Year One! (Summer of 2013)

Hello fellow bloggers and readers this is a special post today. I have been blogging for a year now and have no plans to stop. Also I will share my Summer of 2013 which was pretty interesting as well.

So first of all its been a year since I have started blogging and its been an interesting activity. I am a avid reader of other blogs and thought it would be fun to join this community of writers. I have learned a lot about how and what to write. Blogging is a great way to share your insight with others and help inspire and teach along the way. Since I am in school my postings are not consistent as I would like them to be. But when I do I make sure its substantial.

My tool for all of my Blogs.

I can see how some people can get paid and some who should get paid. I like do it to keep my writing skills fresh and finely tuned so when the time comes to profit from it I can. When the time comes it will be a seamless transition.

So I wonder to myself what to write about next? I have so many ideas and get inspiration from conversations I have and well as in my own mind. Even you readers and fellow bloggers can provide some input and advice, its all good!

Sharing ideas makes us all successful!

Now on to this Summer! Usually I go take a trip somewhere aboard. I always focus on external aspects of things but this year has been quite internal. This year the trip was mental and managed to dig up a lot of interesting things that sort of held me back. I ended up purging a lot of things that have been lingering on in my life. This was also a time I used to throw away a lot of old things that have been piling up in my apartment. I ended up throwing away seven years worth of junk! This helped pave the way for new energy to flow in and all that stagnant stuff has been eradicated. I must say it was very therapeutic. So the Summer was still great even though I didn’t really go anywhere.

This year the Travel was internal.

Well thats it for now! Thanks to all my readers and followers, also my fellow bloggers who inspire me to keep it up.

Thanks for an awesome year!

Dean

Interlude: Fear

Hello friends this will be another interlude on my blog. These are just short posts on my thoughts on life and things. This one came to me while I was cutting grass. As you know I am a US Army veteran and have done two tours in Iraq. Once in 2003 and again in 2005. I was apart of the initial invasion that thrust into Baghdad in March of 2003. Luckily the parts of the conflict I was involved in was minimal.

I eventually returned home to thankful family and friends. Sometime after I  went to my mother’s church  and the Pastor asked an interesting question. He asked me if I was scared while I was other there. I said ” of course! “. Who wouldn’t be scared of driving into a foreign country who has a reputation for using chemical weapons? Did I let the fear paralyze me? No! I used it. Thats what kept me alert and ready, helping others who needed the help.

Leaders transform fear into something useful then lead.

That is how we use fear, not as a barrier but fuel to keep alert and safe. Not paranoid or nervous but cognizant and aware. Its okay to be afraid thats how we see the challenge and choose whether or not to accept it.

Mastering your fears will liberate you.

Until next time.

Dean

Yoga: Year One

Hello friends and family!

I hope everyone is enjoying the Summer and finding fun ways to beat the heat!

Looks nice but imagine heat and humidity
making it 104° and up!

Todays topic will be about Yoga and what I have learned from my year of re-acquainting myself with it. As I mentioned in 100 Days of Yoga I focused on Yoga during the brutal days of NY heat last summer of 2012. It was an awesome experience and learned a lot from it.

My Favorite Yoga Poses

Well a year has passed and wanted to share some ideas and experiences from this year of doing Yoga. Some you may have heard before . But if  not I will share them here today anyway.

Be intent on action, not on the fruits of action. …Perform actions, firm in discipline, relinquishing attachment.

Bhagavad-Gitã  (2.47-48)

• Yoga is a way to focus on your Internal world after dealing with the external world. This means centering yourself while the world goes on.
• A perfect way to learn and listen to your body intimately.
• You can apply what you do in Yoga daily while working at your desk or lifting grocery bags from the store. As in breathing correct posture and breaking the habit of slouching in a chair.

You will notice a difference in your posture.

• Yoga is Skill in Action: This comes from the Bhagavad-Gitã . I will let you think about that one on your own.
• Patience becomes a virtue and you learn that being in a rush isn’t that serious. I know I am guilty of this one.
• Abolishing bad habits become easier as you can focus and become more aware of them.
• You will respect eating and be more mindful while eating.
• Once you learn your limits you will want to challenge them in a healthy way.
• Yoga will make other physical activities seem flawless and fluid.
• Yoga is fun!

Enjoy Yoga! Its fun!

So these are some reflections and lessons I have had while doing Yoga. Its a journey with no destination. Everyday is a opportunity to learn something more about your own capabilities.

Enjoy the Summer and I will see you soon!

Dean

Number 20!

Hello Everyone! we’ve made it to 20 posts! First off thanks for reading/following/commenting! I am grateful for all of your inputs and critiques as it makes my skills sharper and sharper. So to celebrate the 20th post first I will share some of my greatest hits posts. Then my top twenty favorite songs I jam to while I Run, Yoga and other activities.

Thanks for reading!

