Taoist Symbol

You know that Taoist symbol you see everywhere? The one that looks like two sperm cuddling. It represents the yin and yang, where two things coexist.

This symbol is commonly used to express the relationship between dynamics like, good and evil, male and female, or even practical and emotional. The idea is the two things need each other to live. And the trick is, inside each sperm is a dot to represent the other. For example, there is some good in evil, and some male inside female (don’t get dirty). Anyway, here is what we’re talking about:

Good and evil

Now the symbol doesn’t represent good and evil accurately because the good sperm should be larger—not the same size. That’s because it’s been proven that good is predominant in nature. You could even say the shape of good is growing because, as living standards improve, it’s contagious. But leave that for now.

Male-female

The male-female diagram is supposed to be fifty-fifty. This new notion that women should one day rule the world is bunk. The better idea is for the two to become equal partners. And I think that’s great.

Now in order to get there you can either stack the Canadian cabinet with 50% women or grow the female dot within men. For example, pretend politicians were required to travel and some women don’t like to fly. Does this mean we’ll never attain parity? Of course not. Women will continue to help men grow their female side until we attain balance. (Which is what’s happening.)

Emotional and practical

In politics, we say the Taoist symbol can be used to show the sides of emotional vs. practical. To illustrate, let’s use an example from a previous article:

Billy recently lost a friend through an accident. He’s taken time off to grieve. After three days, his dad suggests he get back to school. Billy’s mom says just a few more days. Who’s right? It depends. Sometimes kids need to be coddled and sometimes they need a kick in the pants. In the olden days, coddling was attributed to liberals, while the miserable boot-in-the-arse style was characteristic of cons. But any parent can relate. Sometimes you have to be understanding and sometimes you need to be firm.

In political speak, we say “sometimes the carrot, sometimes the stick” or “sometimes the hand, sometimes the fist.” Liberals and cons play each other’s yin and yang in this regard. That’s why both ideologies should be respected. You can also use this symbol to illustrate the relationship between change and staying the same—another matter between parents and politicians.

Summary

They say things go better in threes. A stop light has red, yellow, and green. Green means go, red means stop, and yellow is somewhere in between. It’s cool because it gives you three dimensions. But there is also power in two’s. Now this symbol doesn’t work with all opposites because there isn’t any hot in cold, or short in tall, but it does with many. Order and chaos, work and pleasure, comedy and tragedy, disciple and love, your left foot and your right—okay, maybe we’re getting carried away.

The Taoist message is clear, a number of things need their opposite to survive. And this relationship can be illustrated by drawing two little sperm cuddling, both with great big eyes. 

Socrates and Greg

Greg is a Canadian conservative still hung up on the fact that Justin Trudeau won the past election. After all this time, he still can’t believe this guy is PM. The situation was eating at him so bad that he called upon his old friend, Socrates, for advice.

Socrates: “Hello Gregorus. You seem upset.”

Greg: “Upset! I’m pissed. This Trudeau kid is getting under my skin. I’m used to following leaders who are strong, intelligent, and visionary. This guy is a dud. And for a man of my space and time, it’s bothersome.”

Socrates: “Then are you saying that only a lawyer or businessperson of substantial success should be allowed to hold such a position? That in fact, the doctor, the dentist, and the engineer must be discounted though they are surly citizens of able intellect? And what is democracy if not the ability for anyone to run? What of the meteorologist, the dog catcher, and the acrobat? Should they too be banned from winning?”

Greg: “No, no. I guess anyone should be able to run.”

Socrates: “And is it not true that this Justin is somewhat of an educated man with at least some knowledge as to the workings of government? So in essence, it could be said that he is in fact, not the absolute worst choice?”

Greg: “Well ya, I guess he’s not all that bad.”

Socrates: “And can it not also be said that one person alone does not run a nation? That in fact, many qualified others stand firmly behind the office to help government accomplish what it must. And that in reality, it’s the quality of the committee that determines the quality of government?”

Greg: “Well ya, I guess it takes more than just one person.”

