DrJerm.com Blog – Life Transformation | Discover Your Destiny. Create Your Legacy

Cost Savings – Economic Driving Style and Car

Posted on June 1, 2009 by drjerm

Last year some time, my wife and I purchased a 2009 honda fit car. My wife can tell you when we bought it, she has a terrific memory. The car has been such a great surprise to me in terms of usage and mileage, that the economic savings are worth passing on to all of you who are reading this. My focus is on how I am getting great gas mileage out of the car.

The Car

The car is equipped with a setting to see the miles per gallon you are getting at any given moment, and also a tally of the current miles per gallon you are getting for the trip you are on. The trip tells you how many miles you have gone for the tank of gas you are on. You generally reset the trip to zero after filling up on gas each time. The area just above the steering wheel, where the speed you are driving at, has an indicator below it showing your trip mileage, your miles per gallon, and your oil life. I generally keep that on my miles per gallon. Currently, I am getting about 47.5 miles per gallon. The fit is known to have this setting be a few miles per gallon higher than what you are actually getting, but even 44.5 miles per gallon isn’t bad at all.

The Driving Style

Having the miles per gallon meter on all the time has helped me change my driving habits. But before that even I had begun to change my driving style. I make sure to avoid punching the accelerator as much as possible, and I don’t drive very much over the speed limit. I make sure to keep an eye out well ahead of me, so I know when I can just coast, rather than using the accelerator. This has been a boon to the breaks of the car as I do not break as often. But this article is about the economics of the car and your driving style. When I am coasting down hill (not touching the accelrator), or even on a short decline, the miles per gallon hits 80 +. 80 miles per gallon? That is huge!

Here are a few tips for people who want to get more out of their car:

* Do not accelerate hard if you can avoid it.
* Avoid punching the accelerator when you are in heavy traffic. You can get by with coasting most of the time. In heavy traffic, don’t start, stop, start, stop. This pattern of punching it, hitting the breaks, and causing whip lash just isn’t healthy.
* Stay around the speed limit. Plan ahead and don’t get in a rush.
* Avoid using air conditioning if at all possible.
* Clean your car, inside and out.
* Stay calm, relaxed, and enjoy your traveling. Give extra time for travel and never be in a rush.

These are helpful tips, and I’m sure you can think of many more. Our 2009 Honda Fit gives us the best gas mileage out of any car we’ve ever owned. As I drive each day, I see many people passing others and cruising fast down the highway and city streets. I can’t help but think that if people changed their driving habits and bought more fuel efficient cars, that this would go a long ways towards a better society. I can at least dream!

Conclusion

The main point of this article is to hopefully stir you to better driving habits and greater fuel efficiency for your car. This will save you money. For me, the 2009 Honda Fit is helping a great deal. We got it for about $17,000 I believe and our monthly payments are about $275. Not too bad. My last tank of gas I filled up having gone 402 miles, and the tank is 10.6 gallons, with the miles per gallon at 44.5. I could have probably driven another 25-30 miles at least on the tank. Proactive driving with as minimal braking and hard accelerating as possible accounts for some of this. I hope that you will take a step to better driving, and if you can afford it, a more economical car.

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What To Do When You Upset Someone

Posted on May 7, 2009 by drjerm

I recently had an experience where I realized that I had unintentionally upset someone. I’ve seen this type of situation happen with many people, including myself as I have my own imperfections and weaknesses, and now having it happen to me I would like to share some insight that will hopefully benefit any of you who are going through this.

Get the Facts

The first thing you should do is get the facts. In my case, something was relayed that I supposedly said. Whether or not I actually said what was relayed is unknown to me. I just don’t remember. But I do know that I would never say anything to intentionally frustrate or upset anyone as it is not in my nature. And I believe this to be true for many of you reading as well, so be sure to relax and accept that sometimes people are just going to be upset.

In the case of what happened here, this person was told that I said he was doing a pyramid/ponzi scheme with his business. Knowing me, I would not seriously say this unless I legitimately believe it, and I don’t believe it about this individual. Perhaps I may have joked about it, or may have said it was structured like a pyramid.

Show Compassion

In my case, I apologized to the person who was upset saying that if I indeed said what he said I said, then I meant no harm and was sorry if any harm came from it. That’s about as much as you can do. After that, you’ve said your apologies and should move on. In my case, I think the person will be upset for a little while, but that is their decision. Still, at the same time, be compassionate and willing to say you are sorry, even if you don’t believe you did what you are being accused of. It’s the sensible thing to do.

