Things We Don’t Like, Not Doing

Things We Don’t Like, Not Doing

How often do you catch yourself talking about things you hate to do.

Actually, my list is small and includes things like:

Driving on I-4. 

Weighing in at the doctor’s office.

Waiting in line. (explains the first one on my list)

Yet we do them because…

Well, I’m not sure why we do them.

I guess we do them because,

as my kids say, “we’re ‘sposed’ to.”

I think we should give equal time to the things we don’t like, NOT doing.

These would include:

Eating whatever I want.  (up until the last couple years this has not been a problem)

Going “full-tilt” in all sport activities. (to borrow a phrase from a great movie… I’m writing checks, my body just can’t cash)

Staying up late. (nothing like staying up past bedtime watching an old JAMES BOND movie, but darn I feel like heck in the morning).

Some things we no longer do, 
because we can’t.

Others, we no longer do not because we can’t,

but because we’ve chosen not to.

Guess when all’s said and done,

life’s just a series of choices we make.

Me… I'll choose to talk about things I like to do.

Are you making the right choices in your life!

Take Care,
+Coach Curley

Special Thought for the Swimmers Headed to Sarasota for FLAGs...

Aiming

"Aim High!"
The +United States Military said it.
And others have said it, too.

As a coach, teacher and father, I like it.  
We should set our expectations high!
Shoot for the moon!  If you fall short,
you may hit a couple of stars!

"Aim High!"
Right on!
You bet.

Occurs to me that when we set high expectations,
we're aiming at something.
And that's good.

Not setting goals is like aiming at nothing.
And when we aim at nothing,
it's incredible how accurate our aim can be!

So I ask you... Do you aim?
And how high are you aiming?

Take Care,
Coach Curley

Givers and Takers

How many times have you heard,

“There are two kinds of people in the world.”?
I bet more than just a couple.

In fact, there are many kinds of two different kinds of people:
Winners and non-winners,
Happy and sad,
Those that think they can, and those that think they can’t.

And there are givers and takers, today’s topic.

+Shakespeare once wrote,
“Either a giver or a taker be.”

Most of us are both, depending on what we’re giving or taking,
but we’re not both at the same time.

Self-esteem is a good example.
Happiness is another.
Positive outlook is one more.
I either have it, or I don’t.

If I have it, I can give it away.
If I don’t have it, I can’t give it away,
but perhaps I can receive it from someone who has it and is willing to share.

I believe the understanding comes in knowing when to be which.

Did you give away something today? 
Or take something from a giver?
 
Take Care,
+Coach Curley

“Either a giver or a taker be.”

Listening

“Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply.” 

Hear ye, hear ye!  Read all about it!

Now hear this!

I hear ya'!

Just hear me out...

Have you heard the one about...?

It is astonishing how much hearing we do.

And how much we’re expected to hear.

She had to appear in court for a hearing.

I hear you loud and clear.

He needs a +hearing aid!

What’s even more amazing is,

while we’re so focused on hearing all there is to hear...

Very few are actually listening.

Having spent the last nineteen years attempting

with my wife to raise three boys,

Seems to me that we need to alter the focus.

Hearing without listening

is like ice cream without the calories,

+Diet Coke without the caffeine:  what’s the point?

To go along with hearing aids,

I think we ought to invent a listening aid.

In this perfect world, the devise would be voice-activated,

and it would provide whispered reminders every 5 seconds.

Examples:

“Listen up!”

"Pay attention."

"Take note."

“Think before you speak.”

“Forget the words - what does he really mean?”

Pay heed, what do you think?

Are you with me?

Hello?

Hello?

Just a thought...

Take Care,
+Coach Curley

Your Personal Wrecking Ball

Years to build.
Moments to take down... a bit like a reputation (but that’s another thought).

Ever watch a building being demolished?

Not one of those huge, multi-floor monstrosities
they bring down with the carefully placed explosive charges.

I’m talking the smaller assortment given
to the local wrecking crew – you know,
the one with the crane and the big wrecking ball!

Ten years back I happen to spend a couple hours with my youngest boy,

watching the +Winter Park Langford come to ruin.

From what I’ve heard this building grew from nothing to something.
It experienced changes along the way,
changes that were thought to be for the better.

It stood the test of time.
And then –
Wham, blam, slam!

A few shots from the wrecking ball, and it’s gone.

I’ve known some people like that.
They grew from nothing to something.
They experienced changes.
And stood the test of time.

And then, in a matter of moments,
along comes that personal wrecking ball.

I know each of us has our own demons.
Most of us know who and/or what they are.

For many, that demon is self-doubt.
Unchecked, self-doubt can become your personal wrecking ball.

The good news:  YOU are both the tenant and landlord of your destiny.

Remodel or tear it down?

The choice is yours.

And you know what... the rent’s due daily.

Take Care,
+Coach Curley

  

    

Focus

We know what it is.

But do we do it?

I’m betting that most, if not all of you have heard these words:
“These are the three things I’d like you to focus on for the next couple days...”

Excuse me?
I'm not sure that works.

I spent some extra time with an athlete the other day.
I gave her some "pointers" if you will.
"Put your hand in this way."
"Pull just a bit deeper."
"Accelerate out the back end."
"Keep your core tight."

"Be strong finger tip to finger tip."

She pushed-off and swam a 25.
I stepped back and wondered whether or not I had lost my touch.

She looked worse!

I reiterated my instructions.
She pushed-off.
I just shook my head.
My thought, ouch, this is not good.

I changed my approach.
"Let's work on the depth of the pull only."
She pushed-off.
WA-LAH, I'm a genius.

Focus on the hand, the pitch, the core, 
the acceleration and the depth - not so good results.
Focus on one thing at a time - much better results.

Guess we learned our lesson.

Are you focusing on too many things?

Take Care,
+Coach Curley

http://www.floridaswimnetwork.com/coachs-corner/mike-curley/

Yesterday’s Tomorrow

"A new attitude invariably creates a new result."

The first Sunday in January, the 6th,

My family and I decided to re-up a Sunday dinner time ritual:  

Setting goals for ourselves.

Over the ever present meat and potatoes,

We take turns divulging our week's ambitions.

And my wife writes them down.
The following Sunday, we report back on our successes, and set new goals.

My first declaration for the New Year, though a bit cliche, 
was/is 'to stop sweating the small stuff.'

While browsing my +Twitter account several days ago I came upon a posting:

“Today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday.”

After organizing in my brain exactly what the tweet meant,

I concluded the clever tweet was an appropriate reaffirmation of my first goal of 2013.

Goal One Affirmed, I figured WTH (tweeter speak for "what the heck"), 
this tweet has given me an idea to accomplish my second goal of the year; 'start a +Blog and write something every week.'
I instantaneously googled the word "worry".

To surmise, to worry is to feel distressed, anxious, troubled or uneasy.

Simply put, worrying is not good.
Sweating the small stuff is not good.

I am sure there are folks like me that occasionally 
spend some yesterdays worrying about today.

In an effort to help here’s a truth that encourages me...  
"Today is the yesterday you’ll reflect on tomorrow."

Why not make that reflection a positive experience?

Use today to create the yesterday you’ll look back on tomorrow with pride and self-satisfaction.

You won’t have the time to worry about tomorrow.

Or the need.

Take Care,
+Coach Curley

"A positive attitude is a person's +passport to a better tomorrow."--Anonymous