My Greatest Hits

Some Healthy Things to Think About

Tools For Being Healthy & Fit

Dean’s Day Off

Deans Top Twenty Workout Jams…

“Man in the Box” – Alice in Chains

“You Take my Breath Away” – The Knife

“In da Club (instrumental)” – 50 Cent

“Ænima” – Tool

“Sober” – Tool

“Theme for Great Cities” – Simple Minds

“Fortune Days” – Glitch Mob

“Hyper” – Cascade

“Goin Out West” – Tom Waits

“Forsaken” – David Draiman of Disturbed

“Blue Jeans” – Ladytron

“Training Montage” – Rocky IV Soundtrack

“Organ Donor” – DJ Shadow

“I Got The Power” – Stevie Wright

“Forty Six and 2” – Tool

“My D!ck” – Mickey Avalon

“Digital Versicolor” – Glass Candy

“Cult of Personality” –  Living Color

“Autobot/Decepticon Battle” -Transformers the Movie Soundtrack 1986

“Why So Serious?” ( Crystal Method Remix) – Dark Knight Soundtrack

Once again thanks and continue to read as we journey on together through this part of my  life.

Crafting Your Skill

I read this blog the other day and it got me thinking about things. Things like what I am doing with myself and my skills. There are people who work just to pay bills and that’s their only unfortunate goal/role. Some people  have families and need to provide for them. That goes without saying. Sometimes we get stuck in a loop of our own habits with even knowing it.

” our habits are invisible to us”

How do your Circles connect?

 This is where having a hobby or a craft comes in. Something that you can do in your pastime that can not really be a distraction but a SELF fulfilling activity that brings you joy.

Once you start to do it and do it well it will bring you the best satisfaction beyond any drug that’s out there. Also you can profit from your skill and you won’t mind doing so because its fun. I know I love to exercise and as soon as I get my qualifications I would love to profit from it. To quote the Joker in The Dark Knight, “If you are good at something never do for free”. Sounds selfish but at the same time it makes sense. Banks are good at saving our money (sometimes). So we pay for that service. We don’t have to profit monetarily from our potential.We can still but profit in other ways as in your own joy and happiness.

So working on a skill that you enjoy will reap benefits for years to come. Even if you don’t profit from it. The joy of doing something else than just being an automaton of waking up, driving to work and going home to your couch and doing the same cycle over and over again.

You know where the pieces fit..

Share your skills here and inspire others to do the same…

Dean

MAY DAY! (Interlude)

Hello Everyone! How is it going out there? Hope all is well with you and yours.

This is just a free write today nothing serious or structured. Also testing out my new look on my page. It has been almost a year since I have started blogging and just reflecting on things as they pass through my mind.

Keeping My Skills Sharp!

Since then I have been doing the school and work thing which is cool that I am learning something but time consuming at the same time. It’s still good and great to be learning a new skill. These skills will add and be what I need to secure the future I want.

2014 Right Around The Corner!

As the days get longer its time to get some fresh air and enjoy the world around. I for one will make it my travel as much as I can and see new things and explore my state and others. Summer is a great time to hang out with friends and make new ones.

Where to Go Next?

So friends tell me how is it going in your world and plans for the Summer and beyond? Feel free to share any thoughts in the Comment Box.

Dean Likes Your Feedback!!!

Peace!

Dean

Tips for Dealing with Eczema.

Hello every one and Happy Holidays! It looks like Spring is officially here and the Sun is beaming its pleasant rays on everyone. Today I want to get a little personal and talk about how to deal with Eczema. If you don’t know what it is click here to find out.

Basically its a rash that appears on parts or all over your body. Its frustrating, embarrassing and annoying. I have had it since I was a child and it comes and goes when it likes. Or so I thought. There was a time from the late 90’s to 2011 when it was non-existent. Then in the Fall of 2011 it came back with a vengeance. So bad I was out of work for almost a month and one trip to the Emergency Room at the VA (Veterans Affairs Hospital).

I went to a Dermatologist and all they wanted to do was treat it. I am not a conspiracy theorist but it seemed like they wanted to just medicate me and not really solve the problem. Why? Maybe to keep me coming and them employed? Keep the Pharmaceutical industry flowing? Who knows? The bottom line is I wanted to find the source of the problem.

Let me back track to the first flare up I had in the Fall of 2011. My doctor gave me a drug called Prednisone. It works by suppressing your immune system which lowers the effects of Eczema. Sounds like a good idea right? No! It worked at first but when it came back I end up at the Emergency Room at the VA. That’s what Prednisone does it leaves your system weaker; then more susceptible to your aliment. I can’t really blame my Doctor because he was stumped himself. He drew blood and checked it everything was ok.

