Take Care of Yourself

Posted on April 9, 2012 by admin

There’s only one person who can take care of you. You.

The other day I mentioned that I was going to expand Dude Knows Best to include some more of the “Dude’s Flow” – i.e. anything that the Dude is currently into. Maintaining my core focus on family life, but also including the Dude’s hobbies of the moment.

Nobody sticks the Dude in the corner.

One of the topics I’ll throw out there from time to time is health. That’s a broad category, but we’ll narrow it down from time to time.

Let’s start with mobility. Strange place to start a discussion on health? Not really. We all need to move well, and to do that we need to focus on maintenance. Mobility is one of the foundations of good health.

Mobility may not seem as exciting as diet and exercise, but the results are immediate and often overlooked.

“All human beings should be able to perform basic maintenance on themselves” – Kelly Starrett, DPT

I love stretching and yoga, but there’s a lot more to mobility than stretching. We need to have a consistent focus on maintaining our bodies. It feels great – in a painful way – and you’ll thank yourself for the effort.

This Kelly Starrett cat is legit. His videos are quick and packed with practical info you can use on a regular basis.

Don’t get caught up in every detail of every video. Or get overloaded on info too quickly. Pick the info that makes sense for you.

Two pieces that I’ll point out:

This couch stretch is amazing. Do it while you watch tv. It will hurt…a lot. But that means it’s working. Your hips need to be opened. And this will do it.

And Kelly is entertaining – “Patting the dog…that’s what we’re talking about.”

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZX1QMTdAC4[/youtube]

Get a lacrosse ball – or “pain ball” as Kelly calls it. Start a regular practice of deep tissue massage. You have knots that need to be worked out. It will hurt. But also feel great.

The video is of the shoulder, but this works for all muscle groups.
And Kelly is entertaining. “Don’t ever pass out drunk on your lacrosse ball.”

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SA56ZCzYGTA&feature=plcp&context=C476bcc0VDvjVQa1PpcFOq-qJSvqR-V7LJcSncMlFYyVHJwzw2chQ=[/youtube]

Take care of yourself.

Happy Easter. Here’s to New Beginnings, Dude.

Posted on April 8, 2012 by admin

Happy Easter 2012

Happy Easter to you and yours from the Dudes.

Family is the Dude’s favorite part of a holiday. To me, holidays mean a day of uninterrupted family time. A day to refocus on what means the most to us.

However, I know there is a more subtle meaning to holidays – an overt meaning to many, but subtle to the Dude. Religion.

But maybe it’s only subtle to the Dude because I focus on the wrong ideas. I’ve always felt uncomfortable with the religious explanations to holidays. Taking a literal interpretation of religious stories is hard for the Dude to hold onto. Yet, these seem to be the prevalent explanations these days.

A lot of stories – especially important stories – carry subtle, hidden messages. Focusing on literal interpretations can ignore the hidden – more important? – messages.

By refocusing the ideas that build meaning to holidays, perhaps the Dude can feel more comfortable with the religious/spiritual meaning behind the holidays.

Here’s an interesting point of view of Easter from Rudolf Steiner from 1906. I’m just scratching the surface of Rudolf – great name – but from what I can tell, Mr. Steiner has some incredible thoughts.

If you are unfamiliar with Rudolf Steiner, here’s an explanation from Wikipedia:

Rudolf Joseph Lorenz Steiner^[2] (25/27 February 1861^[3] – 30 March 1925) was an Austrian philosopher, social reformer, architect, andesotericist.^[4]^[5] He gained initial recognition as a literary critic and cultural philosopher.

Major holidays built around cycles in nature? Seems to make a lot of sense from a human evolution perspective.

Connecting holidays to a natural significance has a much greater appeal to the Dude.

And if we want to take Steiner’s thoughts to the next level, the celebration of new beginnings is much greater the than new beginnings of spring.

Yes, the natural new beginnings are crucial to our lives and evolution – and well worth huge celebrations throughout the millennium. But if we want to think BIG, and build our lives around a spiritual existence, what could be more exciting than celebrating the “resurrection” of a deep connection to the “Greater Spirit?”

From the Dude’s vantage point, there sure does seem like some hidden messages in the story of Jesus. Maybe we’re too literal.

At any rate, it’s Easter. It’s a beautiful Spring day to enjoy with the fam and celebrate new beginnings – however you define that.

Happy Easter.

Surf Break: Follow Your Heart

Posted on April 5, 2012 by admin

A promising career in the early 20’s, and without warning someone with zero surfing experience buys a board, books a surf trip and changes the trajectory of their life. Awesome.

Maybe this is the story of a lot of surf bums. Still awesome.

In this version, of what could be a classic surf bum tale, the surf rat shakes off the materialist shackles to hit the waves and share the surf experience through a 16 mm camera. And the five minutes that are currently available seem well worth the “sacrifices” made.

As if opening yourself to perfect waves, new cultures, and corners of the globe that can only be described as paradise is a sacrifice.

“I’ve surfed perfect waves. I’ve sailed from Hawaii to Kiribati. I’ve listened to whales that sound like dinosaurs. I’ve seen rainbows at night across the open ocean under a full moon.”

