In: performance
The Line in the Sand
August 12, 2018Be a Lenny Skutnik.
On January 26, 1982, Lenny Skutnik sat in the Presidential Gallery, next to the First Lady during the Inaugural Address, receiving a standing ovation.
Who was Lenny Skutnik?
Washington National Airport: Two weeks earlier.
The weather was uncooperative, heavy snowfall grounded airplanes for much of the day. Thousands of passengers sat in the terminals, unsure if their flights would be further delayed, or canceled completely. In the pre-9/11 era, entire families would wait alongside the traveler to see their plane soar into the air. Dads, who wanted to sound funny to their children would mimic Tattoo from “Fantasy Island” as they shouted, “De plane! De plane!” Air Florida Flight 90 was among those planes.
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On Motivation
August 8, 2018It is said that “necessity is the mother of invention.” I’m unclear about the conditions that necessitated the invention of Baseball, but I’m grateful for it, nonetheless. Not everyone enjoys the game; it’s more conducive for a snooze than a foaming fan frenzy; there’s even an inning dedicated to stretching. Nevertheless, here I am, in Section 10FD, anxiously awaiting the first pitch. Before the steroid scandal, before the strike of ’94, it was a marvelous time to be a fan. Fernando Valenzuela struck out the side—looking up—Bo Jackson scaled the outfield wall like Spider-Man and Nolan Ryan snatched up Robin Ventura—twenty years his junior—in a headlock. The nostalgia is enough to bring a tear to my eye, but I must heed Tom Hank’s half-sober proclamation in “A League of Their Own:”
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Exercise: The Technical Knockout
September 4, 2018Grappling is my first and forever love. That will be an awkward conversation with my future wife. My love of grappling…
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On Confidence
August 2, 2018Recently, someone asked me to do a piece on confidence. I asked, “what about it?” She responded, “How do we build it?” A tall task, particularly for one who hasn’t quite solved that problem for himself. It didn’t take long to connect confidence and fitness and after a few more seconds, confidence and Life. The question is, where would I start and how far should I go? I feel Hemingway’s “iceberg” approach is best; I’ll discuss the visible and allow you to investigate what lies beneath.
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Overcoming Temptation
July 29, 2018If adherence is the principal player in the triumph of our goals; temptation is it's villain. If fitness programs proceeded unimpeded,... Read More
The Shorthand of Emotion
July 15, 2018“Listen, my children, and you shall hear Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere, On the eighteenth of April, in Seventy-Five:…
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The Permanency of Change
July 9, 2018The Civil War. The Emancipation Proclamation. Ford’s Theater. Abraham Lincoln stands amongst a small few that can claim the title of... Read More
A Time For Strength: A Love Letter
July 1, 2018A month from now, I’ll turn 42 years old. I will be sixteen years older than my mother was when she... Read More
Ode to Joy: Journey Into Fitness
June 26, 2018The Emperor of France. The author of the Declaration of Independence. Two soldiers-turned Explorers. A pregnant Native American. What do they have in common and what can they teach us about looking better and performing at our best?
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The Problem with Painkillers
February 13, 2016Analogy: Imagine your job is to assemble furniture for people, but the furniture comes with all the pieces except the screws…
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