Welcome To The Shark Pool, Part 3

Welcome and thanks for joining me! Oh yes, I know, it has been quite a while since I uploaded my last posting here. Sadly, the reasons for becoming and staying somewhat quiet, at least as for showing and joining online activities, is indeed connected to the subject from this article's headline.

Right now I really feel like a survivor, even though the only thing that changed for me is the pool (just to stick to that metaphor). But in the end isn't it the most important thing to feel good when you go out there to earn your living? Of course, the salary is nothing that can be left aside completely as we are still living in a world were most goods and services are traded for money. We need shelter, we need food and drink, we need clothes, and I have been told that some of the people out there have something that is called a life - whatever that is supposed to be. And all of those things come at their price - which we have to pay if we want them or if we need them. On the other hand there are some things money just can't buy.

I came across a quote by Voltair which made me think: "In the first half of our life we sacrifice our health in order to win money – and in the second half of our life we sacrifice money in order to recover health. And during all this time we lose our health." - Now wait a second and read it again. Take your time, I will be right here...

To be honest I found that quote multiple times on the web, each one slighly different from others, and no source could reassure me that it was really Voltair who said it. But let's assume he did. (And yes, I know what 'assuming' can make of you and me.) Anyway, I really do think that there are way too many people out there who are a living proof to that statement. But why do we act like that? Feel free to try and find your personal answer to this question. I, for one, found that it was about time to bring on a change as I was literally sick of it all.

The basic idea of bringing on an change was a simple one: I left the big pool with those huge, aggressive and bloodthirsty sharks. Truth be told, it happened that I decided to leave shortly before I was sort of asked to leave. But again, that is a completely different story.

Looking back, the whole ecosystem there had become more and more imbalanced. Remembering some basic stuff we all have been told in biology classes about predator-prey relationship, it just isn't a good thing when the number of predators keeps rising. When finally the beasts of prey start to turn against each other because there is nothing else left to go after, they are doomed.

Feeling trapped in a situation like that, with body and mind suffering from it already, I just had to leave. The new pool is a smaller one with the water at a pleasant temperaturer, the sharks aren't that huge and they are of an totally unexpected kindness. It sure sounds strange but I kid you not.

It all came at a price, of course. Ahead of the final decision I spent many nights on mulling over the options and calculating expenses over and over again. I had to give up some habits, I had to cancel some services and subscriptions and I even had to change my default grocery shopping list. Last but not least I was able to save money by moving closer to my new workplace. Yes, there was quite some stuff I had to take care of, and I was far from being sure that it would work.

So far it did and I am more than happy about it. Right here I come back to the quote above, which I have to say had some impressive impact on my life so far. Even though I am earning less money now and I have to go through the whole socialising thing again (and again), the sum of changes brought back to me a state of health I never thought I would be in ever again. I am very impressed, to say the least. Time will tell which level of health I will re-gain but as long as things don't get as bad as they had become for me about a year ago I will be more than happy.

That said, I am off for another swim in that lovely little shark pool, and I am sure I will enjoy it? If you want to join, feel free to do so. And if you prefer to stay outside that is fine with me, too. Maybe you have to find a way to earn some more money...

The "21" Barrier

Some myths are quite interesting and they become even more so the more one hears or learns about it. Others just stand there, right in front of you, like a youngster with a cheeky grin, hands on the hips, challenging you with words like 'C'mon, find out for yourself!'. Like that thing about The "21" Barrier.

The idea of what I call The "21" Barrier was first brought to my attention several months ago by a colleague while we were making fun of diets and discussing ways how to change eating habits. He could not remember where he had found the original article on this subject but he claimed that he had tried it and that it really worked. At least for him it did, he added.

Actually there is a lot of frightening or at least questionable stuff available on the web referring to something similar to this 21, some ideas appear reasonable (at least at the first glance) like The Martha's Vineyard Diet Detox. Making use of your favorite search engine you may find some interesting, some hilarious site connected to 21, or just start at WikiPedia.

But my intention here is neither to dig for mystics, nor start (yet another) discussion about conspiracy theories, far from it. I will rather tell you about two self-experiments that left me pondering that there could really be something about this 21 thing. There may be scientific research on the matter I am not aware of but seriously: who cares? Were are talking about goals and how to achieve them.

For me, this rule about keeping up for at least 21 iterations worked three times already, and each time it was a different goal. It has nothing to do with the personal ability to retain the new habit. Clearing that first hurdle will only work as long as one is really willing to bring on a change.

The first time I tried to deal with that barrier was at the very beginning of 2009. I had decided to start running again. I got me a training plan, I got my running clothes out of my wardrobe and, well, started. During the first two weeks it wasn't that hard to go for a run every other day. That changed in week number three and number four. It became a question of will and stamina. And I kid you not when I tell you that I really got used to it. After three months it felt like I was missing something when I had to skip a day's run. So, this one worked - for me.

The latest self-experiment with reference to The "21" Barrier has a different background. After being sick for quite a while I had gotten used to get up late. Having a nine-to-five job I knew I needed to change that. So I started getting up ten to 15 minutes earlier every day over a week. Finally I set my alarm clock to go off at a time in the morning I could deal with and make it to the office on time without stressing me. After sticking to that for two months now I have to say that it really makes getting up easier. Just a bit. So, this one worked too.

As I said there is nothing like a scientific proof of the existence of that "21" Barrier in particular but I validated it to work for me on multiple occasions. It appears to be related to drills and routines of almost any kind. Obviously when things start to happen almost automatically, that is when the hurdle is cleared. And as far as I am concerned it is quite fascinating to find another opportunity to test this and find it working time and time again.

Maybe next time when you have to bring on a change just give it a try - and find out about The "21" Barrier for yourself. Good luck! I mean it!