Move On

Lastly, life is too short and precious to hold grudges and get involved with drama-like events. Even if you feel bad inside, and you’ve already apologized, move on. It doesn’t do any good to worry about situations where you’ve upset someone, in most cases. Continue to do your best each day. Recognize your own imperfections and others as well, but focus on your strengths. I know that you can better deal with other people if you follow this simple advice!

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What You CAN Control

Posted on May 4, 2009 by drjerm

Control Ah, the passing of time with a TV remote, flipping channels, looking to see what’s on. Before you know it, several hours have passed and you are wondering where the day went. There are many things which each of us can control. There are many things which we cannot control. Thankfully, there is an extensive list of things which we can control

Disclaimer

I am creating a disclaimer first and foremost. There are serious illnesses, both mental and physical, as well as other circumstances that hinder the choices we can make. That being said, I still believe there are things we can do no matter what to control our lives.

Physical Fitness

Yesterday, I finished the P90X program. This is an intense 90 day fitness program, with a healthy eating plan. I saw on TV infomercials for it and decided to give it a try. It’s intense, satisfying, and worthwhile. It’s not easy. Six days a week of working out, stretching, and changing your body. But I believe in myself. And the results have been outstanding. They are a springboard for further physical fitness in my life. Just look at this picture below:

As you can see, I’ve progressed immensley. And sorry, the hair loss and tan skin do not come with P90X. They are a natural result it seems when one wants to show as best as possible physical fitness results. I am just showing this to show that it can be done. I’m a software developer who sits at a computer. And now I’ve achieved completely ripping results.

So What Can You Control?

I don’t want to bore you with long drudgery-like stories. But I want each of you to think for a moment about what you can control. It will likely include some or all of the following:

What and when you eat
What you watch on TV – and how much time you watch TV
What thoughts you allow to go in your head
How you treat yourself and other people
How hard you work
How much you learn and grow each day
How happy you are
Your health

Unless I’ve missed something, these are things you cannot generally control:

The choices of other people
Global catastrophes
Time
Two year olds (any of you have ideas? I’m listening)

Most of what you cannot control deals with other people and the choices they make. Beyond that, it is grand scale things. Just don’t worry about them. Acknowledge them, and accept them. Look at the many things you can take care of. Make progress each day. My P90X results are that persistent dedication yields great results. I wanted this short and brief article to give a pick me up to you reading that you can make progress each and every day!

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Non Lethal Driving for Calm People

Posted on April 22, 2009 by drjerm

Driving Many of you reading this drive at least a few times a week. For me, at the time of writing this, I am working as a software developer on Ancestry.com. I have a 20 minute commute to and from work each day which involves driving on the freeway and in the city (albeit a small city). One of the most bizarre things happened last week while I was driving. I already am very observant of the driving of others around me, and what happened stood out more than most I’ve seen.

Entering the freeway

Freeways are roads used to drive as quickly as possible to other areas. They are made without stop lights or stop signs, and minimal turns. Generally, you get on a freeway from a city, where there is a road that turns on to it. As you do this, most of the time, there is a stretch of road you drive in that eventually merges with the freeway. This means that the road you are driving on will eventually be part of the freeway, and as such, care must be taken to look for other drivers who could potentially clash with you. And those same drivers must also keep an eye out for people entering the freeway, so as not to cut them off.

I was on a freeway with three lanes, driving home. There was a car, preparing to enter the freeway and onto the right lane. There was a car already driving in the right lane, that appeared it would hit the ‘merge’ spot at the same time as the car preparing to enter. All this was happening about 50 to 60 feet in front of me. So I slowed down a little bit as the car already on the freeway was not giving an inch. In the car trying to merge appeared to be a young college male, and he ended up having to drive on the shoulder of the freeway as there was no room for him to get on. I’ve never seen this happen before. He drove on the shoulder of the freeway on the right for a good 15 seconds, before he finally got space to merge in.

As such, DrJerm is going to provide you with some tips that will make your driving experience much safer, relaxing, and enjoyable.

Relax

Realize that you don’t need to zip at a million miles an hour everytime you get in your car and have to go somewhere. It’s ok to relax and enjoy stops at stop signs and red lights. It’s okay if traffic gets a little slow. Just sit back, meditate, and think of things you are going to do. Practice this, and what used to be inconveniences for you while driving will turn into opportunities to think and organize your thoughts.