Socrates: “And is it not true that no one person has ever been fully qualified to hold such a posting. That in all cases, governments are run by a committee. So that even if a particular boss is light on economic or legal matters, it’s the committee’s job to govern the nation—while the PM acts solely as a front man? And that this notion is in fact not only plausible but perhaps better than strong man rule?”

Greg: “Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Okay, you’ve got me. I was being unreasonable and am now willing to give this guy a chance. But there’s one thing that’s still bothering me—this name, committee. Couldn’t we come up with a better term? Something with a little more sense of competence and foresight? Have you any ideas?

Socrates: “Oh, I don’t know. How about the politburo?”

P.S. For the real answer see Modern Decision Making.

Foreign Trade

With all the news on trade negotiations and globalization, many of us are confused about how this whole thing works. Here’s a simple view that should help.

Big three

A nation’s economy can be broken into three parts: local, national, and international. Local economies include what goes on near your home (within your city or province), national means business activities within your country, and international involves selling to the world—which brings about currency concern and the balance of trade. Examples are as follows:

  • Local – dry cleaners, dentists, donut shops
  • National – telephone carriers and grocery stores
  • International – natural resources and automobiles

Of course, there is always a mix. Developed nations typically have numbers like this: 40% local, 30% national, and 30% international. And when it comes to international, there are usually two types: companies that export, and organizations like Walmart and McDonald’s who operate within another country’s economy sending profit and head office jobs back home.

Global

Doing business internationally has always had requirements. Political stability, property rights, and the rule of law are essential. That’s why the third world can’t compete. But once African countries finish their internal fighting and attain some fertile environment for capitalism, this planet will be running on all cylinders. (You think we got smog now!)

International competitiveness is about more than just ports, natural resources, and infrastructure. It involves business, politics, and culture intertwining together. For example, when it comes to women in the workforce, Canada operates on a different plane than most Asian nations.

  • Canada – 90% of mothers work full-time, 1 year paid maternity leave, subsidized daycare 
  • Asia – 50% mothers work full-time, no maternity leave, no daycare (they use grandparents instead)

Because Canada is at a different place along the culture curve, it’s more expensive to operate here. That’s why globalization gives away all the cheap stuff. And there are differences between us and the States.

  • Canada – government hospital care, 1 year paid maternity leave
  • USA – private hospital care, no paid maternity leave

The US competes more closely with the developing world, especially in the South. But as the world continues to advance, everyone will eventually see things our way.

Manufacturing

You also hear lots about manufacturing and again there are two types: durable goods and inexpensive items that are easy to make. Durable goods are things like washing machines and other products made from metal. Stuff easily made includes all the crap you find at the dollar store. Initially, countries like China and Mexico only made cheap goods but as time went by, they turned their skills toward the better paying jobs that come with durable goods. That’s when we moved the cheap stuff to Bangladesh.

And every nation has protected industries. Ones excluded from facing international competition. Farming is popular since it aligns with national pride but some choices are much more practical. For example, auto factories can be converted into making tanks for times of war. Same goes for steel. You can’t be buying from the enemy.

Summary

Everything is always a balancing act. Because Canada has government healthcare, sometimes companies like Toyota prefer to operate here. It’s not just the hassle of managing American plans but what if you have to lay somebody off? Do you really want the stress of wondering whether they’re still covered?

Recent NAFTA renegotiations had lots to do with maintaining well-paying jobs here in Canada (like, making auto parts). Not everyone can work in tech and we’re serious about our middle class. On the other hand, super woke Liberal governments have put a stake in the ground with respect to oil production. They’ve pretty much capped us at 4 million barrels a day. As a result, international investors have moved elsewhere.

Hopefully, when it comes to trade, our progressive values haven’t put us too far ahead of the pack. In case they have, you can always work at the dry cleaner.

#YouToo

This article isn’t about the #MeToo movement and trying to draw out the fakes. With over 17 million posts among 80 countries—they must be saying something. And even if 20% are found to be false, that’s still an overarching theme. No, this article isn’t about that—it’s about journalistic slander and what could happen to you.

A new movement, that has nothing to do with the above, is afoot for survivors of media abuse. The hashtag is already reserved and victims are welcome to post. The message is clear: public figures should be entitled to a reasonable defense before being hung out to dry.

Let’s use the example of Megan Tilley, student council representative in Hogsburg Virginia who accidentally forgot to feed the school pet. Megan was vilified in the school paper until one day — ahh, let’s get to Patrick Brown.

Patrick Brown

We’re not going to play lawyer or bash drunk people not conciliatory with sex. Let’s make just one point. If the allegations say there were only two people involved, it should be ethically possible for Patrick to defend himself before CTV takes the story to air.

#HeToo should be allowed to bear witness and the media should take him serious, especially when only two people were in the room. Plus you can’t tell him at 2:00, and then fry him at 4:00. This guy should have been given a few days to put together a case.

The public reacts strongly to this type of smearing because we assign credibility to the source. It’s not the Hollywood press. And for most, it means the end of a career. So whatever the motive, we need a paradigm for dealing with this—basically, a journalistic protocol for taking someone down. How about a system like this: CTV receives the allegation, does their investigation, decides Patrick should fry, contacts Patrick, lets him plead his case, fries him anyway, but allows Patrick a small column to defend himself. This way readers know some quality was involved.

Ethics

Pork producers aren’t allowed to rest on their honour. Inspectors are ever present to ensure standards get met. Same with much of the construction industry and airlines. But journalism regulates itself. And though it’s widely believed that legislation would never work in this field, there must be a cultural ring around freedom of the press. Codes of conduct should be determined and it wouldn’t be bad for the courts to weigh in. Because Canada, we need to get this right.

Democracy requires an environment where candidates feel comfortable to run. And though a lot of people see this as a postmodernist trick to get more women elected, I have news for you. They’ve expanded misbehaviour to include verbal abuse (and we know who has more ghosts in that closet). Besides, all little Megan did was forget to feed a fish.

I sure hope Patrick sues and gets the law involved because we do need a protocol for taking a guy down. Personally, I’m not worried since I’ve led an exemplary life. There’s nothing in my past that CTV could pin on me. No, I’m perfectly safe. I’m just worried about you.

Fake News

Everyone is questioning the quality of news these days. Wondering and doubting if the institution is still good. So before giving the nod to the Canadian press, let’s take a look.

Bias

Fake news is when you lie about something, like Hillary has fangs. Everyone knows this is wrong but hiding the truth is equally as bad. With fake news you at least have a logical chance. When a reputable source fails to remain neutral on a delicate issue or intentionally leaves out some of the facts, it’s actually worse.

In the olden days, television gave you twenty minutes a day and within some outlets this practice remains. This format provides all the basics and news anchors never tip off how they vote. Granted, stories they tell and the order in which they appear are selected by management but the world was never intended to be perfect.

Old time newspapers acted the same way—mostly sticking to the beef. But they also offered editorial, where opinion intersects with fact. Yes, some papers leaned this way and some lent that, but they provided views from both sides to preserve balance. And anyone caught cheating from the ethical standard was usually called out. This practice has changed.

Canada vs US

In the world of 24-hour news and hundreds of agencies, American journalism has become a zoo. In Canada things have remained mainly the same and there’s a reason for that. Our parliamentary system forces more responsibility onto the press. You see, we usually have majority governments that can pretty much do as they wish. So the quality of our news is essential to maintaining a loyal opposition. The American system has checks and balances built right in. Their media doesn’t have to be fair.

Because of this internal watchdog, US media takes on more liberty to spice things up—acting like an eternal campaign machine. This makes them always left or right leaning and comfortable with the style of interlacing opinion among fact. But in Canada we simply cannot commit this sin. For the sake of our system, we need to sustain a credible press. And these two forms must stand apart. News is news and editorial is just that—free opinion

Summary

Part of the trick is understanding where journalism fits. The primary intention isn’t to educate. Its job is to keep you up-to-date. So if you hold basic understandings, you’ll find it useful. If not, you need to buy some books. There is no substitute for a genuine education.

If you enjoy hearing about America, get it from multiple sources. It’s not like they mix up the weather or lie about sports, but their written word on politics is always loaded with bias (which says Americans should be getting their news from us).

