Let’s try again: Put Up The Guardrails

Consistency. Discipline. Big words. Dangerous and scary words. As we travel life in general, we create a general plan and head in a direction. I think it flows a lot like a bowling alley hosting a party of 6-year olds. Put those guardrails up. Most of the time, the ball finds its way to the end of the alley and maybe takes down a couple pins. But, the ball may bounce back and forth off of those rails --- avoiding the gutter, taking extra time. Achieving some level of success.

There's one of the last things I ponder each day. The title of the blog says it all - Find Your Wins.

I can't pretend that I'm pitching a perfect game or swinging at life with one of the Yankees "Torpedo" bats (that'll be the next post).

I'm learning to ride the waves better, a constant battle inside the dome, for sure.

Making a (mostly) edible meal that I share with my girls. The conversations and laughs with them in the precious few minutes we get between their busy schedules. Walking the dog. And, doing a quality job nightly to entertain and inform the globe on our show.

Those are the rails.

Then, it's about how clean the rest of things flow in a day.

Sleep? Exercise? Diet? How much did LA traffic come back to punch me in the face?

When I lay my head down at night, I ponder the idea .... "Did I go 1-0 today?" ...

At least I tried.

When that alarm sounds, we get up and do it again.

Being Better - Define It

Somehow I lost a chunk of this after publishing —- now pissed. I’ll try to recreate.

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It’s been too long. I have countless drafts and starts and stops to Blog entries commemorating a number of events, stressors and triumphs from the past several months. Many pages have torn from notebooks to start the next “journal,” “diary,” monologue, or whatever you’d call it. 

But, like everyone (or most, I guess), an alarm rings, an email or text comes in that warrants attention, or you’re off and pacing to any number of chores/responsibilities that make up your existence.

Each year, we hammer out a robust list of resolutions designed to make us “Better.” Whether it’s a nod to health, money, mental well-being or learning a skill, we all have something (or many) in our lives that we want to make “Better.”

I do it weekly. I put together the exhaustive list of “To-do” items. And I get overwhelmed and salty, knowing that it’s a Sisyphus situation. I’m gonna through a bunch of things. I’m gonna check some boxes, but the Sharpie’s not gonna touch each of those lines. 

Damned it all. The point of this blog is to find a little peace in the day, highlight finding the Lighter Thoughts. Jack Handey of SNL had his “Deep Thoughts,” and we’ll have some of those here. But it’s more about seeing/doing the things on your list, celebrating those triumphs and moving forward.

Friend of the show and colleague Jay Glazer talks about “fighting the grey.” In his appearances with us and his book “Unbreakable,” he speaks of rough mornings, and I can relate, to be sure. So, each day, I’m going to work - dare I say “Resolve” - to add at least one post. Short, in-depth expository or whatever - check in here. The goal is Community and talking … and embracing the positivity amid the chaos. 

So, with that in mind — What are my 3 victories today?

1. Great show on FOX Sports Radio this morning with Bucky Brooks. We absolutely destroyed a number of narratives and created some new while dissecting the NFL Division Games from Saturday and previewing Sunday’s tilts. 

(I’ll include game-watching on a larger scale here. We had all the drama we wanted, and then some.)

2. Long-ass nap. Sleep and I have been enemies since I broke my leg my sophomore year of High School (long story for another time). So, I’m learning to pause and listen to my body and foggy mind. I know it’s caused major issues in my past and still impact others, and contributes to physical and mental health. 

Nas said in NY State of Mind: “I don’t sleep, ‘cause sleep is the cousin of death.” The line was later cited by Greg Dulli in “Omertà.” 

3. I communicated with a great number of friends, colleagues and my brothers during the Sunday games. Text messages, calls and some Twitter back and forth. Add some of the 2021 Glogg and a hearty soup. And that’s a winner.

Community. Communication. Pathos. 

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How do you define “Better?”