Mindful Explorer

McGregor vs. Mayweather, Overconfidence and Psychological Warfare

Now in days it looks like the UFC is turning into the WWE. And while many people are star struck by these larger than life personalities, others realize the trash talk is all about the money honey. But is there another reason for this diabolical dialect in modern combat sports?

Here, we take a look at how intimidation factors can potentially affect the outcome of a fight. This is not something new and has in fact been done for millennia. Everyone remembers King Leonidas’ taunting reply when the Persians command the Spartans to lay down their weapons. Leonidas challenges “come and get them!” This overconfidence is a double edged sword and can be a blessing or a curse.

A high level of confidence can lead a person to rise and conquer any obstacles in their path. Nobody even attempts to climb a mountain if they think the mountain will win. Furthermore, there is an endless list of professionals who think highly of themselves and for good reason. The question is their self confidence a result of their success, or is their success a result of their self confidence. Nevertheless, there are few that would argue that believing in yourself is a bad thing.

Conversely, false grandiosity can lead you down a path of destruction. Take Ronda Rousey’s last fight for example. You could see an almost limitless level of confidence and determination on her face that was likely falsely inspired by her trainers. I’m not trying to talk bad about Rousey as I have nothing but respect for her, but she had no business going toe to toe with Nunes and her coaches should have let her know that. Be realistic with your situation and play your cards accordingly. Contradicting this I could also argue that if one does not believe they can do the impossible, they will never achieve what is thought to be impossible.

Now I must admit that Conor and Floyd are two of the baddest men on the planet regarding their trades, but we’re not here to look at how they throw their fists as we are looking at how they throw their words. McGregor is busting Mayweather about his tax issues, so Mayweather brings a bag (ostensibly) full of cash to convey that he is the top dog and in no financial trouble. However Conor outs Mayweather and shows there is only a measly five grand in his bag; chump change. This is potentially humiliating for Floyd. He may question that if the IRS can take him down, why not McGregor as well.

However, Mayweather may have the last laugh. He continuously calls Conor a quitter, reminding McGregor of how he tapped to Nate Diaz’s rear naked choke at UFC 196 for his only official UFC loss. Mayweather will take this even one step further. Now looking into the possibility of having Diaz walk him to the ring on fight night; reminding McGregor one last time that he is not invincible.

Breaking your opponents ego and leaving them with the slightest self doubt in their mind could demolish their decisive striking action and lead to a lights out knock out punch.

Like most people, I agree that unless McGregor clips Mayweather on the sweet spot like he did with Aldo, It will likely be Mayweather by decision. But is the end strictly a result of athletic ability, or is mental toughness a significant factor as well? It is still unknown how much they have gotten under each other’s skin. We will find out on fight night.

For the rest of us in everyday life, it is important to believe in yourself, but also be realistic about your limitations. Most importantly, learn from your failures and never give up!

What do you think? Can trash talk and grandiosity give be a significant factor to the outcome of a fight? Let me know in the comments below.

Notes of Poetry

When a note becomes music
Through your ears it fills the mind
A vibration of endless wonder
A fulfillment of every kind

An elation of peace
From old unto youth
A remedy for dis-ease
A breath of eternal truth

Zero to Legit Guitar Hero in 10 Steps.

There is no question that mastering the guitar takes dedication, determination, perpetual practice, and a passion for music. You’ll most likely get callus’, carpel tunnel, and miss out on some parties that probably won’t be that great anyway. It took me over a decade to discover and develop the abilities that let me utilize the entire fret-board without even having to think about it. We call this flow state. It happens after years of repetition, when muscle memory becomes so great that you don’t even have to think about what your doing.

Self taught as a child, and eventually studying music in college, along the way there have been specific theories and techniques… milestones I would hit and look back on that I know have all taken my guitar playing to the next level. Why is this important to you? This information will let you skip all of the aimless wandering on the endeavor to guitar mastery; and save you loads of time. As a student I didn’t know what techniques to look for or what to be practicing, so I took all of the information I could find, used what worked and discarded what didn’t. You can now skip through all of the unnecessary material and focus on what really counts. Hear is my list of the most important guitar theory concepts and techniques that you should focus on to take the fast track to guitar mastery.

1. Know Your Fret-board

Maybe the most undervalued and overlooked part of guitar playing is to know the notes on the fret-board. Many people think if they can move their fingers and make noise they don’t need to know anything else. This couldn’t be farther from the truth. Knowing the notes that you are playing will set up to build chords, scales, and arpeggios in the future; not to mention the ability to sync up with other musicians. Playing an instrument you don’t know is like building a block tower blind folded. You can do it, but it won’t end very well. Perhaps the easiest way to learn your notes is to find one note and then find the subsequent octaves. You can play octaves simultaneously or sequentially. Make a song with octaves if you would like and say the names of the notes in your head as you play them. For examples on octaves used in song form listen to Jimi Hendrix’s “Third stone from the sun” or Steve Vai’s “Tender Surrender.” Saying the notes in your head as you play scales may help as well.

2. Intervals

An interval is the difference between two pitches. Play each interval and familiarize yourself with each unique sound. I highly recommend not only playing these intervals on the guitar but using a piano as well. A piano is perhaps the best instrument available to visualize music. Intervals are explained below:

Unison – It’s the same note really.

minor 2nd – One half step (e.g. C to db) A half step is the distance from one fret to the next (e.g. fret 2 to 3, or 3 to 4), while a whole step is skipping a fret (e.g. 2 to 4, or 3 to 5).

Major 2nd – One whole step

minor 3rd – 1 1/2 steps

Major 3rd – Two whole steps

Perfect 4th – 2 1/2 whole steps

Tri-Tone – (AKA augmented 4th or diminished 5th) 3 whole steps = Diabolus in musica.

Perfect 5th – 3 1/2 whole steps

minor 6th – 4 whole steps

Major6th – 4 1/2 whole steps

minor 7th – 5 whole steps

Major 7th – 5 1/2 whole steps

Octave – 6 whole steps

You can help yourself to memorize these intervocalic sounds by attaching the auditory stimulus to a memorable sound. I do not recommend this method as a teacher once showed me because now when I hear a Major 6th I often think of NBC or when I hear a Perfect 4th I often think of here comes the bride. Rather, I encourage you to take these intervals and write your own songs with them. You may also want to drill with a friend; testing each other on whether the other person can guess the interval by hearing it.

3. Scales

This is huge! Knowing the foundations of music theory will enable you to build your own chords and scales ANYWHERE on the neck. It takes you out of the boxes and limits you only to your imagination.

First you should know the major scale formula WWHWWWH (W=whole step, H=half step). Also keep in mind that the natural minor scale begins on the sixth degree of the major scale. Natural minor formula WHWWHWW

Memorize a few scales but don’t devote all of your time to playing them forwards and backwards. This is not musical, and if you don’t practice musically then you won’t perform musically. There are endless ways to manipulate the scales and break up the monotony of running them up and down. Starting on note 1 with a fifth or sixth string root, try playing 123,234,345,456,567,671, as well as reverse. In the key of C Major it will look like CDE, DEF, EFG, FGA, GAB, ABC. Another good exercise is 13,24,35,46,57,61.

If you have an interest in classical guitar, learn the Segovia scales. Even if you just play electric, this book will open up new dimensions to fret-board exploration. And if you think classical guitar is just for nerds, keep in mind that people like Randy Rhodes, Steve Morse, Andy McKee, and even yours truly have studied classical guitar. For a more contemporary approach to scales and modes check out the Guitar Grimoire.

Modes: For every note in the major scale (1-7), there is a corresponding mode that begins on each note. Knowing these modes from sixth or fifth string root will open you up to some awesome position shifts. Knowing these modes in various octaves will open up the fret-board and enable you to play anywhere at anytime. Modes in order:

Ionian, dorian, phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, aolean, locrian.

Note that dorian, phrigian, and aolean are minor modes because they incorporate a minor third or flat 3. Locrian is a diminished scale because it has a flat 3 and a flat 5.

Pentatonic Modes: There are five notes in the pentatonic scale (hence the name) and therefore five different modes. The most commonly played pentatonic mode by far is the pentatonic minor scale, which begins on the Major scale’s sixth pitch (as with natural minor). Learn all of these modes and after you master the minor mode, add in a flat 5 and it becomes the blues scale.

4. CHORD CONSTRUCTION

Understanding chord construction will enable you to build your own chords of any quality at any part of the neck. As you know the major scale is composed of seven tones. A triad is a three note chord that consists of the root, third, and fifth tones. For example, if I was playing in the key of C Major and I wanted to play a triad built on the first scale degree (C) I would take the root (C), I would skip the second (D), use the third (E), skip the fourth (F), and use the fifth (G). I then have a C Major triad which is CEG, or 1,3,5. You will see in step six how this process can be used on any scale degree.

The fifth of the chord is like salt; too much can ruin your dinner. The third of the chord however, tells you the quality of the chord. The third is very important because just a half step difference causes a dramatic change in feeling of the entire chord. A triad is known as Major if it has a major third (from root to third) and it is minor if it has a minor third (see intervals in step 2). A diminished chord will have a minor third and a diminished (lowered 1/2 step) fifth. An Augmented chord will have a Major third and an augmented (raised 1/2 step) fifth.

Additionally, You may want to experiment with adding different scale degrees to your C Major chord such as a second, fourth, sixth, or seventh (especially if you have developed an ear for jazz). Try omitting the fifth and adding in a seventh. Hands down the best chord book I have ever used is Ted Greene’s Modern Chord Progressions. He has many other books as well.

Extended chords: Add the seventh note in the scale to form a tetrad. The quality of the seventh (whether it is major or minor) will change both the sound and the name of the chord. If you add the second scale degree at a higher octave, it will be called a ninth chord. For example, a C9 chord will use the notes CEGB and D (1,3.5,7,9). A Cadd9 on the other hand will omit the 7th of the chord and will be spelled CEGD. Extended chords also include 11th chords (using the 4th at octave), and 13th chords (which is the 6th at octave).

5. Key signatures

Just memorize them.

6. Diatonic Chord Progressions

If you know your key signatures (or at least one of them) you will know where all your sharps and flats need to go in order to play in that key and make some good harmonies. While chord dictionaries are a good reference tool, they only tell you how to play the chords but not when to play them and what chords to pair them with.

If you want to play in a key, you have to know what notes are in that key (see step 5). For each note in the major scale, there is a corresponding chord built on that note

Fifth: G A B C D E F G

Third: E F G A B C D E

Root: C D E F G A B C

Scale Degree: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Note that lower case letters are often used in roots to denote a minor or diminished chord. It is not uncommon to see a b minor chord simply written as “b” or “bmin.”

Furthermore, there are certain orders in which the brain likes to hear chords resolve. Writing music can be analogous to reading a novel or watching a movie. It wouldn’t be interesting if the protagonist didn’t face some adversity, and it also wouldn’t be interesting if you just played pretty chords all the time. Chord progressions in tonal harmony will follow a general rule: 3-6-2-5-1 with 4 being interchangeable with 6, and 7 being interchangeable with 5.

7. Arpeggios (the devil’s food)

One of my favorite things to do with a guitar is sweep picking. There is no better way to sweep than to arpeggiate triads and extended chords. Simply put, an arpeggio is a sequence of notes played in order. This may be ascending, descending, or both. This technique is commonly utilized in shred guitar but can be found in an array of different styles. To diversify your arpeggios, play the sequential triad or tetrad, and choose different positions, notes, or strings to slide up or down to the next note. You can then resume the arpeggio in a different position.

8. Tapping

If sweeping alone isn’t enough to impress your friends, try some tapping riffs. If you know your fret-board (see step one), you can outline triads and extended chords anywhere you want. Start off with using your first finger on your fretting hand, tap the next note with your ring or pinky finger of the same hand and take your index or middle finger on your other hand and tap a note on the same string. Applications of this technique are limited only by your imagination. You can use multiple fingers, chords, slides, etc.

9. Play by Ear

Turn on your radio and play along. Sing the notes you play and play the notes you sing. Use a backing track. Good aural skills are a necessary component to becoming a great musician.

10. Learn How to Read

Learning how to read music is much like learning a second language (but perhaps easier and more important in my opinion). It is a universal language that connects cultures around the world. While at sometimes it may feel mundane and slow going, just persevere and remember this is a life long skill your developing that you will be glad to have twenty, thirty, or forty years from now. Teach yourself with a book or take some lessons.

Tablature is an easy alternative to reading notation and can be a supplement as well. However, it is not a replacement for notation. While tabs will tell you where to put your fingers, it does not tell you the duration of the notes. Therefore you would have to be familiar with the song you are learning and even then it may be difficult. I would highly recommend spending the extra time to learn to read notation.

Metronomes:

They will definitely help your rhythm. Start slow and build up speed over time. It is always better to be able to play slow and clean, than fast and sloppy. You gotta walk before you can run. Honestly, I rarely use a metronome, but I can often tell if another guitar player uses one just by hearing them play. The metronome will make you more precise with timing. If your like me and get bored by how tedious a metronome can be, do it anyway, and then find a drummer with a steady hand.

Remember to always play and practice musically. Ask a friend to play some chords while you practice scales and improvise or vice versa. Try to create your own songs and always find new (or new old) music that spans different genres.

Lastly, remember that everything on the fret-board overlaps in a cacophonic smorgasbord. You can stay in the same position and play an unimaginable amount of different scales, chords, and arpeggios; diatonic or not. I highly recommend practicing this.

Tell me what you liked about this article and what you didn’t like. Did I leave anything out that you think is essential to guitar mastery? I am considering expanding on this article and turning it into an E-book, so if you want to see some info on a particular topic or technique let me know and I can add it in. Also sign up to get emails for more articles like this one.

Like, share, subscribe and all that jazz; at least I think that’s what the kids are doing now in days.

Eggs, PB and Berries Make this a Protein Packed, Vitamin Rich Break-Feast

Want to get your protein in the morning with a killer dessert and enough carbs to get you through a workout. Don’t forget enough greens and berries for some extra brain power. Look no further, for here we take a look at the versatile and delectable combination of eggs and peanutbuter.

No, I’m not telling you to put peanutbuter on your eggs; just trust me and read on.

Ingredients:

1 Tbs. chopped green onion – Use Kitchen Shears to dice them right into the pan!

1 Diced jalapeno

1 Handful chopped spinach (substitute kale if desired)

2 Slices diced turkey breast (yes, slice it, then dice it)

Optional: Some crumbles of feta or low fat feta.

Optional: Butter (I mean real butter. None of that imitations junk)

5 Whole eggs (substitute 1 cup egg whites)

1 Pinch of black or red pepper

Optional: Salsa

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1 Slice whole wheat bread (I love waffles, but this is an excellent healthy alternative)

2 Tbs. peanut butter

1/2 cup raspberries (substitute strawberries or bananas)

Optional: 1 pinch of cinnamon

Optional 1 Tbs. pure honey

Eggs:

Sauté onions, jalapenos, spinach (or kale), and turkey. Add butter if desired.

Add eggs (or egg whites) and pepper.

Cook whole or scrambled.

Transfer to plate and add optional salsa or hot sauce.

Dessert:

Toast whole wheat bread.

Spread peanutbuter on bread.

Add berries or other fruit on top.

Add optional cinnamon and honey on top of berries.

———————-

It’s that easy and fast to enjoy a crazy healthy and delicious breakfast that will keep you satisfied until lunch or post-workout. If it’s too much sugar for your liking, just forgo the honey and cut back on the berries. Personally, when it comes to sugar and fat, I will look the other way if it is derived from a natural source (e.g. fruit or nuts).

Tell me what you think! What kind of modifications would you make to this fantastic feast.

Best Home Upper Body Workout Ever!

No gym? No problem! It’s time to get jacked with this new home workout. Some people don’t like the gym atmosphere. The disgusting BO, wasted transportation time, monthly payments killing your bank roll, and forget about having to wait for a bench while your heart rate crashes. Get pumped because I’m about to take you through the best home workout to get you ripped and lean.

First thing you will need is to invest in a solid pair of Olympic rings. There is a reason why gymnasts have perfect bodies, and the rings are one of the finest tool of their trade. Although I had a fancy gym membership during graduate school, as well as a University gym to go to for free, I elected to hang a pair of rings in my loft for the sake of convenience and it soon became my favorite workout routine.

While pull-up bars are nice, Olympic rings are much more diverse when it comes to implementing various techniques in your routine. Furthermore, I can analogize the difference between rings and pull-up bars to the difference between dumbbells and barbells. Rings will give you a much higher degree of freedom in motion for functional compound movements. I recommend getting a nice layered wooden pair with a thicker diameter and not using tape. These will feel smooth in your hands and much more comfortable than a cheap plastic pair. This one time investment will likely change your outlook on physical fitness for the rest of your life. Even the world renown MMA fighter “the notorious” Conor McGregor includes the rings into his training regimen. Check here for an affordable quality pair of wooden Olympic rings In addition to blowing up your arms, training with rings will also strengthen your wrists and build the stabilizer muscles.

