Change is hard.
I’m probably not the first person to say that. Probably not even the first person to say that today.
I’ve been trying to live my life like I’ve already won the lottery. So much of it really is attitude, apart from paying off all the bills and a certain amount of rampant consumerism. Of course.
One big change I want to make is to simply take better care of myself. If I suddenly had millions, it would be kind of stupid to drop dead before I was fifty because I was too stupid to put down the bacon and go for a walk.
It’s not really as simple as that, but that’s the ‘gist. When you see puddles and mud, you don’t need someone to tell you that it rained, right?
Part of my problem is that a lot of what I currently do, pre-lottery-winning, involves lots of writing, editing, uploading, downloading and social-media-ing. A good chuck of my day is spent at my desk, busily working away on my computers.
I’m probably not the first person to say that. Probably not even the first person to say that today.
I’ve been trying to live my life like I’ve already won the lottery. So much of it really is attitude, apart from paying off all the bills and a certain amount of rampant consumerism. Of course.
One big change I want to make is to simply take better care of myself. If I suddenly had millions, it would be kind of stupid to drop dead before I was fifty because I was too stupid to put down the bacon and go for a walk.
It’s not really as simple as that, but that’s the ‘gist. When you see puddles and mud, you don’t need someone to tell you that it rained, right?
Part of my problem is that a lot of what I currently do, pre-lottery-winning, involves lots of writing, editing, uploading, downloading and social-media-ing. A good chuck of my day is spent at my desk, busily working away on my computers.
Since both computers are really busy, I can’t listen to music on either while I’m working. So I’ve had the TV on, kind of like wallpaper – not really watching, but a bit of a pleasant distraction while opening files (or downloading/uploading).
The problem with that, for me at least, is that watching any kind of commercial television means you’re going to see a lot of, well, commercials. So whether I’m watching a block of “Friends” episodes on TBS or just keeping an eye on the news on CNN, I get somewhat bombarded by ads.
A lot of these ads are for food. And it isn’t just one Pizza Hut commercial; it’s one Pizza Hut commercial every ten minutes. So after five or six hours of work, I am dying to go get a large Meat Lovers Pan Pizza (for only ten bucks).
The problem with that, for me at least, is that watching any kind of commercial television means you’re going to see a lot of, well, commercials. So whether I’m watching a block of “Friends” episodes on TBS or just keeping an eye on the news on CNN, I get somewhat bombarded by ads.
A lot of these ads are for food. And it isn’t just one Pizza Hut commercial; it’s one Pizza Hut commercial every ten minutes. So after five or six hours of work, I am dying to go get a large Meat Lovers Pan Pizza (for only ten bucks).
Now if I won the lottery, I mean WHEN I win the lottery, I’ll still be doing stuff on my computers. I’ll still want to run my Christmas station and my record label. And I’d like to write more.
Obviously, I’d run the risk of the exact same problem.
I’ve solved this with my Smartphone.
Music is very important to me. Since there are apps for almost everything now, I’ve played around and found a few that I really like. And I’ve taken the time to make some pretty big playlists (I think I have twenty or so).
Now the TV is off, most of the time, and instead I fire up my music.
I know lots of people listen to music while they work, so this is not some earth-shaking revelation. Hardly a sport that’s restricted to the wealthy, like polo or calico (or running for President). For one, it lasts more than fifty minutes. Though I can use my hands and my feet, if I want.
I have shelves of records and CDs, but I had been feeling like I’d lost them, since I spend so much time on the computer and can’t really listen to them. But now I can again.
Obviously, I’d run the risk of the exact same problem.
I’ve solved this with my Smartphone.
Music is very important to me. Since there are apps for almost everything now, I’ve played around and found a few that I really like. And I’ve taken the time to make some pretty big playlists (I think I have twenty or so).
Now the TV is off, most of the time, and instead I fire up my music.
I know lots of people listen to music while they work, so this is not some earth-shaking revelation. Hardly a sport that’s restricted to the wealthy, like polo or calico (or running for President). For one, it lasts more than fifty minutes. Though I can use my hands and my feet, if I want.
I have shelves of records and CDs, but I had been feeling like I’d lost them, since I spend so much time on the computer and can’t really listen to them. But now I can again.
You don’t have to own lots of records and CDs to do this. There are plenty of LEGAL streaming services out there. And if you want, you can listen to almost any radio station. I’ve lived in lots of places, and it’s been a little fun to track down some of my favorites, though a little strange hearing traffic and weather for somewhere on the other side of the country.
This is all just the tip of the iceberg. Taking away the daily bombardment of Pizza Hut ads is just the beginning. An important step, but still, just a start.
