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What a week it has been - way too busy, but very fullfilling!

Cathy and I attended the AARP / Blue Zone Vitatlity Project sponsored Purpose Workshop presented by Richard Leider on Wednesday night.  This seminar is worth all of the time that you invest in it, but be prepared to walk away going, "Whats Next?"  For me, that meant that I had to study up on the subject.  Currently I only bought his one book titled, "Whistle While You Work", but have not started reading it yet.  Instead, I bought a book which he breached upon in his discussion , "Mans Search for Meaning", by Viktor Frankl.  A must read, as I have hardly been able to put it down all weekend.  Frankl was a survivor of Auschwitz, and tells what it is like to loose everything except your very being, and what keeps a man going during this time, and more importantly, what is important to a man at this point.

Without knowing it, I was already a follower of Frankl for some time, as I believe in the following basic facts: 1) There are only two races of humans decent and undecent (for me it has been the good and the bad).  2)  That when all else has expired the remaining freedom that we all have is free choice - what we want to believe, what we want to do, how we want to react and so forth.  I would like to add one last virtue.  3)  With every right, there is great responsibility, and it is our duty to always perform.

Anyway, about our Blue Zone week.  We spent the last two weekends working on our home.  Now this is a big step with getting us off of the sofa and moving about.  We began painting the exterior siding, making the necessary repairs that are a yearly thing with a home that is just two years short of being a century old.  Not only are we being provided the opportunity to get some great exercise, and fresh air, but we are also improving our neighborhood, and community at the same time.

We have also been making it a point to go see Cathy's mother who is in a nursing home in Lake City, MN (2 hours away).  Lu Jean had a stroke about a month and a half ago and is improving each week.  Lu Jean is only 59 years old, and her mother also had a stroke at a younger age, so it is a real concern for our family, and only adds to our desire to change what we are doing to create a better environment for our longevity.  We also have been going out with Cathy's Dad, and step mom, and Grandpa and Grandma, and one of her Uncles for breakfast every Saturday morning.  My parents live just south of us in Glenville, and we have been working with them in there garden.  Our children our excited to help with the garden, they are spending quality time with there grandparents, and we will reap additional rewards this fall.

We have been working on our diet, especially when we eat out.  We are looking for healthier options, and if none exist, at least the sharing of the meals to reduce the portions seem to be working.  We have also altered our grocery list immensely and have been eating much healthier options when at home.  I personally have reduced the intake of carbonated beverages, especially those with caffeine.

Yesterday we went (Cathy, Bre'Lahna and I) for a walk around the lake.  What a beautiful day!  We talked about life, family matters, and the scenery that we are blest with.  The walk lasted just over 1 hour and 45 minutes, and certainly was worth every second.  The nice part about walking around the lake is that once committed, you really can't turn back.  We are able to talk and share, but more importantly we are able to escape our hurried lives and concentrate on us!

All in all,  the past week and a half has been made better by the very slight changes we have chosen to make on our quest for longevity!