Faith Venture

Among the subjects I study (and practice) are fitness and nutrition. From a newsletter I receive:

We’ve all seen diets come and go, but the truth about weight loss is simple: it’s not about finding the “perfect” plan; it’s about making small changes you can keep — and eating foods that keep you fuller for longer.

They found that increasing protein and fiber led to the most weight loss — and eating more of those foods ensured that you were shedding fat and maintaining more muscle.—Arnold Schwarzenegger

I find that if you shed social media gorging focusing on reading that provides the equivalent of protein and fiber, in other words, spiritual writing and wisdom literature that has stood the test of time, will reduce your spiritual, emotional, and mental fat maintaining or even growing your muscles in those areas. 

There is Understanding and Then There is Opinion

Try out some wisdom on yourself that is at least 3,000 years old. I guess people have been the same since the beginning of culture. From the book of Proverbs (18:2)

A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing personal opinion.

We experienced that often even before social media amplified it I seldom watch TV news, but what I have seen amplifies this with the appropriate (trained) facial expressions.

I catch myself—have I researched this appropriately or am I merely parroting some thought that originated in Russia or China?

Or, perhaps we violate this additional warning (18:13).

If one gives answer before hearing, it is folly and shame.

How often we impulsively blurt out an often stupid opinion on someone’s problem without ever fully listening and understanding.

I have that problem, too. Working on it…

Let’s begin the New Year with a proper state of mind and attitude.

How about 31 for 31?

January has 31 days. The book of Proverbs in the Old Testament has 31 chapters. One chapter of wisdom a day for the month of January. That should orient us for success this year. 

As a special bonus for yourself, turn to the first book of the New Testament and read Matthew chapters 5-7 as a daily companion. Matthew is firmly in that Jewish wisdom tradition. Called the Sermon on the Mount, this is most likely Jesus’s standard teaching as he traveled the countryside preaching. Ground yourself this core teaching about how to live.

I retired from active soccer refereeing about seven years ago promptly gaining some weight. I started lifting weights which added muscle—and weight. Then Covid plus moving to a new state disrupted my routines not helping. 

This year I made slight tweaks in workout and diet. Nothing drastic. Just eating less. Cutting out or reducing greatly foods that add weight (chips and sugary crap). Increasing aerobic intensity a little. Dedicating more effort to resistance training. 104 deg hot tub four days a week (great for metabolic health and longevity). I’ve dropped 21 pounds and more than an inch from my waist. Steel cut oats for more than half of my breakfasts helped drop cholesterol to the low side of good.

You don’t need drastic lifestyle changes unless you need to drop lots of weight. Small changes done consistently make all the difference (assuming no other overriding health issues).

Here are two tips for subtle changes with big impact. Ten fruits and ten foods added to your diet replacing ultra-processed and sugary foods.

Ten Fruits

1. Blueberries
2. Apples
3. Oranges (not juice)
4. Raspberries
5. Blackberries
6. Prunes
7. Tomatoes
8. Bananas
9. Watermelon
10. Avocados

Ten Foods

1. Quinoa
2. Eggs
3. Salmon
4. Sweet Potatoes
5. Potatoes
6. Blueberries
7. Almonds
8. Spinach
9. Lean Chicken
10. Oatmeal

“Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you will ever regret.” — Ambrose Bierce

“How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! And the tongue is a fire.”—James

“A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.”—Proverbs of Solomon

We can know all these thoughts, and, yet, still we can say hurtful things.. 

The most important moment in your life can be the pause before answering someone. Or the pause between a thought and a response.

May I live this day

Compassionate of heart,

Clear in word,

Gracious in awareness,

Courageous in thought,

Generous in love.

John O’Donohue

I posted this a year or so ago. But I needed a refresher. Bet you did, too.