Just love, baby.

For love covers a multitude of sin.

-1 Peter 4:8b

What a powerfully simple and elegant statement. 

After reading that, I suppose that the next logical question should be, what exactly does St. Peter mean?  The answer, I don't know.  I hope I get to ask him someday.  In the meantime, here is what I THINK it means.  I think this verse, and the rest of the Bible is written to particular people: sinners.  I think that these seven words are saying, "God knows you are a screw up.  God knows you are going to sin, and God knows you aren't perfect.  But with that in mind, just do your best to love each other." 

In today's world of complex decisions, high stress jobs and so many easy, negative ways to look for an outlet, this passage is telling all of us that even though we sin, if we love more than we sin, we'll be okay.  It's saying to have faith in God, and even though we screw up daily, as long as we give our full hearts not only to God but to each other in ways of charity and love, that everything will be all right in the end.  In fact, there is another passage in the Bible that confirms this: 1 Corinthians 13:13 "As it is, these remain: faith, hope and love, the three of them; and the greatest of them is love."

These two quotes remind me of the former Oakland Raiders Owner, Al Davis's motto "Just win, baby."  It's like God's reminder to "just love" and the rest will take care of itself.

So, in closing, as your make your way through another Friday afternoon and try to achieve your daily mission, keep it simple:  just love, baby.

B.M.*

*I am not a biblical scholar.  Nor am I a priest, preacher, theologian and I am definitely not the Pope.  I am just an ordinary sinner who decided to write a short blog on one of his favorite Bible passages.  In fact, these seven words in the Bible have touched me more than many others.  I think with the beginning of Lent and our last blog on Random Acts of Kindness, that this was a fitting addition. 

Do you agree with my thoughts on this passage?  Sometimes it's hard to show people love in a world where things can seem bleak.  How do you try to achieve this goal, do you have additional inspiration?

Better than candy

Random Acts of Kindness for 40 Days.

As Ash Wednesday quickly approaches, Christians around the world will embark on 40 days of sacrifice, prayer, penance, and renewal in preparation for our most holy day of the year, Easter.  During Lent, different denominations will do different things to prepare.  As a Catholic, we are asked to give up meat on Fridays and Ash Wednesday, in addition we try entering into a deeper prayerful conversation with God and preparing for the Resurrection of Christ.  Also, many will try to make some sort of sacrifice for those 40 days.  As a child, I can remember giving up candy, video games and watching TV.  These were all difficult challenges for me and sometimes I succeeded, but a lot of times I failed.  Looking back, success wasn't the purpose of the sacrifice, the journey was the purpose – the journey to try and bring yourself closer to God during those 40 days through sacrifice and prayer.  As I got older and started to realize this, I changed my intentions.  Instead of "giving up" something I decided I needed to "do something". 

Over the past eight years, I have made my Lenten resolutions based on what I can do to show my faith in God. 

My favorite story was Lent of 2004, the first year I did this.  I decided I would do a Random Act of Kindness (RAK) everyday for 40 days.  I decided that when someone needed help I would give it to them and if nobody needed help, then I would find a person to show some small form of kindness.  (Now that I think about it, this was probably the beginning of On Track Daily and I didn't even know it!)  Anyway, Ash Wednesday of 2004, I remember going to my gym to work out, and in the parking lot there was a young girl with a flat tire, I bet she was 17 years old or so.  She was trying to change the tire and failing miserably.  I walked right past her, as I was running late for my class.  As I got to the main entrance, I stopped, smacked myself in the head, and thought that maybe this was a test.  I also felt like a hypocrite with the ashes still on my forehead from Church and I had left that girl in the snow by herself.  So I jogged back and asked her if she needed help.  She did. Together we changed her tire and she went her way I went mine -- and I felt wonderful knowing I had helped.  After class, I ran to Giant Eagle to buy some groceries and while walking into the store I saw a Mom with her hands full of kids while she had a full cart of grocery bags, and one of those 50 pound dog food bags that she was struggling to load into her car.  This time I didn't walk by.  I asked if I could give her a hand and she asked me to get the dog food.  I grabbed the dog food and threw it in her trunk.  She said thanks, and I went into the store, and I assume she went home.  Once again, I felt amazing. 

Looking back, I have no idea who those women were.  I don't even know if they remember me or those incidents.  But I remember, and maybe that's the point?  Random Acts of Kindness are not only great for the receiver but also great for the doer.  It's such a great feeling to know that you helped someone who needed help.  It's makes you feel like you made a difference in someone's life.  That feeling is incredible and that feeling brings me more close to God then giving up Snickers ever could.

So, if you are looking for something to give back to your community or if you are trying to prepare yourself during Lent, then I ask you to join me and try to do a Random Act of Kindness everyday of Lent.  And if you do, I bet you will get so much satisfaction from RAK'ing that you will do it every day, not just during Lent.

B.M.

Blood Donation

The snow didn't keep us from donating blood - a double red cell donation to help the local community. What a great feeling! Have you been able to donate yet?

On Track Daily, On Track Monthly

In the course of writing On Track Daily, we have always made it a point to try and create small daily missions that are easy to accomplish in a single day.  Believe it or not, this is a lot harder then it seems!  If you pick up any "365 days to ..." book, you will notice that not all of the 365 daily missions are easy to accomplish.  If you are following 365 days to a greener planet, and it is suggested to "purchase a hybrid car," while well intentioned, it's not very easy to do.  Same with an exercise routine, reading a goal of "running a marathon" may be inspirational but not very probable for a daily activity.

