Monthly Archive for January, 2009

What am I going to do?

Published on January 29, 2009 in Life. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , .

I am trying to figure out where I am going and how best to get there…

Ever since Bio 20 I’ve wanted to go into exercise physiology and and get my PhD and do research.  As that time loomed closer, I started thinking that I wasn’t cut out for research and being in the lab.  I wanted to work in the lab at school and I’ve had oppotunities, but I just didn’t do it.  Hmm… is that what I really wanted??

As I was growing up I wanted to be a teacher, just like my dad.  Maybe that’s what I should do.  Lots of people have told me that I would be a good teacher.  Yup, maybe.

Then I wanted to be a coach.  It would be great.  But it is hard to make enough money just being a coach.  But let’s say I can do it, who are the best coaches?  What makes them that way?

So many great coaches have exercise physiology related PhDs and MSc designations.  Many don’t.  Many don’t even have BKin or anything related to that.  Many have vast amounts of experience.

I’m having a hard time translating the science and research side of training with the practical side of training and racing.  I think that’s always been a point of contention.  But there are lots of guys making things better.  And if nobody did any scientific research, practical training would not be anywhere near where it is.  I think it’s that the research is slow and takes much time, dedication, and perseverance to become practical.

So how do I become the best coach I can be?  Should I go into grad school?  Should I become a teacher?  What am I going to do?

::SAdamson

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Family

Published on January 21, 2009 in Thoughts. 1 Comment Tags: , , , , , , , .

So I was having a good conversation with Paul when he was driving me home last week (Thanks again!).  He was talking about Cory and I, about living at home with our parents.  He said that we’re both probably capable and independent enough to live on our own, but we just don’t.

I like living at home.  I like how this place operates.  It’s comfortable.  I LOVE MY PARENTS!!!!  Sometimes I want to have my own place and run it my own way, but I don’t even have enough money to live the life I’ve grown accustomed to.  If I had to pay for rent, groceries, car, gas, insurance… whoa!  Not a chance!

Cory is likely the same.  If your home life is good, why leave?

But that being said, so many people leave home as soon as they can.  Why is that?  You should?  You want to be independent?  You want to party with your friends?  You hate your family?  You want to go to school somewhere else?  You hate the snow?  You get married?

There are many reasons to leave your parents house, none of which I am saying are good or bad.  Although I know my parents wouldn’t let me live in their house with my wife if I got married tomorrow!

And then I heard a story that I found sad or disappointing about a family that I’m close to.  It kind of reminded me that I wanted to write this post about families and households.

Why do you live your life the way you do?  Why do you tuck your kids in?  Why do you sit around and watch tv when there’s dirty dishes in the sink?  Why do you hug your grandma?  Why do you love those you do?  Why don’t you tell them more often?  Why don’t you show them more often?  Why do you get drunk on the weekend?  Why do you work 80 hours a week and neglect your family?  Are you happy?

I think that’s all.  Thanks for listening…

::SAdamson

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Wait

Published on January 19, 2009 in Thoughts. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , .

I had come up with a great blog post in my head at bible study tonight.  I think I still remember the gist of it…

Our discussion followed along the lines of Don’s sermon yesterday.  I think the major thought that I’m taking away is that we shouldn’t automatically go for that immediate satisfaction of our desires.  Wait.

Trust.

Your needs will be met.

Imagine that, instead of going to the grocery store and cooking dinner you go to a restaurant, ask for what you need, and it is brought to you, free of charge.  Wow.  That is really what it’s like.

Come with all your worries, desires, needs, and anything else weighing heavily on your heart.

Oh, and another point.  We all have talents and abilities.  I recently saw a clip of Ironman on tv.  It reminded me of this idea.  Tony Stark was amazing.  Before his epiphany he was a rich celebrity who abused a lot of people and didn’t understand a lot.  But then he used his talent and money for good.

Some people are meant to be doctors.  Some people ride bikes.  Some people can sing.  Some people sell everything and move to third-world countries.  Some people have beautiful smiles.  Some people are strong.  Some people make clothing.  The point is, we all have individual talents and abilities.  We all are blessed in different ways, with many gifts.

The point is, we should take everything we have and use to the best of our abilities.  We shouldn’t envy that guy with brown hair.  We shouldn’t dream of being rich.  We shouldn’t feel the need to sell our cars just so that we feel better, but are then unable to deliver pizza to make money and provide for our family.  Use what you have.  Make the most of it.

Smile.

Make someone’s day!

Love your neighbour as yourself!

::SAdamson

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More on that

Published on January 18, 2009 in Thoughts. 0 Comments

Well, I have more ideas, thoughts, things I’ve heard, things I’ve read.  I’m still not exaclty sure what the overarching theme of my thoughts and subsequent blog posts is, but I’ll keep it going anyway.