Tough sacrifice.

There are a lot of ways to approach life. Find a passion and follow it. Your heart is a better guide than direction from anyone else’s mouth.

Here’s the story of Jeremy Rumas from Inertia.com – “The planet’s largest network of thinking surfers,” by the way.

And here’s a clip of Jeremy’s surf flick, Inside Hangs Upon Nothing…

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/39108881[/vimeo]

The Dude and The Brain.

Posted on April 4, 2012 by admin

Here’s a pretty groovy – and free, I might add – tool to help you organize every thought in your head. As simple as packing for a vacation or as complicated as planning world domination.

The Brain.

Great name. Very intuitive. And the free version is all you’ll need.

Watch the 10 minute video tour, and you’ll be ready to roll.

I just set up the Dude’s Brain the other night, and I think I’m in love. The setup was quick, and, surprisingly enjoyable, because thoughts were being organized.

I realized I have all sorts of tangents going on in the Dude’s world; lots of hobbies, ideas, explorations. All underway, none with a strict path or point of closure. And The Brain helped me organize some of the tangents.

The Dude’s Flow. Family + the Dude’s crazy ideas = The Dude’s Flow

I considered starting a second blog to discuss ideas that didn’t fit into the Dude Knows Best mold; gardening, health, DIY projects, science, education, play. The Flow keeps growing all the time.

But an expansion seems more fitting. Well, easier. So, I’m going to expand some of the topics covered on DKB.

Still the core focus on family life, but let’s incorporate more of the full Flow. Perfect, almost no definition. Let’s see where DKB takes us.

Here’s a glance at the upper level of the Dude’s Brain. Groovy tools, man.

Dude's Brain

Have You Seen the New Google Glasses?! Data, Dude, Data.

Posted on April 4, 2012 by admin

Check this out. Google’s new glasses are wild. Plastering data everywhere. Amazing. And scary at the same time.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9c6W4CCU9M4&list=UUK8sQmJBp8GCxrOtXWBpyEA&feature=plcp[/youtube]

While we’re on the subject of data, how about a New York Times story about a former Google employee that is now building the “one of the world’s largest and most accurate repositories of facts.” Factual.

If you buy a used car, your best bet is an orange one.

And there’s a good reason. Vital information. Data is amazing.

Little Dude Knows His Name! And he’s a thief…who can’t keep a secret.

Posted on April 2, 2012 by admin

Little Dude...Dudin'

The Little Man picked himself out in a picture tonight and said his name. First time we’ve heard him say his name. Soooo cool.

Mrs. Dude was rolling through some pictures on the phone and asking who was in them. We’ve done this many times. But tonight was new. After pointing out Mama and Dada, he called out his own name. He understands who he is!

Such a small element of life. Yet, such a big element of life. Very rad to see a little mind grasping the concept of self.

Of course, life balances itself out. To keep the Dude and the Mrs. grounded, he also hijacked a matchbox car on a play date and told me it’s “Awstn’s” all night.

Although, Austin is going to have to pry it from Little Dude’s sleeping hands if he wants it back.

A thief that can’t keep a secret, the worst kind. But, I guess that’s a good thing.

Stay focused on talking rather than thiefing L.D.

Welcome to the Dude’s Breakfast Table

Posted on March 29, 2012 by admin

Dude's Breakfast Table

“There’s something sacred about reading a blog post on someone else’s site. It’s like visiting a friend’s house for a quick meal ’round the breakfast table. It’s personal — you’re in their space, and the environment is uniquely suited for idea exchange and uninterrupted conversation. In many ways, we should be treating our blogs like our breakfast tables. Be welcoming & gracious when you host, and kind & respectful when visiting.” – Trent Walton (Gracias SwissMiss)

A breakfast table. A fantastic way to describe a blog. Relaxed. But open. A great environment for sharing ideas. But also an opportunity to practice our manners.

Welcome to the Dude’s breakfast table. Happy to have you.

I had no idea who this Trent Walton dude was before reading this quote; so as we all do these days, I hit Google. Turns out he is pretty rad. I don’t know much beyond he’s a web designer who lives in Texas and digs farming, but he has a blog, and the most recent post that I read sold me immediately.

“Into the Woods” is a great short story with a strong lesson at the end. Explore new paths. be daring. Embrace the play of childhood. Very Dude-like.

Looking forward to visiting your breakfast table Trent.

Check this dude out…The Mimic Octopus!

Posted on March 27, 2012 by admin

Mimic Octopus

A while back I posted a link to this article about the high intelligence of the octopus. I mentioned…

“Octopus are amazing. I never realized how amazing. They always seemed pretty cool in a deep down beneath the sea kind of the way, but WOW super cool.”

That article dives deep (like that pun?) into the high intelligence of the octopi. It is well worth the read. I predict amazement.

Inside that squishy body is an intelligence that we barely know. And here’s a video – from The Kid – that backs up the high intelligence theory.

The Mimic Octopus. This dude copies other sea creatures!

Changes shapes and acts like other creatures. An octopus acting like a snake! At one point in the video it is running – yes running – on the sea floor.

