Something to remember posted here.

Yeah, you might already know this one.  If you do ... good for you.

Doesn't mean I shouldn't post it.

I need to remind myself of lots of things.  Every day.  Things large and small.  Pick up some AAA batteries.  How to be a good friend.  Draw a daily sketch.  Contemplate losing things.  Take my vitamins.

Here it is:

If you really, really, really want to do something, don’t worry about qualifications, credentials and certifications, JUST DO THE THING YOU REALLY, REALLY, REALLY WANT TO DO.

Bonus tip: the best way to become something special is also the fastest and the easiest way to become something special.

How do you become soemthing special?  Just start doing it.  Don’t wait for the proper time. Don’t begin after you've gotten your education. Don’t be tied to getting all the qualifications first. Don't take another class.  Don't buy another book.  Don't enroll in another course.

JUST START DOING IT.

An approach to mental toughness can be found HERE.

My brother knows I study this stuff (I eat it for breakfast, actually) and he hit me with this link today.

I love it.  "Choose the wrench."

Kinda reminds me of my other favorite saying that goes soemthing like this:

"You have a choice: Your choice is vanilla and vanilla.  Choose."

Which reminds me of one of the mental toughness secrets I learned playing Harvard Women's Ice Hockey.  The secret is this: if you want to be a better hockey player, "act as if" you are an amazing player already.  Better yet, "act as if" you are one of your heroes .  Literally.  Pretend you are that player on your next shift on the ice or during the next drill.  That shiz works!  No joke.

My favorite player at the time?  Shelley Looney.  I used to act as if I was her on the ice when I needed to dig deep and make something happen.  Sports crush!  Big time.  Later, I became friends with Looney. But that's another story.

You can also employ the "act as if" mentality when you have to do something you don't want to do.  Just "act as if" you want to do it.  You will notice that whatever it was doesn't seem so bad when you act is if you l like doing it.  For example, your coach calls wall bangers as the sprints at the end of practice.  Pretty horrendous drill, no two ways about it.  Don't piss and moan.  Just act as if you LOVE doing them; act as if they are your absolute favorite conditioning drill.  Watch what happens.  It's absurd.  It also works.

So how do I use "act as if" in my life now?  I have the chance to use that particular phrase at Crossfit NYC nearly every weekday morning at 5:45a.m. 

When my Mom was diagnosed with cancer and I had to live at home for 11 months, this phrase came in handy.  Here's a little story about one of the ways I used this phrase to keep me from committing hara kiri.  I was the primary caregiver, so I cooked 99% of all the meals. Cooking involves dishes. Obviously, I wasn't gonna make my Mom do the dishes.  Dishwashing and scullery work came with the territory.

Let me tell you: I did SO many dishes during those 11 months that I reached a state I lovingly refer to as "dish nirvana."  Believe me, I didn't start out liking to do dishes.  But, I didn't have a choice (remember: your choice is vanilla and vanilla. Choose!).  In the beginning, I would use the "act as if" method of dealing with my aversion toward / disdain for / all-around-bad-attitude about doing the dishes after every single meal.  The result?  Two words: dish nirvana.  Better than no nirvana.

You're welcome.

Down to the wire ...

HERE is my entry to this prestigious and storied competition!

Click here to revel in all the other amazing covers of the Pep Pep tunes!

We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking that created them

-- Albert Einstein

If we are to achieve things never before accomplished we must employ methods never before attempted

-- Francis Bacon

To be rich, is not to possess great things, but to be free from want

-- Epicureaus

If you're not making mistakes, then you're not doing anything
Never mistake activity for achievement

-- John Wooden

Help!

I got a great postcard in my mailbox (part of the postcard project) and I want to write "John" back.  Check out the picture below.  His card is on top.  Check out his awesome teeny, tiny handwriting!  Printed.  All caps.  Impressive!  His postcard prowess shall not go unnoticed!!

But I need your help!

Unfortunately, the USPS did that thing it sometimes does: put a little ink-smeared bar code at the bottom of the pcard.  That lower edge happens to be right where John wrote his return address.  Bummer!

The only part I can read is his name (John) and that he is from West Des Moines, Iowa.  Does anyone know any Johns from West Des Moines, Iowa?  (This is a great title for a song ... sounds like a Tom Waits song already!?!)

John from West Des Moines, Iowa -- first, you rock! second, if you are reading this, send your mailing address to me. Write it in BIG HUGE BLOCK letters and stick it in an envelope so the USPS can't barcode over it!

By the way, how awesome is the postcard project??

In the mornings, before heading to the painting studio:

In the studio, before starting a new painting (my aunt got me that spanking new palette):

Eat a few Mexican treats from Chris at the Panaderia Herrera one store down from the studio.  Best time to get there is around 2pm.

Two whole dollars gets you this spread: