Time for a Change

Hate = Hate

It does not create anything other than that. It does not bring people together, it only separates. It does not build, but it can destroy. And when hate is spread; it can spread like a wildfire.

The only thing that can bring people together is love. Love does not discriminate from anyone, you can be a man, woman, adult, child, black, white, brown, straight, gay, Christian, Muslim, Jewish, etc. Love is love and love creates more love, which is good for all humanity.

I know that some people who will read this may not be Christians but this is good advice for anybody. This comes from the book of Matthew: “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you

There is so much hate in this world and through different platforms (news, social media, and other outlets) the message gets spread very quickly. If only the message of love one another would spread so fast.

I have friends from all walks of life. To me it has never mattered what the person was, it only mattered who they were on the inside. It has never mattered to me what they are or what they believe in, are they a good person? If the answer is yes, then that is who I want to be around, who I want to be friends with, who I will call my family. And honestly, as long as a person does not try to hurt the ones I love, then we are good (but once I call someone my friend, then there is love in my heart for that person).

I am not saying that we must agree on everything because that would make life very dull and boring. But what I would like to see is the spread of love around. It doesn’t have to be much, just smiling at a person can change their day.

Watching what is happening now makes me very sad because hate is so prevalent in the world and it made to seem like we are supposed to accept it, but I cannot. For my family, my wife and son, I will try to end the hate and spread love. It doesn’t matter if we believe the same thing, part of the same group, have similar backgrounds, etc. it does not matter! We are human beings, all part of the human race and ending the hate can helps us create a better world for ourselves and our future.

Right now, the hate that is all over the news is being used to spread different agendas by all groups and I cannot say that I am not using the same platform. What I am trying to end is HATE because there is should not be a reason to hate others.

I feel this is one of the most important pieces I have ever written and if it can change just one persons perspective then what I have set out to do will be complete.

We have the chance to end millenniums of hate, because if you look back at our world history it is full of hate. It is time for a new world where we find ways to build each other up instead of knocking each other down.

How can you spread the love? How can the negativity you see on a daily basis be changed? Could you stand up for others or what is right, even if you are standing alone?

Ask yourself these questions and also this one: How can I make the world a better place?

You can be the change that so desperately needs to happen. Do not think that I am one person and what I do will not matter because one person is all that is needed to make change.

It is time for a change, but are you willing to help?

I do ask one favor, if you read this and agree with what I say, please spread this around. Use whatever social media platform you like. Let this message, let love spread like wildfire!

– J. Lara

Day 32: big and busy day

It’s been a pretty darn good day for my family.

I know that this blog has mainly been about my journey doing the p90x workouts, the results, and my days but that’s going to shift a bit today.

I did do my workout at 4:15 this morning, it was yoga x which is probably my favorite workout because of the stretching and breathing aspect of it and then I went to a training all day to learn a new appraisal system for me to implement next year with my teachers.

That’s it for me today, now on to the big day part

First, it is my stinker’s 5th birthday.  Being a dad is one of the best things I have ever been a part of.  I love hanging out my son.  God truly blessed my ire and I with our amazing little boy, he is truly one of a kind.

The next big part is concerning my wife.  Today, she got a story published for the first time.  I am so proud of her for following her dream in becoming a writer.  I love the story she got published, it’s creepy and awesome.

That’s it, time for bed.

Until tomorrow……

Day 25: just stress

Short one again, because I want sleep! (Haven’t had a restful nights sleep in a while).

Today’s workout at 4:45 in the morning was x stretch and it felt great.  It didn’t feel as good as the yoga workout but it felt great to stretch out all of my sore muscles before going to work (and I needed to be as lose as possible before I went in for the day).

A quick bit about my work day: it was stressful, mistakes were made, prayers were said, and gray hair grew.  Some days are like that as a school administrator. 

I felt like the owl on the right by the end of the day.

And I felt like crap because I had a situation that lead into me needing to stay after work which meant this was the first time I missed my stinker’s piano lesson.  Fortunately I was able to get out of there and go to soccer practice, I needed to de-stress a bit.  My little soccer team had a grea practice and I can’t wait for their game this week.

Goodnight, until tomorrow…… 

Day 24: catching a bug

One thing about working in education is almost guaranteed, you will catch something during the school year.

It didn’t start out like that for me today. I woke up early, drank my coffee, did my workout (kenpo x), ate breakfast and went to work. 

With my workout of the day, I really do like the kenpo x workout.  I like to punch, kick, and block and using it in my workout routine. But in doing it today, I though how rediculous I would look trying to do some of the stuff if I was to get into an actual fight (which I do not plan on happening at any time).

During the school day I felt fine, very busy with STAAR testing and my school. But my car decided to crap out and is now in the shop getting a new alternator, I wasn’t too happy.

So with my car sick, I had to take the wife’s car to work (thank you my love), and finish out the day.

When I got home is when the trouble started.  There has been a stomach bug going around my school and it seems that I have caught.  Hopefully it will run its course and be done by the time I wake up, I added on some more doses of vitamin c to my normal amount I take each night.

Hopefully I’ll be feeling better tomorrow.

Until tomorrow……

Day 19: different time of day

Normally I workout in the morning (the only exception are Monday’s).  Today there was a switch in my workout time due to my schedule being different.