Constantly Survey and Watch Other Cars

Driving while watching and anticipating the moves of others has prevented me from rear ending cars, getting side swiped, or getting into dangerous driving situations. Not only that, it has allowed me to be courteous while driving and provide opportunities for other cars to be safer. When I saw that the two cars were going to have a problem with the merge on the freeway, I slowed down, so I was not in the way. Had I just kept going, I would have been right next to the offending car that blocked the merging car, and could have potentially caused an accident.

Stay at or Just Above the Speed Limit

Driving at, or just above the speed limit ensures that you won’t have a cop with flashing lights startling you while driving. It also means you will have more time to react to situations around you. Avoid the temptation to go more than five miles an hour past the speed limit. Not only is it more safe, it is more gas efficient (if you are driving a gas powered car).

Let Others in Front of You

It’s okay to let someone in your lane in front of you. Resist the urge to speed up when someone tries to get in your lane. Most people are not trying to get in your lane because they saw your car and deicded that offending you was suddenly their prime objective for driving. No, most people are driving because they are trying to get somewhere. And unfortunately, most people try to as speedily get there as possible. Try enjoying the ride for a change.

Keep a Safe Distance in Front of You

I keep at least four car length in front of me on the freeway, usually five or six. This means many people will cut in front of me, and that is fine. I just slow down a little and keep driving. When I have to slow down because of an accident or traffic congestion, I don’t have to slam on my breaks. I can hit the breaks, and have plenty of time to slow down or stop. Resist the urge to get as close to people in front of you as possible. Doing this shows impatience, and also greatly increases the risk of hitting them, should the need to stop arise.

Please Signal

Some people like to drive and change lanes, moving around without any notification that they are doing so. Whether this is because they just don’t care, or for any other reason, this is unsafe. Please use your blinker to indicate you are changing into another lane or turning. Not only is this safe, but it is courteous and just might brighten someone’s day.

So Why Does This Matter?

This matters because following these, and other safe driving tips, will help you be calmer, more courteous, and more safe as you drive. You will notice that driving is no longer a chore, waiting at a red light isn’t a big deal, and that before you know it, you’ve arrived at your destination!

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The Change Prison

Posted on April 2, 2009 by drjerm

The Wall/Barrier to Change Prison walls are a necessary thing. They are a deterrent to keep prisoners from trying to escape. This does not mean it is impossible to escape. Just that it is very difficult. There are other measures in place in a prison to keep prisoners inside. Walls may have barbed wire. Prison guards, armed with guns or batons are stationed around. And alarm systems are in place to keep prisoners from escaping. Even with all these protections in place, a prisoner could still try and escape if they wanted to. Bottom line, getting out of a prison, especially a top notch, well secured prison is extremely difficult.

Our Own Prisons

Each person that is alive today faces their own personal prison. This prison starts off with no walls and minimal security when we are first born. We are able to leave the prison and move about freely in our younger years. We dream, and are very forgiving of others. Change is not difficult in our younger years. We learn at an exponential rate, and love to explore and think of new ideas. As time goes on, the prison walls begin to go up. Guards begin to increase in numbers and watch to make sure we are not out of line. Suddenly making change in our lives becomes more difficult. As time goes on and we continue to do the same things over and over, the prison walls become higher and the guards more numerous, making change increasingly difficult and overwhelming.

So what happens now? When life has become a monotenous routine where we are comfortable, but unable to change our routines, what should be done? First, it must be realized, that change is always going to be difficult and uncomfortable when you are first doing it. You will likely feel pain, frustration, and possibly diasspointment as you make effort to change. Your prison will do all it can to keep you how you are right now. You may even make it outside the prison for a short time, but more often than not, you are captured and lured right back in the prison. Here are some common scenarios of this.

I had a good week of eating, but I’m back to gorging myself with food now.
I exercised for a few days, but it was too hard. Now I just don’t do it.
I woke up early for a few days, but was too tired. Now I sleep in.
I held my tongue while driving, but it was too hard. I just yell at all the bad drivers now.
I didn’t swear for a few days. But it was much easier to just swear so I do.
I didn’t go out to eat for a whole week. But it’s too hard making dinner and not as fun, so I go out to eat all the time again.
I stopped smoking for a few days. But I needed to smoke, so I gave up.

It Was Too Hard

On and on, ths list of things can be created. Particularly, at the beginning of each year, most people decide to try and change things in their lives. But quickly old habits die hard, and things are back to the same old thing. Because the change is so different and uncomfortable, that feeling of discomfort and pain brings people to rush back to what they knew before, even if what they knew before was terrible and harmful to themselves. I find this extremely puzzling, but at the same time understand it. Why would someone change the way they are doing things when they have been doing that same thing for so many years?

