openmike48’s BodyBlog

Last week on Saturday, I made the LONG (VERY LONG) drive to New Orleans to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity. It was a great time for self-reflection, thought, prayer, meditation, and to bump some Talib Kweli in the deck (music is good for the soul!). I was grateful for the drive and the time to just be with me… Did I mention the drive was LONG?!

I arrived and met some friends at Camp Hope. I base camp operation placed in the heart of St. Bernard’s Parrish that serves as a mission launch site for all the volunteer efforts in the surrounding areas. There where people there from all walks of life and from ALL over the United States. I met one volunteer who found the information concerning the camp online and decided to drive down alone. It made me appreciative of the fact that people really DO care and have it in there hearts to give.

We spent most of the time restoring a home that was severally damaged and had already been gutted by an earlier team. We demolished the walls off of the frames (of the entire house) and then did the OSB and paneling over the entire structure. I’m not saying I could build a real house now, but I definitely could build a doghouse!

The most fulfilling part of the trip came from 3 conversations I had while there. I got so much for my personal life out of these conversations, but since this is BODYBUILDING.COM I’ll try to relate those conversations to that!

1. I had a conversation with a man and his daughter about the impact of the storm on his life. He and his wife were separated prior to the storm and he explained to me how chaotic it was during the evacuation period. As he explained it, there were certain Parishes that weren’t allowed to evacuate across bridges that were closed quickly enough and were, as a result, made to stay and “weather the storm.” He said that if he would’ve been detained in that situation he would’ve been shot because he would NOT have allowed his daughter to not be safe. It was SO moving.

MY LESSON: People ALWAYS tell me that they had to do something for themselves. “I have to make this change for me.” Etc… Etc… Try making a change for someone else sometime… for your children, for your spouse, for those who care about you and want you to be around and healthy for their sake, for those who need an example to follow. Selfless changes are often more motivating than we think. Be willing to sacrifice or achieve for someone other than yourself. 

2. The women whose house we were restoring lost her son a few weeks after the storm to kidney disease. Soon after, she found out that she suffered from it as well. I told here I was so sorry for the struggles she has had to endure and she stopped me mid-sentence and said, “Don’t feel sorry for me. I am so grateful to be here and God has done so much for me.” She even bragged about her FEMA trailer and how it was so great to have, because it allowed her to be back home again. She also had managed to lose about 40 lbs. to help her through her health struggles. Such an inspiration.

MY LESSON: There is always something to be grateful for. If you are struggling with your goals, try and look for the little victories. They might not be huge, but they are STILL victories. The positive attitude can determine if you give up or if you keep moving forward, so look for every opportunity to be encouraged with your progress! 

3. The women who lived next door to the house we were working came out several times while we were working and told us to stay off her lawn, to be careful around her house… etc.. etc… The volunteer coordinators told us that they ALWAYS have problems with her. She seemed pretty unpleasant at first. I decided to talk to her and figure out what she was going through. The first thing she told me was that she had lost her husband a few days before Katrina hit. Since then she has been alone. She said he was her partner and she has been the same since his death. She cried a bit and really opened up to me. I could see how alone she was. Ironically, several of her family members live very close to her, but don’t make an effort to visit and take care of her. To most, she was just the mean neighbor. But after one short talk and a hug, I discovered a pure-hearted woman who has had so much to fight through and just needed someone to listen.

MY LESSON: It is SO important to have a support system. We are not meant to achieve anything difficult alone. Don’t try it alone! Especially, when there are people who truly will help you, who will listen, and who will be a support. And also, don’t always assume that those people who are willing to do that for you are the ones you THINK should do it for you. It might be someone different than you suspect… 

MY OVERALL LESSON: The human being is a VERY resilient creature. We can survive disappointments, fight past regrets, start anew when we fail, and adapt to things that seem impossible. I had met 3 people that had dealt with struggles I can’t even imagine, but yet were STILL in the fight. When we’re tempted to stop pushing we need to realize that we are capable of surviving, enduring, and doing far more than we THINK we can do. My trip helped me to realize that in such an amazing way. 

Go to New Orleans and volunteer! It will help so many and ultimately… it’ll help you! God bless!

Okay… so in keeping with my goals for 2008 (goal number 15..I’ll refer to them by number..), I will be driving (NOT flying and I REALLY wish I knew why!) to New Orleans tomorrow morning to help with Habit for Humanity. Much work is STILL needed in the area and I just didn’t feel right knowing that I had yet to lay my hands to the work!

But anyway, this got me to thinking about my upcoming workout and cardio today… Some things I REALLY just don’t like to do! I don’t like getting up, but I like getting paid and what my salary allows. I didn’t like football practice, but I loved knowing how best to beat my opponent on Saturday. I don’t like DRIVING 10 HOURS TO NAWLIN’S, but I love being able to give to those less fortunate and the feeling of accomplishment I will have when I drive back in a few days.

 So, as you head to the gym today.. think of my 12 hour drive tomorrow. And remember that we don’t workout for the immediate pleasure (unless, of course, you’re a masochist!), we workout for the end results! Longer life! Better life!

So much as will tomorrow morning, go suffer today and have fun doing it! lol!

 B

So anyway… This incredibly attractive and disciplined blogger (for some reason I absolutely love Ohio State shirts now…go figure!) told me I should blog more. And upon further review, I believe that this is a great way for me to not only hold myself accountable to consistent activity on the site in the new year, but also a great place to talk a bunch of smack about what I’m going to accomplish and to have the whole Bodyspace community hold me to it. Scary… right? So I decided to list a bunch of my goals for the New Year in my first blog. Since a lot of people DON’T like the idea of “new year’s resolutions” (is this because a New Year’s resolution usually equates to me waiting 30 minutes for a treadmill?) a will refer to the following list as a 2008 Goal List (what exactly is the difference?).

Here they go (Definitely NOT in this order…)! I always make a lot so I if I hit some and miss some I still feel accomplished!

1. 9% Bodyfat
2. I will work on my discipline. (Or should I say consistency.)
3. I want to be prepared to take some (nice looking) modeling pictures by the end of the year.
4. I’m going to find my woman in 2008. (Ha! I’m a big time romantic and family guy and its time to go down that road…)
5. I’m going to read through the bible in a year. (It’s possible! I’ve done it before!) 
6. I’m going to fall asleep reading every night (my goal is 30 books.).
7. I will exceed my business goals with my job and be in position for a promotion by early 2009.
8. I WILL LEARN to play my dust collecting bass this year!
9. I will complete all three of my group’s album pre-releases this year (that’s 30 songs total… musicians know that is A LOT of work!)
10. I want to make $15,000 this year performing.
11. I want to perform with 2 platinum recording artists this year.
12. I want to work on being content, happy, and excited about life MOST of the time this year.
13. I want to help people learn to have a true relationship with God by setting a great example personally and being proactive in attempting that.
14. I want to help some lazy friends get their butts on a treadmill somewhere (I’ve got a few of em’. They shouldn’t be too hard to find!)
15. I want to be active in helping in the community (I have a few things set up already here…)

So there you have it! I put down goals for most areas of my life. I have found that most “fit” people tend to have busy lives and do a lot (this is the ultimate irony because lazy people are always saying they DON’T have time to work out!). I want this year to be productive, fulfilling, and I want each hour of each day to be thought of as one that I can NEVER re-live! It’s a tall order, I know, but I think people are truly happier when they are doing. So this year I’ma do! Holla back and God bless! Oh and write down some of yours if you got them and I’ll hold you to them as well. I’m good at that!