Don't Ask - Don't Get

HANDS UP!

Just like back in school, to grab some attention, just put your hand up! Squashed into my seat on an early morning flight this morning, I witnessed first hand how best to get an advantage over everyone else (including business class travellers) ordering from the drinks trolley.

British Airways, along with other premium airlines, still offer complimentary drinks on their service, but alcohol is not usually featured on the breakfast flights.

However, the planes are stocked with booze for the later flights and some happy holiday makers will want a beer or Bloody Mary over a tea/coffee to get through the stress of getting to the airport and kick off the holiday good times. So, to keep their customers happy, attendants will make exceptions and the service crew will be traversing the length of the plane on these special trips to the galley. This takes time. Club class get priority and depending on your position on the plane, you could wait a long time for a drink and left with little time to relax and enjoy it.

Assistance Given

This is where the call button comes in handy. Pressing this attention grabbing button means you are suddenly 'numero uno priority' out of a full plane of 200+ people. It means your needs will be met first. You'll catch the stewardesses as they commence their duties, more happier and compliant to help, as opposed to jaded and resilient to giving their limited time to yet another budding British (functioning) alcoholic. The smiles will be more genuine and the question of 'can I get a beer?' answered and confirmed 'yes' by happy crew, making that first priority drink taste all the more sweeter.

Imbalance

BECOMING WELL BALANCED

A strange thing occurred to me the other day. I have been dealing with a set of injuries that stubbornly refuse to go away. Yoga, regular stretching, a long break from being sat in front of a computer all day long and general lifestyle improvements have all helped to significantly reduce the symptoms...but they are still there. 

While laying on my back after a particularly tough (yes guys it can be very physically challenging) yoga session, I quietly focussed on my body and the benefits of my practice. What I noticed, was a tendency for my right foot to roll out to the right. I traced the muscles up my right leg and realised my hip was touching the mat. Over to the left foot and up the leg, I discovered my left buttock was engaged - hence the tilt in my hip and splayed right foot. I was twisted! Suddenly it dawned on me...the tightness in my left hip-flexor & glutes was causing an imbalance in my movements (increased flexibility on one side more than on the other) - why was this?

Little things have big consequences

I'd heard about the knock-on effects of having injuries on one side of the body consequently affecting the other. A good friend of mine had recently confirmed this fact when he went to a physio with a chronic back issue that he'd been informed required surgery by his doctor. 

Desperate to avoid the knife, he went back to someone he'd seen two years prior. He'd disregarded her advice back then. The physio had taken one look as he entered the room and before he'd properly explained his symptoms, she'd already identified the root of his problems - a limp caused by a badly healed broken leg from 10 years before!

This friend, finally accepting something in the area of his left ankle was the cause of a prolapsed disk, then chose to alleviate the symptoms by following a course of physiotherapy to first fix the limp. 

The Impact of time

Injuries can cause imbalances. But also, repeating the same action over and over, sitting in the same position, doing the same movements - these will all cause slight changes in our body that become more major over time. Muscles on one side become stronger or lengthen on the other and the body holds it's imbalanced position, causing tension and problems down the line. 

So what had dawned on me the other day was simple - and it was such a simple thing to fix that I was dumbstruck how I'd allowed this to happen in the first place. 

I'd had a wallet in my back right pocket for the whole of my adult life. This is why my right buttock muscle is relaxed - it's because when I'm sitting down on the wallet, only the left side needs to switch on the muscles to stay straight. 

Since I removed the wallet and now have another possible solution for where to keep my valuables, I've noticed a massive change in lower back tightness over night. Yet again I'm astounded in discovering something that's been so glaringly obvious - yet taken me so long to discover in myself or so long to acknowledge and do something about. It's also confirmed to me that the small things really can make a difference in making a change for the better and for keeping a balance.

Carpe Diem

SEIZE THE DAY

It's too much taken for granted that each night we go to sleep, there's another day waiting for us in the morning. When we're young and seemingly invincible, the days seem long and old age so far away. We make plans for the future and often put things off that we believe can be better done at a later date without being fully aware of the vulnerability of life. If we're lucky to be living in a war-free country, safe town/city, or place where the odds of seeing another day are already stacked in our favour, we'll still not think much of the ultimate conclusion that awaits us. We blindly live our early years and wait for that planned long retirement to come. 

