Popeye was Plant Powered - 5/29/19

Popeye was a Plant Powered 

By, Michael Earnshaw 

May 29, 2019 

@mearnshaw158 

This morning I participated in my first #RunandRant. During my 6 miler I pondered this week’s question, “What is strength?” I finished my run, bathed in sweat, and punched “Record” on my phone. I filmed myself ranting for 40 seconds on what strength means to me. The question is still lingering in my brain and I figured why not go into a little more detail, a written rant.  

Strength to me has nothing to do about being physically strong. I’ve met many people who can run faster and farther than me, squat, deadlift, and bench more, but they are some of the weakest people I've come across. True strength is found in the mind and heart. How we hold ourselves, how we present ourselves, and how we treat others show how truly strong we are.  

I’ve been working on a multi-blog post about the differences between dreams vs. goals. Everyone has dreams, but not everyone takes the next step and transforms those dreams into goals. The strongest individuals are those that set goals. They see what they want for their lives, what is going to better themselves, and create a plan of action to get there. Not every goal is reached with the first attempt, or second for that matter. Those with strength learn from their failures, stand back up, pick up their chin, and go after it again and again and again. Once their goal is finally met, they evaluate and set another.  

True strength is also found by how we treat others. In society today, so many are self-absorbed in their own world and will lie, cheat, and steal to get what they want. Just scroll through any social media site and you will be inundated with many individuals looking out for only themselves and how others perceive this lavish, luxurious life they lead. This portrayal just shows their true weakness and insecurities. I want to follow those that not only are goal setters, but also know that once they take care of themselves they are here to serve others. We all have differences of opinions and beliefs. That does not make anyone better than the next. The strongest live to serve others, to help them in need, to encourage and motivate them, to have their back and pick them up when they fall. The strongest individuals see the good in others and display appreciation, kindness, and empathy.  

Lastly, strength comes when challenging the status quo and never accepting mediocrity. It is so easy to follow the herd and not follow through on what you know is right when nobody is standing by your side. Speak your voice, stand up for the less fortunate, and fight for what you know is the right thing to do even if you’re alone. I’d rather live my life knowing I stood for what I believed in my heart, what was for the good of others and this world, than following lemmings off a cliff.  

There you have it, my extended version of this morning’s #RunandRant. True strength comes from first taking care of yourself mentally, physically, & spiritually. It’s then followed by how we help others find their true strength. Finally, listening to your heart and following through on what you know will benefit our world. Take care of yourself, others, and this world and experience the beauty available.  

Dreams vs. Goals Rd. 1 - May 21, 2019

Dreams vs. Goals Rd. 1 

May 21, 2019 

By, Michael Earnshaw 

@mearnshaw158 

There is a huge misconception when it comes to understanding the importance of having dreams and goals in one’s life. Since we are young, we are taught to have big dreams, dreams that are going to take us to places we’ve never imagined! We’ll discover new lands, create music no ears have ever been christened with, cure diseases that haven’t even been birthed yet. This is all great, and I am 100% for inspiring our kids to have big, bold, dreams. But we must take it a step further.

 That’s the key, we must take our dreams to the next level.  

Nobody ever faults a child for having bold dreams. It's the adults, the professionals, that get scoffed at when sharing theirs. This is an inevitable piece of life. The reason being, many never take the next step and transform their dreams into reality. There comes a turning point in life when we reach the age where responsibility, drive, and adulthood take over. Unfortunately, this is the time many people’s dreams wither away and die like that prom corsage sitting on the bedroom floor. It doesn’t have to be this way.  

Those who take their dreams, who hold onto them despite how crazy others may think they are, those are the ones that are viewed as heroes, as geniuses. They were not afraid to keep the dream alive. The way it was kept breathing was by spending time in a cocoon and then reemerging as a goal.  

Goals differ from dreams in the sense that the idea has been brought to reality. The individual has put thought and a plan of action into reaching a destination. When someone has a goal they are reaching for, they are not seen as crazy like those chasing dreams. It’s crucial that we teach our students, our kids, to not only have big grandiose dreams, but to manifest them into goals.  

Teachable Moments - May 8, 2019

Teachable Moments 

By, Michael Earnshaw 

May 8, 2019 

@mearnshaw158 

“Daddy, why don’t you want to go in there? I want to see what they have?” was what my daughter questioned, displaying confusion as to why I was telling her “no” to a simple request many parents would grant without hesitation. I replied, “Because babe, I said so, we have some other things I have to take care of.” Of course, with her being 7 my answer didn’t suffice. Eventually, I pulled rank and silenced her petition, “No, it’s done, don’t ask any more please!” Silence.  

My daughter wasn’t mad or hold a grudge the rest of the evening, and we had a great time together. Before heading home for the night, she pulled out her crowbar and tried prying one more time, one last ditch effort. “Dad, now can we check it out?” I took in a big hit of air, gazed into those eyes that melt my heart and said, “Honey, I’m sorry, but no, it’s over with now anyways.” Silence.  

We did one last sweep throughout the hallways, checking over everything to ensure there wasn’t something we missed. It was then we were approached by someone needing a favor. I put on a smile and graciously helped them with their simple request. My daughter threw on her coat, I grabbed my car keys and we headed home.  

As I was driving my daughter asked in an inquisitive voice, “Dad, why wouldn’t you let me see what they had in there? I wasn’t going to buy anything, I just wanted to look.” I pondered how I would respond for a few seconds. “Babe, I didn’t want us to go in there because there were some unfriendly people in there. They aren’t very happy with Daddy.” With a slight tilt of her head and scrunching of her brow she replied, “Why don’t they like you? What did you do?” I gazed at my daughter from my rear-view mirror and said, “They just don’t agree with or like the way Daddy does some things. They aren’t very happy with me and have a lot of negativity. Daddy doesn’t have time or the need to bring that negativity around him or his life.” The wheels were turning in my daughter’s beautiful brain. “But Dad, why’d you help that lady? Is she one of the people who aren’t happy with you?” 

My daughter is so smart. She wasn’t going to let this go until she knew why I would help someone who isn’t very fond of me. I knew I had to respond with the right words, this was a teachable moment.  

“Just because someone doesn’t like another person, that doesn’t give anyone the right to be disrespectful or unkind back. I don’t have room for negativity in my life. I’m a kind person, and if I put kindness out there, I know it’s going to come back to me.”  

That was my response, and without me saying that our conversation was over, it was over. I hope my daughter understands why I live my life with a PMA (Positive Mental Attitude) mindset. I pray that she can follow in my footsteps. Only time will tell if she learned from this lesson. I believe she did.