I hope everyone is doing well. It's been a while since my last post, but since I never really promised timely or regular updates I don't particularly feel bad about that. For those of you have managed to still read "that blog thing that Dennis/DJ is writing" consider this a somewhat delayed reward.
As both an update and start to this particular post, my father using the wonder diet of "having kidney stones" and "legitimate healthy eating" has lost a significant amount of weight. Somewhere in the neighborhood of 25-30 lbs. I am particularly proud of him and hope he keeps it up. Those of you who read this and know my father, please feel free to send him copious amounts of congratulations (because he will not hate that at all). Anyways, while my father was telling me about his accomplishment, he was discussing the various reasons why such a change had occured. The largest thing he attributed his success to was the idea that he was keeping happy by eating small meals and doing small exercises and enjoyable activities to keep his endorphins at a steady level.
Now I hate science as much as the next person, but let's go into more depth about this theory. According to most godless scientists, humanity is essentially a pack of drug addicts. No, seriously. We crave endorphins. Just like rats. For those of you who did not take the time to read that link (all of you) the paper explains how if you give two rats a switch to press one which will release food and one which will shock its brain and release endorphins, the rat will starve to death pressing the second button.
Now most humans will not do such a thing (maybe my buddy Tommy). However, the science between endorphin management and good health is very linked. On the opposite side, those who experience massive endorphin swings are more commonly known as Bipolar, and those with low sensitivity to endorphins or have trouble producing them are often diagnosed as depressed. (you just got learned)
The goal aparently is to moderate our endorphins, eating small good meals, doing small enjoyable activities, and enjoying "the little things". We all celebrate our big achievements, but we need to cherish the small ones too.
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| "Congradulations Susan, we all know you had a baby yesterday. But today Todd wore a funny hat." |
With that in mind, I wanted to list a few small things that I enjoy doing. Accomplishments which hit the endorphins but don't require me to get a diploma to make me feel good about myself.
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| "Master's Degree: $50,000. The feeling of making it: Pricele- wait a minute 50 grand!?" |
I'm not going to lie. Cleaning can be a zen like experience. Not all cleaning, and not all the time, however turning a room, an apartment, or a desk from disaster to neatness really helps brighten a day. Things don't seem so impossible. Organization allows you to break up your tasks into smaller more managable tasks. These task in turn are minature endorphin boosters. Each one easy to accomplish, each a small victory against the unbearable weight of the world. I make jokes about wanting to be a trophy husband, but part of me thinks, hey, folding laundry feels pretty damn good.
2. Putting Stuff Together
I recently put two IKEA cabinets together. I cannot stress how much I felt like a man while doing them. I am convinced that IKEA is LEGOs for adults. Think about it... 4 letter name (all capitals too...), strange European creators, neither instructions requiring any experience with language, and no outside tools required. Anyways, the chest was difficult enough to capture my intention, but did not want me make to burn down Sweden. When I was finished, I had a product I could use and think "I made that". All for the low price of cheap Swedish furniture. The Lesson: IKEA rocks.
3. Winning/Competition
Some of you who spend time with me may have noticed that I have a small tendency to excell at certain things like card games, trivia, and other small games. I enjoy them and I'm slightly ashamed to admit, while some of the enjoyment comes from knowing trivia or being skilled at cards, most of it comes from using those skills to win. Playing and winning games are a great way to fire off endorphins. And since yours truely was not built for street ball, sit down games have largely become my domain to exercise this energy.
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| "I could of gone pro, but I blew out my knee." |
In many ways, nothing beats a good win, you feel accomplished, successful, and why shouldn't you? Games and sports provide a venue for you to compete without the potential real life pitfalls of failure. You lose? then play again. Heck, even losing feels good if you competed with a good friend or the game was intense.
4. Writing
I enjoy writing. Sometimes it takes time for me to get my hands to start typing, but when I am finished, I have been able to express my opinion and have something permanent to leave behind. Hopefully someone reads it, but if they don't, at least I got it out of my head. This leaves me the ability to get onto my next thoughts, which are almost assuredly more neurotic than the last.
5. Coffee and Conversation
Kind of a two for one, sitting down with a friend or colleague, having some coffee, and catching up is a great way to feel good. Chemically I'm sure caffeine does something for me, after all, it is an addictive substance. Sitting down with an old friend is a great way to hear about others lives, lend a helping hend (or at least ear), and live vicariously. You see another perspective and in turn, you get perspective on your own life. I notice that when people sit down for coffee, they smile and laugh more than any other time I know. You don't get a lot of that playfulness as an adult anymore and I wholeheartedly encourage you work as hard as you can to grab those moments.
6. Teaching
Glaring statement of the obvious right? Well, when you think about it all the prerequisites are there. A feeling of accomplishment, conveying information, leaving something permanently behind; no wonder I love to teach, tutor, and volunteer. Hell, sometimes they even pay me for it! I think thats really one of the keys to life, find that thing that boosts you and do it. It has been said by others before, but it is worth retweeting. I MEAN REPEATING DAMN YOU INTERNET!
As a final note, an old friend recently recommended that I throw in a movie review more often to spice up the blog. Seeing as my readership encompasses all of 30 people, I have no problem being incredible responsive to my audience. Without further ado:
Obviously an acquired taste. I recently watched Bloodsport when I actually mailed a DVD into Netflix and got a new one back. It had been so long that I had forgotten what was on my queue (aparently, the year 1986). When you remove the cheesiness, Bloodsport is a solid 80's action flick. John Claude Van Damme does for kicking and splits what Chuck Norris did for chins and punching. The plot is based on a true story (although I don't know how true that can possibly be) and involves secret karate tournaments, multiple 80's power ballads, an American clearly from Belgium, and a young Forrest Whittaker. If you are looking for classic 80's action, Bloodsport is definitely for you.
Keep your eye on the blog, because my next post will take a look into some of the pitfalls that come with chasing these same endorphins.
How do you get your endorphin fix?
