Sunday Story…Cost vs. Benefit

The price of something is largely irrelevant to me. What is relevant to me is what that item is going to do for me. In other words, it isn’t what it cost to produce or to get it to me; it is the benefit I will derive from the item.

Most of us can’t tell the difference between a $200 bottle of wine and a $50 bottle. And for most producers, the cost of production is the same. It is the pleasure I get from enjoying the wine that determines what I think it is worth.

For the last 2 months, you have been forced into a re-evaluation process of cost vs. benefit for pretty much everything in life. You may have found that the things you really value had a very little cost attached to them but the value you reap is critical to your life. Spending more money on something doesn’t imbue it with value…you imbue it with value. What you get, what benefits you reap, what joy you get are all about you, not the thing itself.

And to get all Zen on you…we desire the clay pot but it is the emptiness inside that we value.

John Mariotti
www.crossfitodyssey.com
www.sunday-stories.blogspot.com
775-338-2412

Sunday Story…Stress Kills

In this particular time, you are under more and more insidious stress than ever before. It may not feel like the kind of stress you have had in the past…the stress of a deadline or the stress of performance. This stress is the stress of uncertainty.
We don’t know what things are going to look like.
We don’t know what is expected of us moving forward.
We don’t know what the new normal is.

In many ways, we are like Rip Van Winkle except instead of going to sleep and waking years later we are living through our sleep. At some point, we are going to “wake up” and look around and the world won’t be like the way it was. In this twilight time of not knowing our bodies are receiving internalized stress. We all need to combat that stress.

Be kind to yourself…you don’t have to do all those projects that are waiting for you.
Relax some of your strictest regimens…keep working out but take it down a notch or two.
Eat healthy flavorful food prepared with love.
And most importantly…Express Gratitude in your words, actions, and thoughts. When you are grateful stress falls away. Gratitude is the great stress reducer!

John Mariotti
www.crossfitodyssey.com
www.sunday-stories.blogspot.com
775-338-2412

Sunday Story…The Apostrophe

We all know or should know that when an apostrophe is used before the letter “s” it indicates the word is a contraction for “is.” For instance, it’s for it is. But sometimes the apostrophe indicates possession even when it is in the same place.

And when that happens the meaning shifts exponentially. Here is an example of what I mean:
A sign in a restaurant that we have all seen is: Today’s Special
And usually, when we see it we take it to mean that the dish listed is special today. It is possessive. The dish belongs to today. Meatloaf or blueberry pie might be only available today. They are today’s special.

But what if we looked at today’s special and made it the contraction? So Today’s special becomes Today is Special.

HMMMM.

John Mariotti
www.crossfitodyssey.com
www.sunday-stories.blogspot.com
775-338-2412
With Thanks to Seth Godin!

Sunday Story…Your Best

We all have situations that bring out the best in us. And then there are the others. You know, the ones that bring out your worst. You should know which is which.

So how do I put myself in places where my best is brought up and not my worst? How do I plan, scheme, or create situations where my best is front and center? This would be ideal…planning for success in every situation.

There may be another way, however. Can you change your posture so it is easier for your best to come forward in the situations you often find yourself in?

Ideal is getting harder and harder to find. So maybe you should redefine what ideal looks like.

John Mariotti
www.crossfitodyssey.com
www.sunday-stories.blogspot.com
775-338-2412

Sunday Story…Feeding

The Wolf.

We are all itching to get back to whatever our new normal is going to be. And as much as we would all like to see everything revert back to the way they were I don’t think that will be the case.

On one hand I am grateful this thing wasn’t worse. That it didn’t last for the better part of a year, that the death toll wasn’t greater, and that the disruption to our way of life wasn’t worse.

And on the other hand, I am pissed off that it was, in fact, and continues to be bad. People are losing their lives, their livelihoods, the months that it is taking to get back to life.

I am reminded of the Native American story about the 2 wolves…
Grandfather tells his grandson…”a fight is going on inside me. It is a terrible fight between two wolves. One is evil, angry, resentful, arrogant, and more negativity. The other is good, joyful, peaceful and full of gratitude and more positivity. This same fight is going on inside all of us.”
His grandson considered this for a moment and then asked his grandfather, “Which wolf will win?”
Grandfather replied, “The one you feed.”

Feed your gratitude wolf.

John Mariotti
www.crossfitodyssey.com
www.sunday-stories.blogspot.com
775-338-2412

Sunday Story…Food

Is medicine. The food you eat can help heal you or it can make you sick.

At this uncertain time your nutrition is even more important than ever. Nutrition fuels your immune system. Nutrition can fuel your mental state. Eating ice cream and cake may feel good in the moment but a few minutes later you will be depressed and angry…partly from the sugar crash and partly from your own mental state.

Resist. Or at least don’t beat yourself up with it afterward. You will recover. You can reset. But only if you give yourself permission to slip. Now that it’s over it’s over. Move on and get back on track.

I have a weakness for granola. I love that stuff. It’s sweet and crunchy and has lots of different textures. I can eat it by the handful. As a matter of fact I think I ate most of a bag the other day. So what to do? Because the rest of my household likes to eat it for breakfast and I keep eating it all! Simple…I made some homemade granola with a little less sugar and then I put it in a jar that I can stick my hand in but I can’t get it out with any granola in it. Problem solved! Now I have to be intentional about pouring into a bowl and eating it mindfully.

Whatever your food “thing” is you can solve it using intentionality and mindfulness. Just like so many other things!!!

John Mariotti
www.crossfitodyssey.com
www.sunday-stories.blogspot.com
775-338-2412

Sunday Story…The New Normal

In the years and centuries that came before this time, there were many tectonic shifts. Everyone wanted things to go back the “the way they were.” The new paradigm was too much, too hard, too different.

We are living during one of those shifts. Will things return to the way they were? Do you really want them to? If we don’t make changes we will be doomed to repeat the same mistakes over and over and over again. This is true in so many places in my life (and probably yours.) The Universe wants you to figure some things out, to find your purpose, to live your life in a way that is harmonious with the who and what you and the world is.

What do you need to do to make the shift? What needs to change? How will you effect that change? What will happen if you don’t? Do you want to be stuck in this endless loop forever?

I know I don’t. I know I am seeking out the answers to those questions. I haven’t quite got it figured out yet but it isn’t from lack of thinking and pondering. I am not worried about the why. I am not worried about the how. I am worried about getting the message right and acting upon it.

Oh, and I am really glad I am not a dinosaur whose whole world changed in an instant. At least I’ve got the agency to participate in the shift!

John Mariotti
www.crossfitodyssey.com
www.sunday-stories.blogspot.com
775-338-2412