Gratitude

Everything in my life is filtered through GRATITUDE. It precedes every decision and follows every result.

This week was no exception.

This year, my teenagers both asked me to volunteer for the high school retreat. They told me I would love it and wanted me to experience it with them. The simple fact that they WANTED me to go was reason enough for me. A guaranteed yes.

GRATITUDE

Not only was I able to serve the HS SCA students and staff @yl_lostcanyon, but I got to do so alongside my R.O.D. partner for life @momeopathy!

Our days were full, busy, and sometimes chaotic. But in those brief windows of respite, we would take in the beauty and serenity of our surroundings. It may not have been a vacation, but time together (alone) is always time well spent.

GRATITUDE

PITS

Serving alongside some amazing and dedicated parents and camp staff at this year’s SCA High School Retreat @yl_lostcanyon was an absolute pleasure and privilege.

It was a time of bonding, fellowship, and fun that I will remember for the rest of my life. Before, during, and after every meal, there was a synergy and enthusiasm among the kitchen staff to make sure that every task was covered and every need was met.

This was my first year attending, and though some people may think the PITS crew is the least desirable job (that’s working in the kitchen as part of the cleaning crew), I found it to be the most rewarding!

We laughed.

We danced.

We cleaned.

And we did it all with joy!

A big shout out to the camp kitchen staff (@lostcanyonkitchen), Monica, Jo Jo, Todd, Emma, and others… who answered every question with a smile, pointed us in the right direction, and encouraged us along the way. Thank you for blessing our kids. They may never know the extent of the incredibly hard work that goes on behind the scenes. But those of us who worked with you understand the amount of love that goes into everything you do. It was beautiful to see!

Can’t wait until next year!

Hurts So Good

It’s Wednesday and I have submitted myself to the expert training methods of my son, @micahwelchfit! 😃🙌🏽

Before I describe this experience, I have to first say how thankful I am to not only be alive 🙏🏽, but to have a body that is functional in most, if not all, practical and physical ways.

As any good personal trainer should, my son asked me about my goals. 📝 I explained (more like rambled) to him that, “While I’m not trying to be a bodybuilder or enter any physique competitions, I do want to be happy with the way I look. I want to feel stronger, have more energy, and take acceptable selfies that aren’t contingent upon the angle of my phone.” 🙃

Not surprisingly, he was able to take my verbosity and correctly interpret it to mean better muscle tone, higher definition, wrapped around a whole-body, active-induced health goal.

Basically, he was like, “No problem. I got you. 😏”

He then proceeded to put my 47-year-old body (bio age 43, thank you) through a series of excruciatingly… effective exercises that I’d never heard of, let alone performed… like, on purpose. 😳

Among a few isometric activities, today’s menu consisted of weighted wall sits, sumo squats, forward and side lunges, with a side order of shoulder presses.🏋🏽‍♂️

When it was all said and done, I’d burned nearly 500 calories through strength training alone. I know I’m going to feel this tomorrow (and probably for the next week). But it was sooooo worth it! 😃💪🏽

Thanks Coach! 👍🏽

 

Weighted Wall Sits

Front & Side Lunges

Goblet Squats

More Squatting 😂

Sumo Squats

One Tired Guy

So, my actual age is… higher than this. 😉

The Skedge

A Cautionary ToOtH Tale

I went to the dentist yesterday. 😬

It was for an extraction. 😵

It didn’t hurt a lot (or even a little). Thank the Lord for local anesthesia. 😂

But I did think it would go a long way as a deterrent ‼️ to play out the discomfort, strict post-op care instructions, and overall dislike of only having liquids for 2+ days, in front of my kids.

Drama much? Yes, and thank you. (as I watched my kids brush extra long last night) 😏

I have no lower teeth! 😲 j/k

FATCAP (A Fatherhood Capsule Story): Discombobulated Dad

When it comes to social media, I often have moments where I feel like I can’t focus on one thing. I mean, for the most part I think I’m known for my music and for my writing. 😎 And lately I’m probably becoming known for my attempts (#AnotherDay1) to get and remain in shape. 🏋🏽‍♂️

 

But most days I’m just out here like, “Oh lordy… is this suppose to be a fitness profile? I’ve posted MAYBE two photos from the gym in the last three weeks.” 😬 Because let’s be honest, there ain’t a ton of angle variety to be had in men’s locker room that’s fit for public consumption. And it’s a special kind of contortionist with 3 arms who can take a selfie while doing hammer curls. 💪🏾

 

So then I fall back on the old saying, “Do what you know.” And what I know, after more than 24 years of it, is fatherhood. Which makes me just barely qualified to explain how best to help keep small children alive, despite their best efforts to the contrary. 😇

 

Of course, the other part of me is like, “But isn’t fitness also a part of parenting? I mean, shouldn’t it be?” 🤔 I certainly don’t want to be the unhealthy dad that is suffering from wholly preventable conditions because I couldn’t be bothered to pick up a weight or take the elliptical for a spin.

 

So I’ve decided that I won’t try to figure out my “niche” other than to say that, for now, my niche is ME… and all of my topical inconsistencies that come with me.🤪

 

However, I am super thankful that there ARE people out there who really know what they want to do, how to do it, and have put together solid plans to make them happen.

 

People like my son, Micah.

 

If you’ve never seen him, bro legit looks like an olympian. 🏅He’d be scary if he wasn’t so darn relatable, charming, and always smiling. He’s a good looking guy too, and that’s not just dad smoke. lol Real talk… he could probably do 50 squats with me on his shoulders and not break a sweat. In any case, he’s planning to compete in the upcoming 2020 AZ Open Mens Bodybuilding competition in the spring, and I couldn’t be more proud.🏆

 

I look at him and imagine that I probably would’ve looked exactly like that at his age. Sorta, maybe… almost..? 🤨

 

Anyway, you should follow his journey and can check out his new YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/dh8yq4n3u3Q. You can also follow him on Instagram @micahwelchfit.

 

So, don’t be discombobulated like me.

 

Be focused, like him. 😉