Better odds

We feel indestructible in our 20's, even in our 30's we can push the boundaries, but in our 40's, the capacity to regenerate and heal, diminishes, so there has to be some consideration to health because by 50's and beyond, any damaging lifestyles & habits not put into check, will be even harder to remove or fix. 

It could be you

It's not a nice thought - but getting a life-threatening illness can be a bit of a lottery apparently. Fresh research indicates that following a healthy lifestyle free from stresses may give better odds for living a fuller life for longer, but it could all boil down to luck at the end of the day. So don't put off today what can be done tomorrow. Do make the most of your parents, grandparents, friends & loved ones and face each day as if it were your last. Chances are, focussing on the positives and surrounding yourself with love and purpose, will raise the odds of being around, healthy & healthy for a very long time...but don't delay - seize the day!

Injustice

SPEAK UP!

There's so much injustice all around us. Horrible things going on right now in another part of the world that we are allowing to happen by not speaking up. Looking at some of the footage from the war crimes in Iraq, committed by American military - atrocities that the US Government have tried to cover up and hearing about some of the terrible abuses of women in Pakistan - stoned to death for 'bringing dishonour' on their families, we can see where abuses of power and ignorance are creating much misery. We need to do more about it.

There's also stories closer to home about abuse of power, corruption and greed and this is in a seemingly developed nation in time of peace. But we haven't advanced much as human beings if you look at all the misery and suffering in the world. With all the knowledge and technology available to us in this modern age, why do we still have:

– Poverty
– Starvation
– Gender in-equality
– Mistreatment of the elderly
– Orphans
– Racism
– Physical & mental abuse
– Sex trafficking
– War
– Abuses of power

Apathy, plus a general lack of concern or empathy towards others appear to be at the heart of it. There's so many people walking around like the 'living dead', not even in charge of their own lives. All seemingly in too much of a rush to stop and think. People are turning a blind eye because we're all too busy, caught up in our own affairs to really care about others. Surely, if we took the time to look up - we'd 'see' an easier way for us all to live happier lives. It just takes more of us to come away from doing pointless and selfish actions to use our minds for the greater good so we can rid the world from all of this injustice.

An Analysed life
Epicurus believed that all we needed for a life of happiness, were three things: friends, freedom and an analysed life. So here I am in the alps with 7 friends, gliding down a mountain with the sun in my face, taking it all in and being grateful for what I have. Life is sweet. I'd say Epicurus was right - but without good health and some money, it becomes difficult to have this kind of life. This moment is a true luxury for me and I'm aware how fortunate I am to have been brought up in a time, country and loving family, which has given me this opportunity to enjoy life so much. When I come back from this trip, I'm going to make sure I'm giving some more of my time and money over to charity - so I can do some part to help someone else have a moment of happiness too. 

Down days

TURN IT AROUND

You can't be on the up every day feeling a million bucks. It's just not possible - especially when you've been burning the candles at both ends and drinking a lot of booze. There's gonna be a lull. You're gonna have some days when you're just not on your game and there's a strong temptation to stay in bed and sleep it off. Thing is, you could wallow in it and chances are, your body will slowly recover from the lack of sleep, the clouds will depart and your sunny side will shine out again....eventually. However, the best way to get your personality back and effectively 'turn it around' - is to jump out of bed, splash cold water in your face, eat a decent breakfast and do something exhilarating where the sugars from the night before can be burnt off quicker and your mind switched back on. I'm now sitting in a bar having a cheeky half, feeling pretty lively and upbeat after taking a 2hr adrenalin fix. 

Living the one pint mind-set 

I heard this mentioned yesterday - how maintaining a one pint mind-set is the best way to live. I can go for that - one drink definitely gives you a little pep, makes you more confident/sociable and lifts a mood. And I can confirm it's true for me right now, as I'm ready for anything again - the trick is to stick to just one...!