Octopi, super rad. My new favorite cephalopod mollusc Enjoy…

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-LTWFnGmeg[/youtube]

Life Lessons from Jack Kerouac. An Original Dude.

Posted on March 26, 2012 by admin

On the Road - Jack Kerouac

Did I just coin an awesome phrase? Original Dude – O.D. Like O.G. – Original Gangsta? No, reminds you of overdose?

Jack Kerouac’s On the Road and The Dharma Bums are two of the Dude’s favorite reads. Jack was on original dude. I’m sure the Big Labowski had Kerouac on his shelf.

So I was psyched when I saw this list of 30 Beliefs and Techniques for Prose and Life by Mr. Kerouac on Brain Pickings. And the list does not disappoint. Great life lessons and classic Jack.

A few of my fav’s:

Scribbled secret notebooks, and wild typewritten pages, for yr own joy
Submissive to everything, open, listening
Try never get drunk outside yr own house
Be in love with yr life
Something that you feel will find its own form
Accept loss forever
Struggle to sketch the flow that already exists intact in mind
Keep track of every day the date emblazoned in yr morning
No fear or shame in the dignity of yr experience, language & knowledge
Write for the world to read and see yr exact pictures of it
Composing wild, undisciplined, pure, coming in from under, crazier the better
You’re a Genius all the time

Dude’s Way of the Peaceful Parent

Posted on March 25, 2012 by admin

Peaceful Parenting

Here’s a tip o’ the hat to a new blog resource here on the Dude; Zen Habits.

This dude Leo Babauta has built a blog empire in a short few years. 240,000 subscribed followers! Dang!

He’s done an amazing job of leveraging the power of a blog to build himself a nice writing career. Yes, blogging is now a career path…if you can do it right. And Leo has.

If you haven’t checked out ZenHabits.net, it’s worth a visit. I snag some good info from there from time to time. More originals than curration, and as the name indicates the topics tend to be focused on life skills built on simplicity – a Zen-like mentality.

The blog is groovy, but what I find most amazing about Leo is that he has six kids. Yes, 6 kids! That’s a full-time job in itself.

So when I saw his recent post “The Way of the Peaceful Parent,” I was immediately intrigued. I like to think the Dude’s parenting philosophies fit nicely into the peaceful parenting mold, but I needed to see what a dude with 6 kids had to say about it.

And I was not disappointed. Leo made some great points. So I figured I’d cherry-pick some of the steps on the Peaceful Parent path that fit nicely into the Dude’s world. Here’s a good start to a loose definition of the Dude’s Way of the Peaceful Parent – courtesy of Zen Habits…with some added commentary from the Dude. 🙂

Greet your child each morning with a smile, a hug, and a loving Good Morning!

Dude: Not always easy if you don’t consider yourself a “morning person” – whatever that means – but this is a MUST. We all deserve to get our day off on the right foot.

Read to them often. It’s a wonderful way to bond, to educate, to explore imaginary worlds.

Dude: It’s easy to find reasons not to. We’re all busy. But the end result is awesome. Quiet hugs while we build imagination and precious reading habits. Well worth the effort.

Build forts with them. Play hide and seek. Shoot each other with Nerf dart guns. Have tea together. Squeeze lemons and make lemonade. Play, often, as play is the essence of childhood.

Dude: I’d take this a step further. Play is the essence of life, not just childhood. We all need to play. Free the kiddos, and ourselves, for as much play as possible.

When your child asks for your attention, grant it.

Dude: Definitely. Kids need our attention. Parent’s attention will build confidence and develop a strong loving bond. Lavish the kids with attention. At some point, they will stop looking for attention, and hearts will break.

Model the behavior you want your child to learn. Be calm, smile, be kind, go outdoors and be active.

Dude: Heck yeah. The kids will become what they see everyday. And parents are what they see. Be the person you want your kids to be. Easier said than done, but a must. “Be calm, smile, be kind, go outdoors and be active.” Perfect.

Remember that your child is a gift. She won’t be a child for long, and so your time with her is fleeting. Every moment you can spend with her is a miracle, and you should savor it. Enjoy it to the fullest, and be grateful for that moment.
Let your child share your interests. Bake cookies together. Sew together. Exercise together. Read together. Work on a website together. Write a blog together.

Dude: Little helpers are awesome, and we’re building skills along the way.

Patiently teach your child the boundaries of behavior. There should be boundaries — what’s acceptable and what’s not. [H]ave patience, but set the boundaries. Within those boundaries, allow lots of freedom.

Dude: Modeling behavior is a great way to instill boundaries naturally, but inevitably, there are times when we will need to say “no.” Set boundaries and keep moving.

Sing and dance together.

Dude: Life is short. Have fun. And make sure the kids are having fun.

Take every opportunity to teach kindness and love. It’s the best lesson.
Kiss your child goodnight. And give thanks for another amazing day with your beautiful, unique, crazy child.

Dude: Amen. Start the day with a kiss and an “I love you,” and end it the same way. The world may seem crazy, but we are amazingly lucky to be where we are and have the gifts that we have. Have gratitude.