Take the person who eats whatever and whenever they want, and never exercises. This person is likely very overweight. Getting around may be difficult for them. They may get sick and be tired quite often. Their concept of proper eating, exercising, and overall good health may be non-existent. Yet at the same time, this is what that person knows. There is no such thing as watching what is eaten. There is no worry about exercise. To them, there is no stress worrying about food and exercise because they just do what comes natural. This person’s very happiness is likely being hindered and they don’t even know it.

The crazy thing is that this wall is extremely hindering and limiting. In this case, we are talking about physical well being and health, but it applies to all areas of life. What would happen if this person all of a sudden was presented with a dinner with spinach, salmon, and fruit? What would probably happen are several things. They would grab the sugar to put on their fruit. They would take one bite, if that, of their spinach and salmon. They would then immediately go looking for food that tastes good. Because they are not used to the taste of salmon and spinach, it groses them out and they nearly gag. Spinach, salmon, and fruit are extremely good for you. They have minerals, vitamins, and other useful properties that enhance the human body.

Fight Through It

The one characteristic that has to be honed to make change, where change is different and difficult is determination. With determination, you will do what is necessary. A couple months ago, I began working out doing the P90X fitness program. This includes a rigorous workout schedule, and healthy/nutritious eating plan, with plenty of food to eat. The first three weeks doing this was very difficult. I was sore non-stop. Fortunately, I had already decided eating the proper foods was important and made that change. It doesn’t mean I always eat the right thing, but it does mean I seek to eat the right things first.

I could have given up the first few days because I was sore and it hurt too bad. I could have given up the first day exercising, because it was too intense. But I didn’t. I kept at it. I put in the extra effort. And that extra effort has now transformed my body. The little bit of extra effort I made is reaping far more rewards than the effort I put in. Just look at these pictures of myself, from a blog my wife and I are keeping (before is on the LEFT, after is on the RIGHT). This isn’t even the end of the 90 day program either. Click here for a P90X picture of myself.

Get Excited When Things are Difficult and Uncomfortable

When things become difficult and uncomfortable, this is a good thing. It means you are making a change in your life. Keep at it. Don’t give up. You will be amazed at the increase in happiness as you make difficult changes for the better. You can be happy. You can be successful. All it takes is your own determination and self worth to do what is necessary. I challenge you to make changes in your life where you are unsatisfied or unhappy. You can do it!

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Destroying Past Regrets

Posted on March 10, 2009 by drjerm

Get rid of regret Regret can consume you if you let it. I know from experience. I am sure that every person alive has many things in their past that they can dwell on and feel guilty or sorry about. Perhaps you wish you would have done better in school, or even attended school. Maybe your frustrated with a few bad relationships that never worked out. Or maybe you look back on the years of your life and wonder what it is all for, and consider all the time wasted. Let’s take a moment and read about the man who regretted everything.

There was a man, when born regretted leaving his mother’s womb and entering the world. The womb was cosy, he wanted to go back.

When in pre-school, he regretted growing up and wanted to be a baby again, so he could be fed and cuddled all the time.

When in elementary school, wished he could go back to pre school. There were half days and life was easy. Now a full day of school was too much.

As high school rolled around, he wished he could go back to elementary school. Life was simple then and girls were never an issue. Homework was easier.

As the college years rolled by, he longed for high school. He missed his friends and wanted to enjoy the easy life of living with his parents.

As his career began, and he began to age, he wished he could be in college again. A few more parties would make him happy again.

Upon reaching middle age, the man longed for his younger years working. He didn’t feel as much pain and had more energy.

The end of his life approaching, the man looked back at his life. He wondered how his life was coming to an end so quickly. He wished that he could start over again.

Live in the moment

Like this man, we too may often dwell on the past and long for things that once were. Beware this fools gold. Our lives are what we make of them. Choose to enjoy what is happening this very moment and you will never want for the past. You will look on the past with fond memories instead. Live every moment to its fullest, and I can promise you that regret will be hard to come by.

Handling Regrets

I have many things in my past that I could regret. Some are embarassing, others silly. Let me share several of these with you, and I do so with a knowledge that some may make me appear foolish or silly. I am fine with this as I have learned to live with my past. I will explain how I accept each of these now and with that and a drum roll, here are some of the things I used to regret, but now which I have learned to live with.