With this in mind, we added one mission each month that is a bigger goal to achieve in addition to our daily missions for the year.  These are missions that are easy to do, but may take more time and planning then say, "smiling at strangers."  This will be the first month where we offer up a monthly mission. 

This month we are donating blood for Heart Health Month.  We've done this in the past and have found it very rewarding.  What a great way to directly impact your local community!  We donate at LifeShare blood bank in Elyria, Ohio and are always excited to know that our donations move about 3 miles down the road to Elyria Memorial Hospital.  By taking 1 hour every 3 months out of our week, we can literally save a life -- 2 if we do a double red donation! 

Not only does it energize your soul knowing you are helping those most in need of help, but it can actually replenish your body.  I always feel amazing after donating and especially after donating a double red, because they separate the platelets and put saline back into your body, which for whatever reason makes me feel really good.  In addition to that great feeling, you also get free cookies and juice when you are done!  I know that's not really in line with On Track Daily's lifestyle of making smart daily food choices, but hey, if you save a life you deserve a cookie!

We will be donating this Saturday and encourage anyone reading this blog or our Twitter/Facebook pages to try and make time to donate this month. You will feel better and sleep better knowing that your action has saved a life.  Take my word on it and enjoy the cookie -- you earned it!

On a side note, each month when we put out a monthly mission, we are going to put our money where our mouths are, per say.  Anything we are asking you to do, we are going to do too (like we do on the daily ones!).  And we will post the pictures to prove it and hopefully inspire others to try and do that same.  We'll post some pictures next week of our blood donation, so please keep an eye open for them.  Also, if you are inspired or encouraged to do a mission, please take pictures and post them on our Facebook or email them to us at Ontrackdaily@gmail.com.  We will post them and hopefully start a chain reaction of inspiration that can encompass the globe!  Thanks and keep on track with us!

B.M.

Hearts are Everywhere!

Valentine’s Day is in just a few days (a reminder as well for those who still need to run out and get something for that special someone. If anyone is trying to think of something for me, these have caught my eye – Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate).

However, with all these hearts hanging in every storefront and commercials encouraging me to buy everything for my valentine, the one thing that stands out is the heart itself. The heart holds so much symbolism – from romantic true love to the very essence of our health. Appropriately, the American Heart Association has declared February American Heart Month.   

There is a lot we can do to improve our heart health and it is another one of the benefits of the small daily changes we promote on our site, Twitter, and Facebook.  We will continue to have daily actions that encourage heart and overall health throughout the year.

The challenge is to take that next step beyond yourself and go out to donate blood for your community. You are adding more movement to your day, concentrating on what you are consuming, reflecting through prayer or meditation – all of which are great things to do for your heart.  Now, here is chance to make the world around you better by donating blood to a complete stranger.  Plus, according to livestrong.com, donating blood has some positive health effects as well. 

Although Valentine’s Day is approaching quickly, you have all month to do this great self-less act.  So we encourage you to make an appointment to donate blood, organize a blood drive yourself, and encourage those around you to do the same!

Here are some resources to help you find a way to donate blood:

• American Red Cross - Donate information or go to their website: www.redcross.org

• American Heart Association – has information on other ways you can help it you are unable to donate blood – www.heart.org

• America’s Blood Center – for more information on other ways to donate blood in your community as well as a helpful FAQ – www.americasblood.org

We’ll be donating on Saturday at LifeShare – pictures to follow. Let us know how you decided to celebrate Valentine’s Day - whether it was by donating blood or enjoying dark chocolate.

.:MF

These boots were not made for walking – apparently.

A friend convinced me that I needed to get a pedometer to see how active I am during the day. So, it just so happened that there was a Groupon recently for a nice Omron pedometer. I bought it. It sat on my desk for a while because I thought I didn’t really need it. I am a young active guy who gets plenty of exercise. At least I always thought I was pretty active.

I was wrong.

The company said I should aim for 10,000 steps a day. I am lucky if I get 5,000 in my day. So much of my time is spent sitting at a desk, on a computer, and on the phone. Basically, not moving. 

I can’t always make it to the gym to get a workout, so I have to incorporate more movement into my day to keep fit. Plus, that is what On Track Daily is all about – doing small daily changes to work toward a larger goal. 

My goal is that 10,000 step mark. However, I am not going to get it tomorrow. I do challenge myself to beat how many steps I did the day before. I aim for at least 100 more. Sometimes, that means walking around the living room before bed, but I do it. 

I am now very aware of how little exercise I get in the days I don’t go to the gym. So, I have been adding little workouts to my day. Here are a few of the things I have started doing to be more active:

1.  Parking in the farthest parking spot at the office – it forces me to walk more. 
2. Doing 25 calf raises each time I get to a staircase. If I am feeling crazy I do 25 on each leg. (if no one is in the stairwell, that is. I get weird looks otherwise). 
3. Purchasing the pedometer to keep track of my movement (an awakening moment!) 
4. Pushups before I shower – at least 25, sometimes more – depending how much of a rush I am in. Like everyone, some mornings are more hectic than others. 
5. I do hand grip exercises when sitting in traffic with a Grip Strengthener. Here is one.
6. I now walk and talk when on the phone. Luckily, I have an office where I can shut the door, so I do small laps around my office when on a long phone call or just leaving a message. 
7. I incorporate simple stretches into my day using basic yoga stretches. I do some of these easy yoga stretches. A quick Google search reveals a lot more, plus there is even an app for that!  
8. I do standing squats against the wall when I get home to get my blood moving. 

These are just a few of the things I do to add a little extra activity into my day. I am always looking for more ideas. What small activities have you added to your day to burn a few extra calories?

.:MF