PERFECTION

 

To improve is to change, to be perfect is to change often. Winston Churchill. Constant improvement is an excellent goal, perfection is not. I am not sure perfection even exists. We may get so caught up in believing things must be “perfect” or this or that must be “perfect”. Perfect can be paralyzing. Perfection is the enemy of good. Sometimes good is good enough. If we follow one of the most fundamental rules of life, “do your best” isn't that all we can do, is our best? We can all improve, constantly. We can do the work, prepare, and get the job done in the best way we know how and that is that. If we seek “perfection” we will never get anything done, we can spend 5 hours getting 99% of the fence painted and then spend five more hours just finishing those last touches trying to eliminate all those brush stroke marks, just to make it look exactly perfectly right to the discerning eye if you can even see it, when it looked pretty darn good five hours before. What did that additional 5 hours get us?

 

THE SERENITY PRAYER

 

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change.

Courage to change the things I can and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time.

Enjoying one moment at a time.

 Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace.

Taking, as he did, this sinful world as it is; Not as I would have it .

Trusting he will make all things right if I surrender to his will.

That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with him forever in the next.

 

 

 

What Should You Do If You Are in a Car Crash?

Oftentimes, following a car crash, those involved experience a flood of emotions, including confusion over what just happened. The scene may be chaotic. Being prepared and remaining calm can make the process much easier. There are certain steps you may want to take in order to ensure that everyone is safe and that your rights are protected.

Remember:

·       Check yourself and your passengers for injuries.

·       If someone is injured, call immediately for medical help.

·       Get to a safe location.

·       If you are able to do so, move to the side of the road or a sidewalk. If your car is safe to drive and is causing a hazard where it is, pull over to the side of the road. Remember you may still be on an active roadway, be sure to check and know your surroundings before you instinctively get out of the car stepping out on to an active roadway. Safety first. Be aware and stay calm.

·       Call 911.

·       The responding police officers will fill out a report and document what occurred.

·       Exchange information with the other driver, including the following:

·       The driver’s name, address, and telephone number;

·       Insurance information;

·       Driver’s license and license plate number; and

·       Make, model, year and color of the vehicle.

·       Document the car crash.

·       Get the contact information of all responding police officers.

·       Ask the police officers where you can obtain a copy of the Police Crash Report.

·       Gather information from any witnesses, including their names, addresses, and phone numbers.

·       Use your phone to take pictures of the crash scene, including the surrounding area, any property damage, your injuries, and any physical evidence such as an item on the road that may have caused the crash.

·       Report the crash to your insurance company.

The initial aftermath of a car crash can be daunting. If anyone was injured, it is best to consult an attorney as soon as possible. This can ensure that your rights are protected should you need to take legal action against the responsible party.

 

DAILY ROUTINE CHECKLIST

 

·      Wake up when wake up

·      Coffee-Stretch-Practice Gratitude

·      Serenity Prayer

·      Exercise one hour (7 mile run)

·      9 minute Ab routine

·      Daily Stoic (Ryan Holiday)

·      Pay tribute to the Muses (Steven Pressfield)

·      Work Checklist

·      Walk the dog 3x

·      Walk alone 2x (Rich Roll Podcast or the Knowledge Project)

·      Yoga (Youtube Yoga with Adrienne or Sarah Beth)

·      Read 30 minutes (current read-Churchill-Walking with Destiny-Andrew Roberts)

·      Journal

·      Ten Minutes Total Silence

It Always Seems Impossible Until It's Done

 

It always seems impossible until it’s done.

