Saturday was an incredible day for a baseball fan, and especially for a New York Yankees fan like me.
That sunny, hot summer day will be forever remembered as the day the first Yankee reached 3,000 career hits in the game we call “America’s Past Time.” Now, the Yankees are known for winning. They own 27 World Series titles, far more than any other team in history. And they count the greatest baseball players of all time as their players and leaders: Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra, Roger Maris, Whitey Ford, Reggie Jackson, Phil Rizzuto, Bill Dickey, Elston Howard… the list goes on and on. Despite some wicked records from some of the greatest hitters of all time, no Yankee had hit the pinnacle of 3000 hits.
Until Saturday, July 9, 2011.
That’s the day long-time Yankee shortstop, Derek Jeter, connected with an off-speed pitch from the Tampa Ray’s pitcher David Price and sent it over the fence in left field. Not just a hit! A homerun!
For long-time Yankees fans, like myself, it wasn’t really a surprise that it happened. But it was no less satisfying. It was the culmination of a career we’ve watched for 17 years. Unlike many athletes in this free agency/rapidly moving society of ours, Jeter has played his entire career for one team.
A few weeks ago, my husband offered to go out for ice cream after dinner. He rarely wants dessert. In fact, I used to be the one sending him out for ice cream.
“What do you want?” he asked.
“Ummmm, nothing.”
“Really?” he said. “I’ll get your favorite. Coffee.”
Don’t you just love it when someone pushes food at you?
No! I don't want any!
(But, actually, I’m pretty impressed he knows my favorite, so I considered it a moment.) (more…)
The more I study the obesity epidemic, the more I am convinced we are an overweight nation (and growing more so) because we do not know or practice the truth.
Look at our politicians.
Look at our television programs.
And advertising.
The new movie “Limitless”, starring Bradley Cooper as a blocked writer seeking a pharmaceutical boost to meet a publisher’s deadline, inspired this post.
The movie is built around several cliches, including the one known as “blocked writer syndrome” (I’m always incredulous when I hear “blocked writers with publishers’ deadlines”, since I have 3 books ready for publication right here on my desk, can always meet a deadline, am a self-starter and finisher (because I can coach myself out of any hesitancy), and have no contract yet) — but its bigger themes include “power is seductive” and “today’s world lacks humanity.”
Another cliche caught my attention though. It’s the “quick fix.” Our growing cultural belief that we can “fast forward” (more…)
One year ago, I celebrated 10 years of sustained weight loss after losing 74 lbs. Even though permanent weight loss is measured at 5 years, and I had passed that milestone years before, I had not let the magnitude of what I had accomplished seep in.
When I set out to achieve permanent weight loss, I knew only 1% of people who lose more than 20 lbs. achieve it. Once I lost those 74 lbs. and started “the countdown”, I created a sort of tunnel vision.
Celebrate
Then, at a celebration last year, I was surprised at the emotion that hit me as I spoke to the group of well-wishers, friends and clients.