Growing up, I was very shy. Because of this, there were girls I could have gotten to know and increase my socializing skills with. Because of this, I have had to work hard learning how to handle social situations.

I acknowledge and accept that I was once a shy person with little confidence. Perhaps it robbed me of some experiences that would have been useful, but it was who I was. I accept that, and all the good and bad that it created.

I played basketball in high school, but never feel I really achieved my potential. I always felt like something was wrong with me.

There is nothing wrong with me. I am a talented basketball player. Perhaps my role on the team wasn’t the best it could have been, or other factors contributed. I used to think of these things. Now I accept the outcome of my high school basketball career and have since moved on, and enjoy whenever I can play.

I’ve been a little too pushy and over-protective with people in my past, and even recent past. Perhaps I will have the fortune that one of those people will read this blog entry. They will know who they are. I pried and kept tabs on certain people which I will keep anonymous. I even had the nerve to park my car after one finished a late night date to make sure they got home on time. My decision making with these people was not the best it could have been and I pushed them away because of it.

I no longer worry about how I was too over-protective and the way I was too pushy. I realized that I just cared and handled it in the wrong way. I have since changed to a stance where I believe people will blossom and grown and learn, while trying to provide help from afar in the best way I know how. I know that I am not perfect, but I am able to look back and accept both the harm and good that resulted from my being over-protective, and am happy with my change since then.

I helped start a business with someone, and eventually was hired as a full time employee for a company they created. Things did not work out at all and the result was a big strain on my life.

Several of my past blog entries cover in detail this situation, and my frustration and anger at the time is very evident. In the past, I had anger, frustration, and revenge on my mind. I felt betrayed. There are times where I’ve acted out of anger and frustration towards business partners, in a couple different situations, and though I am sorry for it, I now accept my actions for who I was back then. As time has gone on and a little wisdom prevailed, I no longer feel any regret for this. They are learning situations. Whatever the reasons for it not working out, I accept, and have since moved on to furthering drjerm, writing a book, and other exciting things.

I know with a little effort and faith, that you can destroy your regrets. You will no longer have them as you accept them and take the learning experiences and add them to your growth in life.

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A Little Kindness

Posted on March 9, 2009 by drjerm

A little compassion and kindness go a long way A 14 year old boy named Daniel walked the halls of his new junior high school with anxiety and timidness. He’d never quite fit in at school his entire life, so why would now be any different. Daniel wore a pair of rugged and fading blue jeans, with a gray shirt that was fading equally as far. His mother worked as a janitor for a local business, and his father worked at the post office. Their combined wages were just barely enough to care for their son and themselves. Daniel had no brothers and sisters, and had a hard time in public places. He often smelled funny and the children at school mostly left him alone completely, or poked fun at him.

One day, while Daniel was walking through the halls in school, a couple of kids thought it would be funny to knock his books out of his hands. As they ran back, pushing him and knocking his books to the floor, Daniel bent down to pick them up. Holding back his tears, he gathered the books up, one by one. He stood up, and stumbled to his locker, getting ready for his next class.

On another occasion, Daniel was in gym class. He had a hard time with sports and doing physical activities. He was slow and weak, and never spent much time doing anything physical related. In gym class, as the students were jumping rope, Daniel tripped over his rope several times. There were other students that laughed at him, making rude noises towards him. Daniel did the best he could even with being made fun of.

In the lunchroom, Daniel received his food on his tray and sat down at a table, all by himself. No students seemed to want to sit down next to him as he smelled and looked funny. As Daniel stared at his food and ate his lunch, a student sat across from his table. It was Calvin, the captain of the basketball team. Calvin asked Daniel if he could sit by him. Daniel barely looked at him, shrugging his shoulders.

As Daniel ate lunch, Calvin talked casually with him, asking him how things were going and how family life was. Slowly, Daniel began to open up to Calvin. Later in the day, Calvin walked with Daniel in the halls. Nobody was pushing him or knocking his books out of his hands. In gym class, Calvin stood next to Daniel, helping and teaching him. Calvin even stumbled a few times as he did this, breaking a smile from Daniel.

Over time, Calvin became a good friend to Daniel. Daniel soon developed coordination and confidence. He looked forward instead of at the floor. Daniel went on to finish high school and go on to study medicine. The kind actions of one person to spend a little time with another greatly influenced the life of Daniel. Because one person cared, Daniel’s life took a new turn for the better.