                                                          Nelson Mandela

 A mile, 5K, 10K, half marathon, marathon, ultra-marathon, “oh, I could never do that”, that is until you put one foot in front of the other and just get started and before you know it you are at that mile marker, or finish line and starting to wonder, what's next? What am I capable of?  (We typically only go to 40% of what we are truly capable of-David Goggins)

 A journey of 1000 miles starts with the first step. (Lao Tzu) Just get started and divine Providence will intervene, and magical things will happen. Whether it be marathons and ultra- marathons or in the ultra-marathon of life, overcoming that resistance (Steven Pressfield-Do the Work) is the first hurdle. The mind is perfectly capable of talking us out of anything, “that is impossible, you can't do that” and poof all too often we believe ourselves and that's the end of that fleeting thought, good intentions or our dreams. It's just like getting in the cold shower, at first it's a little shocking, and then before you know it, it's like, “hey this feels pretty good”. Believe in the impossible. Believe in yourself.

 

Ten Simple Rules

 

1. Be kind. The benefits of being kind-or at the very least courteous-far outweigh the effort you put in. Do random acts of kindness.  Compliment someone. If a retail worker or food-service worker makes a mistake, be understanding and patient. Kind people live longer than unkind people.
2. I know myself better than anyone else. Don’t let anyone else’s opinions control what you do, how you act, or what you say.  Other peoples’ opinions are suggestions-take them or leave them. Don’t make assumptions, and don’t take it personally. It’s not about you.
3. Everyone else is as worried and insecure as you are, some people just hide it better. It does not mean that they are smarter or better than you.
4. Laugh it off. If you make a mistake, fall down, or do something dumb, just laugh it off. Other people (and you) will forget it a lot faster if you just let it roll off your back. EVERYONE makes mistakes. Everyone. You aren’t alone and you aren’t the biggest idiot in the world. Give yourself a break.
5. It’s just stuff.  Sure, stuff gets broken-often times accidently by people you love-and that’s annoying, but your stuff can be replaced. You can never erase hurtful words you say to the person you love because they broke your stuff. Stuff is never, ever, as important as those you love.
6. You are probably a lot smarter than you give yourself credit for being.
7. Don’t judge. You don’t know all the facts. We all have our faults and bad habits.  As a pretty famous guy is alleged to have said, “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.”
8. Don’t beat yourself up. Do what you can to fix your mistakes, then move on. Guilt is only good for pushing you toward making things right again. After that, it becomes, shame, and shame is a toxic substance that will eat you up inside. Same for worry.
9. Enjoy Life. Literally, stop to smell and admire the flowers. Wonder. Be curious. Go play outside. Smile at strangers. Dance in the rain. Have fun.
10. Life goes by really, really fast. Live each day so that, at the end, you’re reveling in how amazing your life was, not regretting all the things you do or didn’t do.

 Our Children are at Risk When Dangerous and Defective Front Seats Collapse in Rear Impacts and Allow Front Sit Occupants to Collide with Rear Seat Occupants

Auto manufacturers continue to utilize weak, defective front seats that collapse in rear-end crashes and cause deaths and catastrophic injuries. Children sitting in the back are common victims. Children in the back seat suffer serious injuries from seatback collapses in two common scenarios. First, the front seatback collapses and directly contacts a child’s upper torso or head, causing catastrophic spine and brain injuries. Second, when seatbacks fail and collapse rearward, front occupants may be catapulted into the rear occupant space where a child is sitting. Auto manufacturers have known about the dangers of defective seatbacks for decades. Engineering papers dating back to the 1960s have called for stiffer, stronger seats to protect occupants in rear-end crashes. The federal standard for seatback strength in rear-end crashes—Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 207— is grossly inadequate and fails to predict the performance of seats under impact conditions. All major auto manufacturers admit the standard is inadequate. In fact, a lawn chair purchased at a discount retailer can easily pass the standard that regulates seatback strength. Safety advocates and experts have called for improved testing and strength standards for decades. In the 1990s, the federal government sought comments and proposals to strengthen testing standards. Auto manufacturers strongly opposed these changes and argued that improved testing would cost too much. Ultimately, the federal standards remain the same and allow millions of vehicles with weak, defective seats on our roads each year. Sadly, both front occupants and children sitting in the back seat pay the price in rear-end crashes at residential speeds.