I meant to post about the vegetables I got each week from my farm share deal (called Community Supported Agriculture or CSA). The farm drops off its vegetables to a place a few blocks away and everyone picks up their share within a three-hour time slot. The summer/fall one I do delivers food twenty-four weeks. The winter/spring one delivers less often. This year’s started last week, so the fresh vegetables[…] Keep reading →

Most of my life, I’ve liked eating apples and I’ve liked eating potato chips. I would say they both tasted good as a result. Doesn’t wanting to eat something mean it tastes good? I’d like to suggest a subtle distinction. Actually, it’s only subtle at first. After you realize it, it becomes obvious and changes how you think about food and eat. At least it did for me. It led[…] Keep reading →

Exercise takes mental effort, not just physical effort. Everyone’s mind handles the challenge differently, but some things are common. I find some people feel silly or awkward about their thoughts. More than any other thoughts, I think about fractions of the way finished I am. For example, a lap of Central Park is six miles. I know roughly where each mile is. The first mile is one-sixth, or about sixteen[…] Keep reading →

I pointed out to a friend that he interrupted me nearly every time I spoke. He apologized and added, “I will never do it again.” I believe he felt sincere when he said it, but I work in developing people and I’ve heard people say similar things too many times to expect he could do it. More importantly, I know the difference in mental states between saying “I will never[…] Keep reading →

For Vince Lombardi’s birthday, I wrote in Inc.com, “These two surprisingly touching Vince Lombardi quotes reveal the source of his winning leadership.” The piece begins These two surprisingly touching Vince Lombardi quotes reveal the source of his winning leadership For the great coach’s birthday, how to create winning traditions in your teams. I’m writing this article exhausted and sore because two days ago I started researching for this article. Having[…] Keep reading →

One of my increasing themes here is living more simply, which involves eating more simply and appreciating nature more. I’ve cooked since childhood, when my siblings and I were responsible for cooking dinners regularly. Only since last year have I started cooking from fresh, raw fruits and vegetables, especially since joining the farm share and the experiment not buying food with packaging that I’d have to throw away. I still[…] Keep reading →

Following up yesterday’s post about the subtle value of sidchas, I want to lower the bar on choosing what activity to base your sidcha on. Doing one or two sidchas means you can say no to all the others and know you aren’t missing out. Still, if you want to do an art-related sidcha, an exercise sidcha, a personal development sidcha, and so on, aren’t you missing out on others.[…] Keep reading →

I write about self-imposed daily challenging healthy activities (sidchas) a lot. Why is the sidcha different from the countless recommendations to do other things daily? The difference is subtle but important. It will give you more time, structure, and discipline. Some examples: People who meditate regularly tell me that I should meditate daily for the full benefit. Yoga people say the same thing about yoga, at least that I should[…] Keep reading →

About few people in few fields can we say there is a before and after. Muhammad Ali is one of them, and beyond “just” boxing, but to sport in general, and free and open expression. Every athlete today lives in his shadow. Every war resister. Every public speaker. Every person who works for fairness. Nobody before him did anything like what he did. Compare athletes of today. Michael Phelps and[…] Keep reading →