From within the Silence
From within the Silence ... some long overdue Spring Cleaning!
@TopherSchulzMN
Don't read this until you've completed your day's Goal, planted a tree or completed a 2 mile hike... whichever comes first. Happy Hump Day.
10 years ago, certainly before most people had smartphones and information was not a Siri away, I was taught, based on data marketing research, that Thursdays at 1:05pm was the best time to send out a newsletter or blog, if wanting to achieve maximum viewership. I'm curious to know what data says these days but no matter, as my italicized sub heading to this new chapter for the #AKAWay blog offers, Don't read this until you are good and ready!
Hope you are all doing swimmingly, ready for 2018 to turn blue and green, not brown and 6 feet deep in white. This month's blog is my Spring Cleaning edition...seeking to trim the fat as well as provide some insight on what works. Don't hesitate to comment below!
Winter & Spring BOOKS finished/reread/in the process
Born to Run/Outliers/E-Myth Revisited/The Social Animal. (Kudos to Herr Ripps, Smokey and Senior Vogel for their recommendations!) Eager to hear what you are reading or what books the AKA world should read next! Let me know in the comments below!
From Within the Silence
Not to get too deep or go too extreme into the subconscious mind discussion (though I cannot speak more highly of regular meditation!) but I want to acknowledge a trip I took this past Winter and the impact it made on what seemed like the longest Winter in years. Here is what it did for me and can do for you!
Cactus to Clouds Trail, Palm Springs, CA. Forced to stop a couple thousand feet short but we'll get it sometime soon. (Aerial Tram back down in blue) Pick any spot on the line and pure bliss!
Only a 48 hour trip. I packed my running shoes, a pair of shorts and my toothbrush, (Travelin' Light) and flew out to visit my brother Greg who was attending a conference in Palm Springs, California.
Tuesday - 5:30am MSP depart, landed/satellite work/beered/ate/slept
Wednesday - Up at 4:00am, started ascending (520 feet above sea level) the #CactustoClouds hike at 4:30am and reached close to 8,500/9,000 feet in 6.5 hours. Got turned around because of icy conditions so we did not make it to the San Jacinto Peak (10,834 feet). #NextyearGoals!
Thursday - 4:30am Palm Springs depart, back in MSP at 11:00am.
Okay...52 hours...NBD
From the Palm Springs Notes:
To find a peace of mind, in the middle of a Minnesota Winter, book a 48 hour trip! I'm not talking about a 7 day family trip to Orlando or Cancun, I'm talking you, yes, you workaholic/moms/dads/college students...we're talking 1 or 2 people max...booking a cheap flight to some mountain or out in nowhere National Park and get out there...for 48 hours...when the stress of MN grey and cold/Nuclear Media/Mass Shootings/Sports Hot & COLD/work piling up, yes, call me an #EscapeArtist/GRIND hits heavy...take a trip to the stillness and seek the pure silence and nothingness of the air, my God what it does for the mind (and body)!
You wouldn't believe how quiet it was on this trail. You have no excuse to not do this for yourself..... all I can hope is that everyone tries this out annually, to some affect, and get to that place of no interruption. From within the Silence!
Hard work matters ... period .. deploy it on what matters to you .. parenting, work, your company your friends etc. Your Actions have to map to your ambitions. Kudos to @GaryVee , content #CRUSHIT master, who got me hooked!!
Motivation 2.018... Since Fall, I have thankfully found a go-to morning routine with motivational videos and speeches on YouTube. A perfect alternative to my typical Jam band alarm clock or when in need of background work tunes/banter, I encourage you to try some out if you're looking for that extra boost. Many repeat the same messages of "Just Do", "Surround yourself with positive people" and so forth and so forth but some really catch you at the right time and inspire you. Try out @GaryVee youtube vids (right) or Jack Canfield's positive Law of Attraction. Certainly helped (earbuds) get me through all the shoveling this winter. Highly suggested and I am always open to hear what videos you are motivated by!
Earth Day... this place is Incredible.
Please continue to do everything in your power to keep our Blue Planet intact and teach these kids of all that it is worth. Thank you!
The Summer Staff, AKA Renegades I like to say, are in place! There are 57 of us now in place, spread across 5 schools for the Spring AKA Afterschool programs and multiple sites for the 13th Annual AKA All Sports Summer.
AKA Tykes notice! As we re-engage in AKA Tykes programming (ages 3-5), I want the AKA philosophy to be clear. As found on the AKA Afterschool page ...
Our (AKA) youth programs generally start,only, by the time kids are through kindergarten as our philosophy in childhood development is that kids before the age of 6 should learn in unstructured, parent guided activities. However, we understand the culture of today and the demand for more active programming for younger ages. We are more than happy to assist and provide such All Sports programming yet we ask that you as parents take part in these AKA Tykes activities with your children. We invite and strongly encourage you to participate in the entire class if you are interested and able.
I mean come on... how can you say No. Have fun and keep it light...they're not Tykes for long!
The bottom line is this.
Kids, (Humans!), have limited time in this world to discover life as worry free, agenda free and Free of Structure! I highly encourage families to wait to enroll until they have completed kindergarten, however again, I understand the demand for active programming in today's fast moving society.
We at AKASPORT are here to keep sports fun and combat the current stress of the Youth Sports culture.
And finally, in this Spring Cleaning edition...
"What is Success?
To laugh often and much;
To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;
To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty;
To find the best in others;
To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition;
To know even on life has breathed easier because you have lived;
That is to have succeeded"
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Find your passion and Commit your entire Life to a Dream! And as my Ishayan Meditation teachers, Uma and Srikari encourage from within the silence, "Enjoy, explore, take nothing seriously. It's all going to work out perfectly."
Thanks for stopping by.
Now keeping getting after those Goals and keep those kids busy!
ATB, CS