This is all just the tip of the iceberg. Taking away the daily bombardment of Pizza Hut ads is just the beginning. An important step, but still, just a start.
Exercise. My Kryptonite.
I can make better food choices, and cut out (or at least cut down) all the garbage, but if I don’t get some exercise, it’s only half the solution. Maybe not even half.
My main problem with exercise has been the boredom. We’ve got such an A.D.D. world, or maybe I’ve just developed such an A.D.D. lifestyle, that treadmills and exercise bikes get tedious, not because of the monotonous activity, but because I need other simuli. Without it, it becomes all too easy to boomerang right back to where I was.
Music to the rescue, once again.
I’ve started taking my smartphone with me, and I head out to our local high school’s football field (there’s a track around it). I fire up one my playlists and find it easy to get through a good half hour (if not more). And since I have so many different playlists, I’m able to keep it from being so repetitive (while I go lap after lap around the same track).
Another obvious, simple solution. And hardly original. I’m not the only one who exercises to music, of course. And this may not work for you. But it sure does for me.
In fact, I’m going to try and start posting more often, including that day’s exercise playlist. You’re welcome to use it yourself, of course, or post your own. Some of the artists I like may not be your cup of tea. Or I might have missed something that works particularly well for you.
Or, we might just get a kick out of seeing what we’re all listening to.
Today’s tunes come from my 70’s Playlist.
Status Quo “Rockin’ All Over The World”
The Doors “Roadhouse Blues’
Five Man Electrical Band “Signs”
The Who “Love Ain’t For Keeping”
Styx “Rock and Roll Feeling”
Mountain “Mississippi Queen”
David Bowie “Young Americans”
Queen “You’re My Best Friend”
Electric Light Orchestra “Can’t Get It Out Of My Head”
Supertramp “Dreamer”
I find using this kind of thing also helps me keep track of my progress, without trying to remember which lap I’m on or even how long I’ve been at it. Ten songs is typically long enough. Except when I use my Beatles or Beach Boys Playlists, since most of those songs are pretty short.
Again, I get that this is not some trend-setting discovery. I’ve just incorporated something I really love into more of my day, which makes the parts I don’t necessarily like that much, a lot easier to take.
I think, for me, that would be what I’d want out of winning the lottery, anyway.
Ken
P.S. – Hi Marvin! It’s all there (Puddles, mud, Calcio Fiorentino Game rules and boomerang)
I can make better food choices, and cut out (or at least cut down) all the garbage, but if I don’t get some exercise, it’s only half the solution. Maybe not even half.
My main problem with exercise has been the boredom. We’ve got such an A.D.D. world, or maybe I’ve just developed such an A.D.D. lifestyle, that treadmills and exercise bikes get tedious, not because of the monotonous activity, but because I need other simuli. Without it, it becomes all too easy to boomerang right back to where I was.
Music to the rescue, once again.
I’ve started taking my smartphone with me, and I head out to our local high school’s football field (there’s a track around it). I fire up one my playlists and find it easy to get through a good half hour (if not more). And since I have so many different playlists, I’m able to keep it from being so repetitive (while I go lap after lap around the same track).
Another obvious, simple solution. And hardly original. I’m not the only one who exercises to music, of course. And this may not work for you. But it sure does for me.
In fact, I’m going to try and start posting more often, including that day’s exercise playlist. You’re welcome to use it yourself, of course, or post your own. Some of the artists I like may not be your cup of tea. Or I might have missed something that works particularly well for you.
Or, we might just get a kick out of seeing what we’re all listening to.
Today’s tunes come from my 70’s Playlist.
Status Quo “Rockin’ All Over The World”
The Doors “Roadhouse Blues’
Five Man Electrical Band “Signs”
The Who “Love Ain’t For Keeping”
Styx “Rock and Roll Feeling”
Mountain “Mississippi Queen”
David Bowie “Young Americans”
Queen “You’re My Best Friend”
Electric Light Orchestra “Can’t Get It Out Of My Head”
Supertramp “Dreamer”
I find using this kind of thing also helps me keep track of my progress, without trying to remember which lap I’m on or even how long I’ve been at it. Ten songs is typically long enough. Except when I use my Beatles or Beach Boys Playlists, since most of those songs are pretty short.
Again, I get that this is not some trend-setting discovery. I’ve just incorporated something I really love into more of my day, which makes the parts I don’t necessarily like that much, a lot easier to take.
I think, for me, that would be what I’d want out of winning the lottery, anyway.
Ken
P.S. – Hi Marvin! It’s all there (Puddles, mud, Calcio Fiorentino Game rules and boomerang)
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