After some careful meditation and thinking I went to an Allergist and explained to her the condition and what I WANTED  to do about it. My plan was clear, analyze my blood and see what is causing my skin to break out. This time my Allergist put me on a metered Prednisone regimen. Which included large then small doses while I waited for the results.Come to find I was allergic to a lot of things. Here is a small list if you know me you know I LOVE to eat and can bust down 2 or 3 plates of food and have room for Ice Cream and Apple Pie.

Here is the short list:

• Wheat
• Soy
• Milk
• Sesame
• Egg
• Pollen

I know you are thinking Damn Dean! What do you eat?!?! The answer is carefully! If you read food ingredients you will find out a lot of foods contain the first three items on that list. Sucks right? No more Ribs slathered in sauce, Hamburgers, Vanilla Ice Cream and Cake. All gone and no more. I live with it and found foods that contain NONE of my allergens.

So there are many morals to this story. One, don’t just get treated; find out the source of what making you sick. Two, Doctors sometimes don’t know everything. Finally, this one is for Parents especially sometimes you think that kids will “grow out” of certain things, that’s not the case. If you can get them looked at before it becomes something that gets out of control. I am leaving you with a list of some things that can cause Eczema and some ways to treat it.

COMMON “TRIGGERS”

• White Sugar/Refined Sugar
• Milk
• ALL SODAS
• Shrimp/Lobster
• CANDY
• DRINKS as Opposed to Juice (There is a difference)
• Citrus Fruits
• Polyester Materials
• Dust Mites and their Waste
• Pets
• Down Comforters
• Perfumes/Colognes
• Certain Soaps and Deodorants

Tips for Dealing and Healing

• Warm Showers
• Cetaphil Soap and Lotion
• Auqaphor Ointment
• ALL COTTON BEDDING!
• Washing Bedding in HOT Water.
• Cotton Clothing
• Wash Dishes with Neoprene Gloves

It’s a process of give and take some things may work some won’t. Also get a skin test and that will also determine what is making you ill.

That’s it for now!

Later,

Dean

Spring is Here!

Spring has Arrived!

Hello everyone! How are you all doing? Hope you all are doing well.

As you know Spring is here! Even though in NY it’s snowy but its time to shake off that winter vibe and embrace the new season. I for one had a bit of a tough winter  but that’s a story for another time.

What comes mind when i think about Spring.

But we are here to celebrate the warm weather and going outside more. Now it’s warm out there’s no excuse for getting that Six Pack you always wanted or that Banging Bikini Body. Which leads me to sharing some of my old posts about exercise and eating. Here they are in a cool order to read, so this will be great for new readers and a refresher for my old ones.

In here or outside to work of that Winter “Pudge”!

Read, Enjoy and Happy Spring Season to everyone!

1. Some Healthy Things to Think About
2. Breakfast! The King of Meals
3. Tools For Being Healthy & Fit
4. 100 Days of Yoga!

***Don’t forget to leave a Comment!***

It’s YOUR Year in 2013!

Hello everyone! Hope you are enjoying your gifts and nursing your holiday party hangovers. Hey! We even survived the impending Apocalypse! With that being said lets look to the future and what opportunities 2013 will bring.

Someone asked me what my new years resolution was. I told her I don’t have one, all I want is to do better than I did last year. That’s it. Nothing more or less. So I am going to share with you all how I plan to do this. Maybe it will help you get ideas on what you want for the new year.

1. Get an annual check up. I get a physical/dental exam around my birthday month. This way i know whats going good or bad. You are the only one who can take care of your self.
2. Continue to study and practice Yoga. This is my hobby maybe yours is reading, drawing or exercise, having a hobby is great. Its keeps your mind fresh and away from bad habits.
3. Stay in school and continue the practice of Autodidacticism. If you don’t know what that means; basically it means “self-taught”. This gifts from this are infinite. I will always be a student.
4. Family time. Yeah I know we get caught up in our rapture and routine of our lives. Family is the gel that will keep you together. Plan a day out and go somewhere, doesn’t even have to be fancy, dinner is good.
5. Travel! One of my favorite things to do. Going somewhere different is great as you can look outside the sphere of your life and reflect. Even a simple road trip for a day will let you experience something new. Also go somewhere alone and use your natural skills to figure out who to get around.

Well that’s all I have and will be my last post for 2012. Once again thanks for all the support and following my blog. Happy New Year and see you in 2013!

Peace!

Dean

End of 2012

Hello everyone! How are you all doing out there?

Well the year has finally ended! We all wind down this one and gear up for another exciting year. I can say personally that this was a year of deep introspection for myself, some of it good some of it bad. I found flaws and things that make me not so good. But on the flip-side found the qualities that make me a better person inside and out. That’s what life is right? Learning and growing while trying to balance out everything in between.

I enjoy this blogging thing; but school work makes it hard to be consistent. So please be patient and I will post when I can. Have a few ideas for some topics that will I can share with you all. In the mean time thanks for reading/following.

So stay strong and live/love life how you see fit.

Peace,

Dean Joseph