FitnessNovember 13, 2023

Answer quick: Are you influential?

“The more we can be ourselves, the more positively we influence others.” – Carl Rogers, On Becoming a Person Rogers and other psychologists have said that everyone wants to be influential. But Rogers doesn’t talk about it in the power-hungry sense, or the “compensate for our sense of inferiority” sense. Like most of his writing, it takes a positive view of the human mind, and I appreciate that. Reading about the need to be influential reminded me of when I opened my fitness training business, and how inspired I was to share my own life-improving experiences with other people. Recently a…

FitnessFebruary 12, 2023February 14, 2023

Invisibility training can be un-learned

By the time I wanted to apply to college, which was after I’d already graduated from high school, I believed my mom had been wrong about me. I wasn’t extra smart, in fact I was unable to do what it took to really get somewhere.

FitnessAugust 18, 2022August 19, 2022

Cedar River Swim no. 2 and no. 3

Nobody else was in this huge, fresh, natural “swimming pool.” I found that if I gripped the bottom with both hands, with my feet and body pointing downstream, the current would keep my legs afloat and I’d stay anchored in place. I decided to use that easy position to practice breathing.

FitnessAugust 12, 2022August 18, 2022

Cedar River swim no. 1

We floated and relaxed, enjoying the cold sinking in to our bodies, while watching for spots where it would be easy to get out of (or into, next time) the water. Cold water is so calming after the initial shock.

FitnessAugust 4, 2022August 13, 2022

Swim after rain in Seattle

The lake looked dark blue and choppy. Close-up, the water was clear, and the gravel bottom looked varied and pretty as usual. Pollen and tiny bits of plant matter floated on the surface as usual. The coolish breeze and the partly cloudy sky, though beautiful and milder than a glaring full sun, were different weather than I’d swam in before. No matter how insignificant a difference it should have been, it felt like a less familiar environment.

FitnessAugust 1, 2022August 13, 2022

Investigating a swim in the Cedar River, Renton, Washington

I investigated a river for a potential swim. It originates from mountain snow in the municipal watershed at a high elevation. The river is beautiful, cold, and surrounded by forest and by leafy suburbs.

FitnessMarch 20, 2022August 13, 2022

How to get tired and sleep

My favorite way to sleep well is to get physically tired from exercise. It has to be hard. Just plain going for a walk won’t do it, even if my feet start to ache. So instead I go for walks with weights in a backpack — referred to as rucking.

FitnessOctober 31, 2021October 31, 2021

In the water

An intensive swimming course reminded me of the importance of curiosity as a driver of great experiences and learning.