yippee!!

So, how was your commute today?

Responsibility 199 - Gotta Do It!!