Show some compassion to someone today

Perhaps you know a Daniel in your life. Someone who is struggling, but is unwilling to ask for help. Or maybe in your own family there is a brother or sister who needs guidance. Whoever it is, take a few minutes to just talk to them. Spend some time with them and tell them how thankful you are for them. It is amazing the transformation that can take place when someone knows they are cared about.

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Are You Significant?

Posted on February 27, 2009 by drjerm

The pawn, a not so significant chess piece The game of chess is quite fascinating. In it, two players with the exact same pieces battle to either a stalemate (tie) or until one player defeats the other via ‘checkmate’. If you are interested in learning more about chess, go to this chess guide. The picture you see here is a ‘pawn’. In chess, you start with eight of them. They are the most numerous piece, and they are usually the most quickly to be taken by your opponent. In addition to that, the pawn is limited in its mobility, moving only forward, and only diagonally to take an opponents piece. The pawn has the special ability in that if it reaches the end of the chess board to the opponents side, it can turn into a queen (the most powerful chess piece).

That is Why the Pawns Go First

In the movie, ‘X-Men 3′, Magneto, one of the main villains makes a statement towards the end of the movie when his gang of mutants is about to battle a group of soldiers and police with weapons able to remove their mutant powers. I paraphrase Magneto here, but he says something to the extent of ‘In Chess, the Pawns Go First‘. This is in reference to the numerous pawns one starts with in chess, and the pawns being used more as a way to open the match and see what your opponent is doing.

What the Bigger Pieces Do

Pawns, while numerous, do not have the capabilities of the other chess pieces. Rooks can move side to side or forward until a piece is in the way. Bishops diagonally. Knights can jump around. The Queen can move in all directions. The lone king can move to any adjacent square that does not put it in ‘check’. Check forces the king to move, or get defended by another chess piece. The bigger pieces have more capability.

What separates the two?

The distinguishment between pawns and the other chess pieces is obvious, once you learn the game of chess. One thing that stands out to me is the sheer number of pawns. Again, there are eight of them. The next numerous pieces are the rooks, knights, and bishops, of which there are only two each. The pawns are limited in what they are able to do. The rest of the chess pieces can do much more. What separates the two is what they are able to do.

What Are You?

As life moves forward for each of us, a parallel can be seen between individuals and what chess piece they might be. The reality is that most people are pawns. This does not mean you are insignificant, expendable, or worthless. In fact, there are probably a few levels of being a pawn and it just means you are like most other people. I’d like to categorize what qualifies one to be in this category.

You live life day to day, but don’t have a real plan for your entire life.
You see the bad before you see the good.
You usually have trouble getting motivated to do much of anything.
You are content as long as you have a place to sleep and food to eat.
You are quick to criticize and judge other people.
You have trouble focusing for more than a short period of time.
You don’t like trying anything new.
You are generally a selfish person.
When things get difficult, or results are not seen, you stop trying.
You don’t spend much time on your emotional, physical, and spiritual health.

Most regular people have many of these traits. And this does not mean that those people do not possess good qualities. I highlight these specific ones here to point out what is almost universal amongst the majority of people in the world. As I said, these things don’t make for a bad person. If you think of the world as a chess board, then the pawns of the world have these characteristics. And there will always be many ‘pawns’. But there are also chess pieces with more. These are the kings, queens, knights, bishops, and rooks of the world. Here is a list of some of their qualities.

You have a clear idea of where your life is going and what your future holds.
Though you recognize the bad in the world, the good far outweighs it.
You are motivated to accomplish many things.
You are not content with just the basics of life. You want the most out of life that you can get.
You seek first to understand others before making judgments.
You prepare well beforehand and have a razor sharp focus.
You love trying new things and new adventures, regardless if they succeed or not.
You think of others constantly.
When things get difficult, you rev up your engine and give even more effort.
You constantly are refining your emotional, physical, and spiritual health.

While these lists contain many things, I can see almost a ‘smoking gun’, that separates regular people from those who achieve great success in life. And that is this:

Those who achieve success in life are motivated, driven, and passionate about what they do. They spend the necessary time trying, tweaking, and moving forward with what they are seeking to do. They do not give up, and while the average person is watching TV or bored, the successful person is busy creating their legacy in the world.

This sums it up. The truly successful, and I would even say happy, are constantly engaged in a good cause. There is no wasted time. There is no boredom. There is a life with purpose. There is hard work, smart work, and long hours. But this is what separates one from being insignificant. It is what is done with the time you have. Make a choice to start spending your time doing worthwhile things, and I can promise that you will stop feeling insignificant!

