STAND TALL, TALLER, TALL

Each year around this time, I remind you to stand tall. I have not been standing tall, probably ever since the 2016 election -- discouragement about what's happening in the country and the world. I figure you, for similar reasons aren't standing tall either.

If you are slumped over, or dumpy looking, you can read what I've said about this in some of my older blogs  --"SSS"  (Sit, Stand, Straight), or "Promenade." (I'm not encouraging you to click the links; read if you've got lousy posture.)

My current routine: every morning around 6:50 A.M. I carry my tall cup of coffee and bagel downstairs and march into my office-dance-studio-theater, striding with long, strong bold steps. Looking straight ahead and beyond so that my head is high, I cross the 40 foot floor, hear my sneakers squeak, dismissing my do-this- do-that morning thoughts.

If "stand up straight" worked like a mantra, I'd be fine -- perky, zesty, attractive looking. Alas, commanding myself like a boss, director, choreographer, doesn't work as well as it used to -- because I'm getting older as well as wiser.

Guys, when you stand tall, you like yourself. It's more important than how young you look, and vanity concerns such as weight, diction, hair style, makeup, and what you're wearing. Liking yourself is an inner thing of pride and confidence. When you LIKE yourself, you think more clearly and accomplish more -- you do whatever you are doing better, more efficiently, more skillfully, accurately, thoroughly.

If you don't like yourself for whatever reasons -- poor sleep, bad personal or world news -- standing tall you will get you liking yourself.

How to stand tall:

Be a toothpaste tube.  

Squeeze yourself in the middle -- front, back, sides, all around. While you're squeezing count ten chimpanzees -- "one chimpanzee -- two, three," etc.

That's it. If you want to do more, toothpaste tube yourself three times a day.

And three times a day, go to a wall.

 Stand against it...

...your heels...

...back of legs...

...your waist,

...your upper back,

...your shoulders,

And count ten chimpanzees. Articulate the word; if you check it on your watch, saying the 'chimpanzee' takes about a second.

What gets in the way of standing tall is the fact that most of the day, you are sitting. Therefore, try doing this three times a day. 

Perhaps, each time you are thinking of getting a snack, you could go stand against the wall and do this exercise. Doing the wall four to six times a day will make a difference, or counting twenty chimpanzees, but guys, it gets boring.

I say don't do your exercise more-so, bigger, or better. I say don't discuss this with your loved ones. Excessive loving encouragement can wear down the private, secret, wonderful inner-winner thing of standing tall.

Just STAND TALL and enjoy the way you feel.

FIXING IT YOURSELF

The big guys who control what most of us use everyday, are telling/selling, compelling us "do not attempt to repair your device." They say: "If you try to fix it yourself, you're inviting hackers.  You'll have more troubles, serious troubles. Repairs must be done by our skilled technicians."

Apple, along with other phone makers, as well as Deere Co (maker of tractors), are lobbying and halting -- yes halting -- "Right to Repair " legislation. They're worried. They make billions from repairs and Right to Repair & Fair Repair is now in 12 States.

Peruse this.

Get some handyman books on this and that ...

Take a look....

Get specific

Pick up a tool or two....

This can be you.

All aspects of YOU yourself -- brains, brawn, and beauty -- are utilized when you fix it yourself. 

It's a way to fight helplessness about wars, immigration, global warming, racial issues, healthcare, taxes, scary headlines, and it's good exercise.


Hey, if you yourself cannot make the-whatever-it-is work, use your brain, brawn, beauty to find a local expert -- ask folks who own or operate or work for businesses in your neighborhood for suggestions; check references; negotiate; make an appointment; watch what they do. And learn.

It's interesting. It's fun.  I've done it. If I can do it, so can you.       

(VIDEO) WATCHING OURSELVES PERFORM

"Hmm," Emily Frankel says as she checks out their latest video recording, while her husband, John Cullum, chuckles and enjoys the video's topic.

Cullum the professional, who splices in music, and cuts out unnecessary stuff, doesn't criticize his or her performance, but Emily fusses over her diction, their outfits, and often wants to re-do the recording. John usually talks her out of it.

WHAT ROGER FEDERER MEANS TO ME

A few weeks ago, everyday our kitchen television was tuned to men's and women's tennis at Forest Hills. My husband, John Cullum, is full-time fan and keeps me up to date. I peek over his shoulder.

I have loved, admired, and saluted Roger Federer for years. Before Forest Hills, every time I heard his name, the fact that he's now 36 was mentioned. I figured he and 31-year-old Rafael Nadal would be playing each other in the finals. I know how it feels to be told that you can't do what a younger  athlete can do, but Federer, winning the Australian open and Wimbledon earlier this year, has proved he's still a winner.

I was stunned when I saw Federer lose in the Quarter Finals -- upset, as I watched as he congratulated the winner, Juan Martin del Potro, and left the court.
He told reporters: "I didn’t think I played bad, I can do better maybe, sure, but I think the decisions that we both took, me serving, him returning, or whatever  it may have been, you know, it just didn’t go my way. The way I played or am playing right now, it's not good enough in my opinion to win this tournament."

The way he thinks/speaks about his work inspires me to think/speak to myself Roger's way, about my own work.

The vision of him in 2016 after the Forest Hills finals is still strong in my mind -- his friendly, kind manner that said I'm happy for you, as he shook hands with the winner, Novak Djkovic.

He thanked Djkovic for being  such an excellent player, and said, quietly, one sentence about being  back next year.

My ears tingled. My heart sang -- "Yes, be back next year. and try hard again."

Wherever  he is right now, today, he's not mourning or reviewing what he might have  handled better in that Quarter Finals Game with Del Potro. He said he'll be back next ear and he will be back. Right now he's probably playing tennis somewhere with his usual  intense total concentration -- like McEnroe said, "playing his usual  beautiful game."

Playing the game beautifully ...Yes, whatever Roger Federer did, does, and will do in tennis is a gift he gives me.