I was reading my textbook today, finishing off the chapter on intelligence.  Some interesting things I took away include:

  • Education increases intelligence; however, its impact is smaller, narrower, and shorter-lived than we might wish or expect.
  • People who are extremely intelligent are not necessarily happier, and their gifts tend to be highly specialized.  Some research suggests that what really distinguishes gifted children is the sheer amount of time they spend engaged in their domain of excellence.  Therefore…
  • The essence of nature’s gift maybe the capacity for passionate devotion to a single activity.

That really brings me back to sport and the things we’ve talked about in applied sport psyc and also the things on the Science of Sport blog.  The four aspects of sport (technical, tactical, mental, and physical) are not mutually exclusive, and are so intertwined that they can hardly be separated for study.

Wow, so much thinking…

::SAdamson

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Hmm…

Published on January 17, 2009 in Thoughts. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , .

I recently read an interesting series of blog posts over at the Science of Sport.  I found it an interesting series, especially relevant to what we’ve been talking about in some of my classes and just what’s been going through my mind as of late…

I continually find myself contemplating on the nature vs. nurture topic.  Now, as with most dichotomies, I don’t think they’re mutually exclusive.  But I’ve been wondering why siblings are so different?  Why do some people want to leave home?  Why are some people genetically gifted athletes?  Why do other athletes keep going and training hard?

In my PSYCO 105 class we’ve been talking about intelligence.  It’s really interesting in that as difficult as it is to figure who is intelligent, it is at least as difficult to determine what intelligent really is.  How much of it is hereditary?  How much can you increase it?  Are there different kinds of intelligence?

Interesting stuff…

We were talking recently about the characteristics of champions in PEDS 403.  I was thinking of Sven Nys and Lance Armstrong.

I’ve been thinking about my own athletic career.  And I read a good story by my coach about him and Max Van Heeswikj, and about how the genetically gifted will excel and the hard-working will excel.  But you really need both in order to be champion.

Is being the best mental or physical?  Or both?

Hmm….

::SAdamson

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My Personal Ad

Published on January 15, 2009 in Life. 0 Comments

4af265898fa54a3dbe37d763aaae169d

Anybody interested??

::SAdamson

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Wow. It's true.

Published on January 11, 2009 in Thoughts. 0 Comments

Ok, so I stole this article from Adam’s blog, but it’s really good.  And it’s totally true.

And you do actually have to read it.  As Adam said, “You will, in fact, be proving the very point of the article if you don’t, can’t, or won’t.

Enjoy.

::SAdamson

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Hmm… Why?

Published on January 11, 2009 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , .

I just got home from the United Cycle staff Christmas party.  Kind of a late night for me…  But I think it was good.  I had fun.  Talked to people.  Got to know some people I like better.  Got to wear nice clothes.  Good times…  Thanks United Cycle!

But it really got me thinking: Why do people act the way they do?  Why are people who they are?  Why are they friends with the people that they are?

Tonight just got me asking some of those questions that I had been asking myself for a while.  And it was also something we talked about in Applied Sport Psyc on Friday.  I was at the bar dancing on the table.  Why?  I was out with my friends and I had too much to drink.  Why?  It was fun and my friends were doing it.  Why?  …  Why?  …  Why?  Maybe I’m insecure, maybe I act out in weird ways.

Why are you touchy feely?  Why do you ride your bike?  Why do you do drugs?  Why is your boyfriend who he is?  Why do you do the things you do?

And another thing that Lisa said in class on Friday was about relationships.  It started with you as a consultant relating to your client: Whose needs are you putting first?  Whose agenda are you following?  But then she spoke about your relationship: Are you meeting your needs and then seeing what you can do for the other?  Or are you meeting the other’s needs and then looking after your own?  Why are you in the relationship you’re in?  Why are you doing the things you’re doing?

All very interesting.

I’m mulling over it.  I probably will be until the day I die.  But for right now I have peace in knowing who I am and who my saviour is and that that is all I need!  Thanks!

::SAdamson

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When you go to bed at night, ask yourself

Published on January 8, 2009 in Thoughts. 0 Comments Tags: .

Did I do every I possibly could have done today?

::SAdamson

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Care

Published on January 1, 2009 in Thoughts. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , .

I don’t really know what I’m trying to say here, but I think it has something to do with taking care in everything you do.  Have passion for every moment and love every person.  I feel like I could dedicate a whole blog to whatever I’m trying to say here…

Some people never seem to smile.  Some people are continually grumpy.  Some people enjoy putting other people down too much.

Some people enjoy the snow falling.  Some people enjoy a red light on their commute.  Some people love a good piece of bread.

I had been writing this post or meaning to write for a little while, but I got a kick in the pants when I came across a really good blog post that talks about living artfully.

It’s just about taking the time to enjoy every moment of every day, every person you meet, everything you do.  Smile.  Make someone’s day.  Take joy in all the little things.  Care about those around you.  Life is about more than just getting to the end.

I’ve come across a few people and moments that have given me a real zest for life recently.  People who work hard and don’t complain.  People who work hard and don’t even realize that they’re doing more than the person next to them.

I’ve had some great conversations recently.  I just said to Cory that I was having a great day, running around, smiling, helping people, and working hard!  It was great!

Take time to care!

::SAdamson

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