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How to Prepare for an MRI

Posted on February 21, 2009 by drjerm

Prepare for an MRI I had my first MRI (Magnetic resonance imaging) yesterday morning. It was an interesting and challenging experience, so much that I wanted to offer some helpful advice to others who are having it done. As you can see from the picture, which is called a closed MRI, the person is placed in a machine, where their head, neck, or spinal area is going to get scanned. The machine surrounds most of your body, except your legs. In my MRI, I was actually moved a little further in the machine, such that only part of my legs were out of the machine.

Why an MRI

I’ve had some problem with vertigo, headaches, and dizziness in the last few months. In the past few weeks this has lessened, but since no cause has been able to be found from doctor’s, it was suggested that I get an MRI scan of my brain (the tests are already done and thankfully nothing was shown to be wrong). The MRI is for anyone needing a more detailed scan of the body and neurological systems.

What Happens During an MRI?

There are two different kinds of MRI’s that I know of: closed and open. It seems that closed MRI’s are more common. In this kind of MRI, you are placed on a platform that slides you inside a ‘tube’. Your body is covered and the quarters are very tight. An open MRI looks like this:

As you can see, the space is more open, and if I had to do it again, I’d want an ‘Open MRI’.

But I want to talk about my closed MRI and what happened to me, so that you may be guided as you prepare and experience your MRI. I got to the doctor’s office, signed in, got paged by the doctor, went to a dressing room (I was able to keep my clothes that I had, warm up pants and a regular shirt), and finally to the MRI room. There is a platform and a large machine. I didn’t think too much of it until the doctor told me to lay down on the platform. I was given ear plugs and he said some things to me about it, and to breathe and try to remain calm.

Eventually, my ear plugs were in and in went the platform. Once all the way in, this is where the shock set in. I opened my eyes and I literally wasn’t able to move much at all. I could move my arms slightly, and there was probably six inches from my body to the ceiling of the tube I was in. My head had a device placed over it to help with keeping it still, so my head was pretty much stuck where it was. My heart beat fast, and my breathing increased heavily. I had to meditate and do it fast. Being in such tight quarters really triggered a panic response from me. But I believe this was from not knowing what to expect going in.

I was able to calm myself down through intense conecntration and recalling memories of happiness and focusing on my determination and willpower. But it was not an easy experience by any means.

What You can Do

I believe if you follow this list of advice, that even a closed MRI experience can be tolerable, and you should do them if you are having anxious feelings, or even if you aren’t anxious, but just looking for adivce:

Relax and forget about any problems you are having.
Have a close friend come with you to pat you on the leg while the MRI is going on.
Keep your eyes closed when you can. I actually had to open my eyes for about a minute as I got a little dizzy during part of the scanning, and was more dizzy with my eyes closed.
Even with ear plugs, be prepared for loud noise inside the machine. Expect it and embrace it.
Take a sedative (relaxation medicine). You can ask the doctor about this. Anything to help you relax will be helpful.
Ask the doctor or your close friend to talk to you while the MRI is going on. Have them speak words of encouragement, or just carry on a conversation. With ear plugs in, they will need to speak a little louder than normal.
Make sure you have gone to the bathroom.
While in the machine, keep still and relaxed. Close your eyes and picture yourself in a happy place. This may be on the beach, on the basketball court, or playing with your children.
Above all, keep positive thoughts in your head. Breathe deeply and dispel any fear that tries to enter you. It is possible to sit still and relax, even in a tight quartered tube.
When the MRI is done, pat yourself on the back. You just conquered a challenge and you should reward yourself with a cool drink, lunch with a friend, or a nap!

I hope that some of this advice will help those who are having an MRI, or looking to relate to someone who just had a difficult MRI. When my MRI was done, after 25 minutes, I was very happy about getting out. I realized my preparation was not very good for the experience, and if I ever have to do it again, I am now armed with much more knowledge, which will better the experience!

Posted in Focus, Lessons Learned, Overcoming Challenges | Comments Off

What is the Deal With Presidents?

Posted on February 16, 2009 by drjerm

The presidential seal Our country is relatively new in the grand scheme of things. Part of how our country is run is in part to the ‘President of the United States’. Since 1789, the United States has had a president. This is just over 200 years of having a president – a very small time when the entire existence of the world is taken into perspective. Below is a list of the presidents, from the very first, George Washington, up until now, where the president is Barack H. Obama. I will state the significance and reason for my mentioning of the presidents of the United States after the list of them.