I was off work today for Good Friday so I slept in, which was really nice because I usually do not get to do that and the wife and stinker allowed me to do that.

Since I didn’t have enough time in the morning before I went to the dentist to get a chip on my tooth worked on, I decided to do it later.  

Had a very busy and full day with my family and we headed down to my in laws for the Easter holidays so I finally go to ,y workout around 9 pm.

So I finally felt like I got a good workout in this week with legs and back and even ab ripper x so it was nice to end the week on that.

I am going to bed and tomorrow is kenpo x.

Until tomorrow…

Day 18: Really Long Day

Just a warning, this will be short. 

With the yoga did being a little over 90 minutes, it makes my day begin just a little bit earlier.  I understand the importance of this workout and why it takes so long, but it doesn’t change the fact that it takes so long to complete.  Plus with it being Thursday and I have a 6th grade math meeting at 7:15 am each week means I’m working out around 4:15 each Thursday so I can have time to get ready. 

Work has been stressful this week due to several factors ( that I’m not going to talk too much about) and I am glad that the week is over and that I have an extra day for the weekend since we are off on Friday for Good Friday.

After work was exciting because it is the start of the stinker’s spring soccer season that I am coaching.  Today’s practice was pretty interesting because I know my so was the oldest there today and that he is the only one with experience (had several players that were missing today). So that means soccer games will be starting soon.

That’s it for tonight

Until tomorrow….

Day 15: Not my best

I had a case of the Mondays during my work out today.

It was not my best workout to say the least.  I got winded early on, my joints popped and cracked a lot (much more than normal), and I was just much more drained than I usually am.

On Monday’s, I will usually workout in the afternoon because I will drive from my hometown (where all of my family and my wife’s family lives) bake to where I live and work.  I do this so I can spend as much time with the wife and stinker before the work week, where my wife teaches dance and the stinker goes to preschool for 2 days of the week.  So the workday will usually drain me on Monday but I am still able to get it done.

Well this Monday was different because both the principal and the other assistant principal were out today and my counselor is up to her head in preparing for the STAAR test (not a fan, we’ll talk about this later). So it was up to me to oversee the entire 5th and 6th grade campus and I am convinced that they have lost their minds.

So in dealing with a crazy day at work and getting drained, I came home to use the chest and back workout and ab ripper x.  It was not my best but I did the best I could today, which is what is the most important thing.  Do your best and forget the rest (as the say in P90X).  Also I still hate ab ripper x!  After my workout I went for a 2 mile run/walk which felt really nice since we are currently having unseasonably cold weather right now.

What is most important is that I kept going and didn’t quit! it would have been easy to just not put in the dvd and sat on the couch all afternoon and evening but I kept going because I will not quit on this program and myself.  It is going to take a lot more than a rough day to get me to stop working out.

Whatever is going on, keep pushing forward and DO NOT QUIT!

Untill tomorrow……

Day 14: Rest/check in

It’s Sunday, which means it is time for my weekly rest day and check in to see how my progress is going.

I weighed myself I today and I weighed in at 218 pounds, for those keeping score that is 4 pounds in two weeks.  I like that ! I have had this success because I am watching my portions when I eat, cut out fried food, and p90x.  I am happy with where I am headed in my journey of weight loose and hope to keep making progress. 

   
I had the hat on because I had really bad hat hair, it was standing everywhere.  

A rest day for me does mean I sit on my butt all day watching tv, I am still very active because I do not like sitting still (one of the joys of having adhd). So I moved some furniture with my wife, played soccer with the stinker, and a whole lot of other stuff.  Sadly today was my last day of spring break, so it is back to work for me.  I truly do any extra time I get to spend with the wife, the stinker and anybody else that is my family (people who really know me that I consider my friends as family too).

That’s it for today, so until tomorrow…..

Day 11: Yoga crazy

Yoga is hard, there is no simpler way of saying it! 

Growing up, I’ve always done things to make me stronger. Push ups, squats, weights, etc. Thats what I thought was necessary for getting my muscles where I needed them to be.  It worked growing up, but I wish someone had told me how yoga would have helped me along the way to achieve my fitness goals and more than likely surpass them.

I love doing the yoga dvd, even though I feel like this while doing it: 

 
I’m pretty sure it is hiarlious watching me do the different moves.  Especially since I am so uncoordinated and clumsy.  I was falling around the entire living room today while doing the moves.

It may have been that I was trying to do a little more advanced than just the basics or it might have been that I had an audience while I was attempting to do the moves.  The wife and the stinker were in the living room for the entire 90 minute workout and saw me dripping in sweat from it. The stinker even tried some of the workout with me, but mainly he tried to talk with me throughout the exercises.

I love how yoga worked out my entire body.  I feel like every muscle, ligament, and nerves all benefit from it.  It’s sometimes painful because I am not very flexible but it’s the good kind of pain that you know is beneficial.

That’s it for me tonight, I’m wanting to get some sleep since my spring break is about to end and I haven’t gotten to get one of those days/nights where I just sleep like I am on vacation.

So until tomorrow…..

Day 9: jumping

  
Short blog today because it’s late and I’m really tired.

I did the plyometrics workout again today 

I hate my knee brace

It’s really funny to watch my stinker try to do the exercises

Goodnight

Until tomorrow….