Think it - Do it

MAKE IT HAPPEN

How many times have you:

– Forgotten to call someone back

– Left something important behind 

– Missed out on something because you meant to put it in your bag 

– Missed a deadline
– Forgotten to jot something down or set a reminder to do it

Countless times I bet. Has it been because you've been in the middle of doing something else? Likely. Maybe that other thing was more important or fun at the time? Or was it simply because you were being inefficient or worse, lazy? Whichever - you've missed out on something good - something that was going to benefit you in some way, because you didn't do what needed to be done. It's very easy to make the mistake of putting off something until later. I've learned the hard way and that's why I've changed for the better. Ever since making this change, I've experienced countless successes where I can say I've had what I needed because I've stuck fast to a very simple rule. 

Think it - do it

As it comes to mind - grab a pen and write it on the back of your hand - or take out your phone and set a note/reminder. Even better, If you have an iPhone, take a screen grab of the note and save it to your lock screen. There are times when a note will do the trick - but if it's something that's within your grasp - ie. Getting something out of a cupboard to stick in your bag - like a passport. Do it immediately. If it's a quick and easy job - even though it disrupts what you're currently doing - slot it in and do it now while it's in your mind. If it's going to hold you up and miss a deadline or something that requires a bit more time to do - there's another rule...

The 2-minute rule

If something can be fixed, prepped/lined-up or at the least, a reminder easily set for a better time to do the task at hand - and it's a '2 minute job' - do it. For anything longer, the reminder itself fits in the 2-minute window. Do it. As you think it - do it. You may be in the middle of dinner or in a deep and meaningful conversation. Do it. If you just say 'Think it - do it' - if anyone asks why you're breaking the chat or seemingly preoccupied with your phone/notebook - pass on the rule so they can benefit too! Otherwise, just excuse yourself and quickly go somewhere out of the way where nobody can see you.

It's simple
You just need a pen/pencil and paper/notebook - or if you're tech-minded - do as I do and keep an iPad or an iPhone (or equivalent) with the notes app accessible in an easy place - ready for when the moment comes. Sometimes the moment arises when I'm in the middle of watching a film, having dinner, in conversation, driving (use dictation) or even in the middle of the night half asleep - I still jot down that reminder, note, bit of inspiration where it's ready to make good of when it comes - because thoughts are just thoughts at the end of the day and they can come and go if not captured.

Take Action

MAKE IT HAPPEN

Having knowledge and doing nothing with it is the same as having no knowledge at all. You have to apply what's been learned and do something useful with it to make it a benefit.

It's so easy to get everything we need. All the info and he tools are out there to be learned in schools, researched in libraries and gained in every way imaginable online. There's a lot to wade through though before getting the answers - you can't just take what you first read as 'gospel'. There's a lot of different opinions and ways of doing things and you have to find what works for you.

To get the best out of our learnings, we still have to filter out what's good and bad information and take the best advice from those around us that have learned and had success from their experiences. It takes time, will power and effort to source/digest information, assess/trial and learn what works for us. Unfortunately, we're pretty lazy if we allow ourselves to be. Discipline has to be instilled in us in the same way a child has to be shown right and wrong and a pet has to be trained. Without our parents or school teaches around it's up to us to be the role models and disciplinarians. We have to keep tabs on ourselves and take action. 

Rewards
It's really important that we treat ourselves when we've put in the hard work. If something is really hard to do and arduous to keep doing - chances are we'll give up if there's easier more fun things to do instead. Take regular assessments of your progress and set manageable milestones where you can check your progress. Think of it like a game - and that way it will be more fun.

If you're on a special diet, set a target with a reward at the end. Make it something special, one of the treats overindulged on like chocolate - but try and make the treat the best it can be. There are loads of great new raw chocolate, organic, vegan, high in anti-oxidants chocolate brands out there which are a better alternative to the high in sugar, processed varieties. I'm allowing myself to eat special raw chocolate snacks only once a week - on a Saturday night and it's helped cut out all cravings in the week now I have a goal.