01	Washington, George (1789-1797)
02	Adams, John (1797-1801)
03	Jefferson, Thomas (1801-1809)
04	Madison, James (1809-1817)
05	Monroe, James (1817-1825)
06	Adams, John Quincy (1825-1829)
07	Jackson, Andrew (1829-1837)
08	Van Buren, Martin 1837-1841)
09	Harrison, William Henry (1841)
10	Tyler, John (1841-1845)
11	Polk, James Knox (1845-1849)
12	Taylor, Zachary (1849-1850)
13	Fillmore, Millard (1850-1853)
14	Pierce, Franklin (1853-1857)
15	Buchanan, James (1857-1861)
16	Lincoln, Abraham (1861-1865)
17	Johnson, Andrew (1865-1869)
18	Grant, Ulysses S. (1869-1877)
19	Hayes, Rutherford Birchard (1877-1881)
20	Garfield, James Abram (1881)
21	Arthur, Chester Alan (1881-1885)
22	Cleveland, Grover (1885-1889)
23	Harrison, Benjamin (1889-1893)
24	Cleveland, Grover (1893-1897)
25	McKinley, William (1897-1901)
26	Roosevelt, Theodore (1901-1909)
27	Taft, William Howard (1909-1913)
28	Wilson, Woodrow	(1913-1921)
29	Harding, Warren Gamaliel (1921-1923)
30	Coolidge, Calvin (1923-1929)
31	Hoover, Herbert Clark (1929-1933)
32	Roosevelt, Franklin Delano (1933-1945)
33	Truman, Harry (1945-1953)
34	Eisenhower, Dwight David (1953-1961)
35	Kennedy, John Fitzgerald (1961-1963)
36	Johnson, Lyndon Baines (1963-1969)
37	Nixon, Richard Milhous (1969-1974)
38	Ford, Gerald Rudolph (1974-1977)
39	Carter, James Earl Jr. (1977-1981
40	Reagan, Ronald Wilson (1981-1989)
41	Bush, George Herbert Walker (1989-1993)
42	Clinton, William Jefferson (1993-2001)
43	Bush, George Walker (2001-2009)
44	Obama, Barack Hussein (2009-present)

That’s a nice list, so what?

The presidents of the United States have come in different varieties. Some are less ‘reputable’ than others, but they share some common characteristics. These are the characteristics of intelligence, resolve, and fortitude. As today is ‘Presidents Day’, I think it is worth looking at the list of presidents this country has had and thinking about their good qualities.

Intelligence

One does not simply become the President of the United States through dumb luck and a lack of intelligence. It takes great brain power and even some luck. Each president must have a wide array of knowledge in all areas of life, not to mention knowledge about politics and the way in which the country operates.

So to is intelligence a driving factor of progress with us. Our intelligence plays a key role in where we make it to in life. If we stop gaining intelligence, one can bet that the person who has stopped gaining intelligence will stay in the same place they are and be in that same place many years down the road.

Resolve

The president must have immense resolve. I look at the term which George W. Bush just served, for eight years. He has been slammed by the public, television shows, and anything else you can imagine. Yet his resolve has remained firm. He has not let himself get frazzled by the ramblings of other people. Say what you want about him, he stayed on the course of resolve through harsh criticizm.

Our own individual resolve must be like that of a president. Hard times may come, and challenges may surface. It may be a common reaction to simply complain, or vent the frustration to those around. This does nothing but spread negativity. Don’t worry about what other people think. Look inwards at yourself, and progress on the path which will make your life meaningful.

Fortitude

Fortitude is the health and stamina which one has. While some of the presidents have not been in the greatest physical condition, their mental fortitude is likely unmatched. Just think about how much weight is on every decision the president makes. Think of the scrutiny and bickernig that is going to happen with every decision. The president must have the fortitude to withstand this and move forward.

In our lives, fortitude is something to seek after. Not only is staying in great physical condition necessary for maintaining an active and happy life, our emotional condition is equally important. When challenges arise, or fatigue sets in, it is important to stay on the path of diligence and perseverance. How often do we get tired, or not feel like working on the things which we know will separate us from mediocrity. Don’t fall into this trap. Remain diligent and consistent.

Final Thoughts

Take a moment and examine the list of presidents of the United States from Wikipedia.org. I have taken a greater interest in the history of our country since this last election. If nothing else, I wish to know about the people running our country. I know I could probably name about six presidents of the United States. I hope to memorize this list and use it as another tool to help me further create my legacy in the world today.

Posted in Intelligence, Overcoming Challenges, Self Help and Motivational | Comments Off

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