A good pair of rings will even come with the straps. It is money well invested into your physical and mental health, and costs about the same as one month’s gym membership fee. Nowhere to hang them at home? Go down to your local park and hang them from a tree. The fresh air will do you some good and you can even show off to all the pretty ladies getting their cardio in.

Time for the workout!

This routine is deceptively simple, requiring only a handful of exercises which can be completed relatively quickly. For every exercise I recommend that you do either 4 sets of 10 reps or 5 sets of 5 reps. If you’re interested in a complete 5×5 weight training program check out Elliot Hulse’s Strength Camp. For detailed information on how to perform just about any body weight exercise, check out “calisthenic movement.” Both of these organizations have given me invaluable information on how to step up my workout game. I have no affiliation with the aforementioned organizations and just recommend using them as a resource resource because of the monumental impact they have had on me.

Finally, if the exercises become too easy and you find yourself able to complete 20 plus reps of an exercise add some weight. This is not to say by any means that maxing out on reps is a bad thing, but there is a time and a place for that.

Let’s get started!

Dips 4×10

Muscle-up to your rings or and stabilize yourself in the top position (optional: start with rings lower and jump to dip position). Lower yourself down until the rings are by your armpits and push yourself back up until you reach a front support position with your palms facing or angled away from you. If the front support proves to be too difficult, keep your hands in the normal position with body in a hollow body position.

Muscle-ups 5×5

Begin in with a false grip on the rings, and palms facing away from you and elbows straight (Optional: starting with palms facing in and elbows slightly bent will be easier). Turn your palms to face each other and use an explosive pull to bring the rings to your armpits as you turn your hands with knuckles forward now and bring your chest above the rings. Continue to turn your knuckles out to your sides as you push down completing a dip motion. Lower your self under control to the starting position.

So you can’t muscle-up yet? Don’t worry because everybody starts somewhere. Kip if you have to, try the one arm at a time approach, jump with the rings lowered, or use resistance bands to build the strength and technique needed to complete the exercise.

Rotational Pull-ups/Chin-ups 5×5

Begin with a normal grip (not false), palms facing away from you, and elbows straight. Pull straight down turning your hands inward and bringing the bottom of the rings to the front of your shoulders or chest. Lower yourself to the starting position and repeat. Basically you will start in pull-up position, and once you reach the top position you will be in chin-up position; giving your hands a full 180 degree turn.

Handstand push-ups 4×10

From a handstand position, lower your head to the ground and push yourself back up. If you lack the balance to complete 5-10 reps, use a wall or a partner to help. I prefer to do it with my toes on the wall so the weight is loaded slightly in front of me rather than behind me which could place unnecessary stress on the shoulders.

Push-ups 4×10

Arguably the king of body-weight exercises, the pushup has endless variations. Begin in a plank position with palms flat on the ground roughly shoulder width apart. Keeping your head, shoulders, and tail bone in line with each other, lower your body to the ground with your hands near your pecs. Push straight up until elbows are straight in the starting position.

Modify this one any way you would like. Explosive clapping pushups, planch pushups, archers, or one hand pushups are just a few you can try. Add some weight too if you would like by using a flat weight on your back or a vest.

Bonus: Finish with a burnout session of mountain climbers or battle-ropes.

Remember to add weight when you find yourself able to complete more than the required amount of reps per set. Doing too many reps will change the workout from muscle building to resistance endurance which is not the current goal.

During grad school I hung the rings in my loft and did the workouts while blasting music along with a 40lb weighted vest. This is the digital camo weighted vest I used. While this 40lb vest will surely get you ripped it is a bit bulky for my 5’8” frame. I loved using it for dips, pull-ups, and pushups. However, it comes down to my waist and therefore makes it difficult to squat or run with. Nevertheless, I’ve had 6’2″ 220lb friends who love it.

An alternative option to the vest is of course a dip belt. If you have the dough I would recommend a dip belt from rogue fitness. Rogue combines simplicity with durability for a quality belt that will likely last you for years. I’ll pair the belt with 1 or 2 25lb kettle bells so I can make the step from 25lbs to 50lbs with a simple clip of the chain. Nothing fancy here, just 100% real cast iron. Not only does the dip belt take the stress off your shoulders (as opposed to the vest) it also gives you some traction on your spine (if you need it).

