Saturday 19 October 2013

You are what you surround yourself with.

After school I was an exchange student in Finland.  Due to its geography, it is dark for 5-6months of the year straight and light for 5-6months of the year straight.  During the dark months, suicide rates are extremely high due to the oppressiveness of no sunlight.  Our surroundings can have a profound affect on our own well being.  (Note - not the happiest way to start my blog but stick with me people!)

I like to think that I am a pretty positive and motivated person.  I know at times I have my rants and get down and out/lazy like everyone else but for the most part I try and keep things up beat and purposeful. 

In saying this, sometimes it's hard to stay happy, energetic and generally moving forward with a plan.  I also realize that I can do a lot more in my life to go the extra mile to help people.  This is where the people you associate with and the company you keep can have a big impact on how you view the world and the thoughts/actions you pursue.  Our friends nearly always reflect the person we become.

My thoughts for this post were provoked from my new job.  It is amazing!  The people that I work with, including the bosses are incredible.  They truly make the business successful by being them!  They are positive, happy, energetic, can never do enough for a customer, health conscious, organized, and motivating.  Never before have I worked in an environment quite like it.  SO many times at work I have found myself doing something a little extra for a customer or work colleague, not because I want to impress anyone, but because the company and environment I am working in allows and facilitates this kind of thinking and action.  It is always a warm feeling when I find myself in this situation.  I am becoming a more compassionate, helpful, friendly and motivated person.  I am becoming the good that is surrounding me.

Now this can also, as I am sure you know, work in the opposite.  If you surround yourself with negativity, violence, hate, greed etc....your character will slowly and nearly always become those things.  I once read that if you take your five closest friends and averaged their weights, that is probably what you will weigh.  I know this is a little trivial but you get what I mean!     

So....who is around you?  What do you spend your time doing, thinking about, talking about, researching, listening to and exposing your emotions to?  Is it positive or negative?  Who do you want to become?  Let me tell you, if you are a person in the thick of the later environment, it is not too late.  If you are a person DOING the pulling down, gossiping, negative talk etc WAKE UP!  Take a good hard look at where you are at and what you are doing.  As harsh as it sounds you might need to find new friends, leave a club or group, read a different genre of books, take steps to start thinking more positive thoughts....anything to start pulling yourself out of the mire you may be in.

Don't wait friends!  Life is far to short to be miserable!  I have a saying that I aim to live every day better than the one before.  Sure I don't always succeed but you are only a quitter when you stop trying!  Take a subjective view.  We are so incredibly blessed beyond imagination and really have nothing to complain about.  I challenge you, this week, do something, just one thing to try and make your life more positive.  The power is yours and only you can change.  Take some ownership friends and lets help make this world, those we come in contact with and meet, better!  Love to you all.  Peace, plants...TattooRunner 

Friday 11 October 2013

MOVE

This week I watched a video on Vimeo...then watched it again, and again.  It is simply titled MOVE and completely resonated with my spirit and views on life!  So whats up?!

As humans, we make excuses, we are lazy and we dont do what we know we should!  I am as guilty of it as much as the next Joe (even though my name is Mat!).  However, I strive, even yearn to MOVE.  To put my body in motion, look after myself, try and do things 'crazy' things, and be an example to my family and friends....heck, even strangers.  To LIVE alive!  I want to do all I can to stay away from that drain hole as much and as long as possible. 

One line really stuck with me from the clip.  'We all try to be buzy instead of being alive'.  Will you get 10years down the track, look back on your life and realize you have missed being alive for the sake of keeping yourself buzy?  Have you done something lately that has scared you, that you weren't sure if you could accomplish?  Why not?  Is another Facebook status, last minute sale, extra extra overtime, watching that second, third or tenth hour of TV for the day really making you feel alive?  Why not get up, move, get your heart beating (not from all the junk in your belly!) and FEEL movement.  The more you do it, the more it becomes habit, the more you will WANT to MOVE!  Liberating!

So, MOVE!  The message is simple!  It doesn't have to be running, biking or swimming...just do something!  This world is in a fat crisis!  I know that sounds harsh, but take a look around.  I mean REALLY take a look around!  A LOT of beautiful souls are killing themselves by what they are putting in their bodies and by what they are NOT doing...MOVE!  People are MASSIVE and it is getting worse!  Lets buck the trend, rebel, and create our own group of humans that will make a difference to our world!  One of health, movement and lifestyle!  Don't give up, do something everyday, embrace this beautiful life for the beauty it beholds, not the crap society is creating!  You are amazing, you can do it, you can make a difference....but it is your responsibility!  Lets do it friend, enough excuses....MOVE!  Run on, Plant strong! X 

http://vimeo.com/74389041 

Massive thanks to Will GADD for the inspiration!  Check out http://willgadd.com