The water is yours if you should choose to drink. The only other thing you need now is determination and self-discipline. Remember: CONSISTENCY IS KEY! You will not get jacked by trying this once and giving up. Do it one to three times per week and balance it with HIIT, cardio, kettle bells, free-weights, stretching, and of course a healthy diet.

Thanks for reading, tell me what was your favorite part of this workout, ask questions, and share with your friends. Check back regularly because I will be posting more complete workouts, diet information, and tips for daily life improvement. Lastly, I would love to see some transformation pictures. Come back in a month or two and show me your pre and post pics; before and after you’re ripped and lean!

Is that extra cup of coffee really dangerous?

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That heavenly cup of Joe is without question one of the most popular drinks on the planet. As I sit down to write this at 7:16pm I enjoy my second cup of the day. My brewing preference? The French press (amazon affiliate). Roast? Always the dark! Grab some Starbucks or upgrade to some Black Rifle Coffee. To a regular consumer, even the smell of the grinds can engage a psycho-physiological response that may stimulate brain activity and send shivers down your spine. It is known that the olfactory sense has significant ties to emotional cognition and memory. For example, just a whiff of that sweet aroma may remind you of that man (or woman) you used to meet for coffee all those years ago (hopefully that’s a good thing). That being said, it may be easy for people to underestimate the power of this ancient brew.

I was never a big coffee drinker. As a kid I would sip my dad’s cup just because I wanted to be like a grown up. Fast forward 20 years and I find myself in grad school rooming with a retired Marine. He and the others would make a pot every morning, and eventually I succumbed to join the guys over a cup and a good conversation. I noticed an increase of brain activity and I was definitely talking faster and more often. This I liked. I especially enjoyed this boost in energy in the early mornings when teaching elementary school. However, this energy boost would not last forever.

I would always drink mine black to avoid detrimental effects of another dangerous drug (sugar). Like with many drugs, habitual use of caffeine will lead the body to build up a tolerance to it. As the months went by, I found myself needing more and more of this full bodied elixir just to feel the same effects. I never had to travel far if I ran out because I could find a Starbucks vending machine right outside my place. In fact, there were at least four coffee shops on my half mile walk to class. Next thing I knew, I was drinking two cups before work, and at least one cup before my evening grad school classes. During finals week I was up to about five cups per day. Even when I took a trip to Japan, I would seek out bottles (hot or cold) in the street vending machines in order to fight off the jet lag.

Withdrawal from caffeine does not appear to be deadly or even significantly dangerous. According to WebMD, withdrawal symptoms include headache, fatigue, anxiety, irritability, depressed mood, and difficulty concentrating. If I were to skip my morning fix, I would be plagued in the evening by migraines and even once left class early to go get a Coca-cola and stick an ice pack on my head. I also had severe difficulty concentrating (at least more than normal). I had become overdependent upon this teeth browning debauchery to get me through the day.

After graduation, when all the hard work was done, I decided that enough was enough. I quit drinking coffee all together and my body re-acclimated it’s homeostasis to that of a non-coffee drinker within the week. For a few months, I have been happy getting up every morning with light exercise and breath control as my new clean energy source. But as a new school year approaches I have jumped back on that caffeinated convoy because I know it will lead to a substantial increase of productivity while teaching. I’m currently keeping it under control with two cups in the morning, and I do at least one detox day every few months to reset.

In the end, is an extra cup-a-day going to kill you? No, but be wary of the fact that one cup may very well turn into three or four; and you may want to save your future self from some headaches by setting a daily limit and sticking to it. As for me, only time will tell.

Caffeine Myths and Facts. (n.d.). Retrieved July 29, 2017, from http://www.webmd.com/diet/caffeine-myths-and-facts#1

Stay on the lookout for my next book review!

Book

Substratum: A Jumping Point

This is the post excerpt.

Inspiration is an invaluable tool for the essential minds (like yours) that will shape the future of humanity. It has been learned that the smallest ideas or actions have had monumental effects on the world in which we live. As a lover of metaphysics, psychology, arts, exercise, and education, I have created this blog to inspire readers and promote global change for the better. It is my goal to give readers points of inspiration and the knowledge they need to make excellent changes in their lives and the lives of their acquaintances. I invite you to use this blog as a jumping point. Beginning at the substratum, leaping up through the stratosphere. Let this page be a foundation that you can continuously check back with as a resource for better living.

I encourage thoughtful conversation and would like to hear the voices of my readers (yes I mean you!). If there is a particular topic you would like to hear about, do not hesitate to ask!