Note: Down there you hear the term “left-wing media” but that’s not totally true. Their left has the majority of TV and newsprint, but conservatives kick butt on talk radio and YouTube. So Americans get ample brainwashing from both sides.

Racism, Eh?

A previous article dealt with the question of racism in America. This week we had allegations of racism right here in Canada. To better understand this concept, please meet Farmer John.

Farmer John lives on the Canadian prairies, right near a campground purchased by the Hell’s Angels. The Angels do some pretty serious partying on Saturday nights and sometimes go into town to cause havoc. They don’t physically shoot anyone or inflict personal harm, but they do steal things and damage some property, and folks around here don’t like it.

As a matter of fact, Farmer John is often afraid and sometimes feels he’s in danger. It’s not that he doesn’t like people who ride motorcycles or get tattoos, but he knows that whenever people from the campground show up, drunk—trouble can get started.

Now let’s substitute Angels with Italians—the kind that were in the mob. Farmer John is friendly with the Grazianos and always buys his salami from Pusateri’s Bar and Grill, but whenever those boys from the mob show up, he gets incredibly anxious (even though they’re all very handsome).  

So is Farmer John a racist? Comedian Chris Rock says, “There are two kinds of black people and I’m afraid of the other kind too.” But we don’t call him a racist. So what gives?

Racism

Racism is defined as blanket discrimination against one group by another. For example, in the US under Jim Crow law, black people weren’t allowed to drink from certain fountains. It didn’t matter if you were the smartest, nicest, kindest, or most industrious black person on the planet, you weren’t allowed to drink from those fountains.

The same can be said of the poor treatment of Irish Catholics by the British. For over 400 years, people in Ireland either had to convert to Protestant or weren’t allowed to vote. So the ones who decided to stay the same were denied this right (along with a host of other privileges).

Because of intermarriage, Hutus and Tootsies in Rwanda looked so much alike they brought it down to the width of your nose. And the government had to issue mandatory identity cards to tell people apart. So if you didn’t have the right card on you, you were deemed to be no good. ISIS does the same sort of thing regarding religion and Nazis did it with Jews. (And if you want to get technical, Catholics do it by not allowing women to hold positions of power and Mormons do it when they won’t allow women to count money—all because of boobs.)

Saskatchewan

The incident in Saskatchewan this week was featured as an act of racism, but was it?

Everyone knows there are long existing problems with people on reservations. That between alcohol and other factors not all the kids are well raised. And some of these kids grow up to have real issues that lead them into town to do harm. We also know that folks in the nearby community can easily say hello to one band member in the morning, only to be afraid of another at night.

Reservations have existed in Canada for more than 300 years and members from both sides continually try to resolve these problems. But people aren’t naive about the possibility that things may never work out.

No one will ever dig into the details of this particular case. They won’t read the transcripts, get to know the law, or understand what the jury was told by the judge. That’s because it doesn’t matter. This shooting will go down as a bunch of disorderly drunks from the local reservation going onto Farmer John’s land to cause havoc. And the pulling of this trigger will get etched into stone.

Of course, the newspapers in Toronto will have their say—jumping and screaming like westerners are impersonating the States. But people out here know that what happened occurred on a much deeper level, not something to be labelled by race.

They say you can only poke the bear so many times until something eventually breaks. And it’s no secret that under their breath many people grumbled the word, good. But these same people are now realizing this boy should never have borne the brunt of a cumulative past, and will hopefully take time to reflect. In the meantime, for everyone in Toronto, this farmer’s actions weren’t based in racism.

It’s more like the problem we used to have with Italians.

Pronouns

I recently had lunch in Toronto and overheard a conversation that went like this:

  • “Welcome to Jangles.”
  • “Hi, my name is Bill and this is my friend Fred. Fred’s pronoun is zer. So if you pop by later to ask if we want coffee and Fred’s not available, don’t say ‘and what about him?’ Please say ‘and what about zer?”
  • Waitress said “Got it.”

It was the coolest thing I ever heard but you know this kind of thing will eventually land in court. Because somewhere along the way, some teacher is going to call one of them Zaire and a shitstorm will get started. I can see the courtroom now.

  • “Okay, what happened?”
  • “Well, I submit my pronoun every day and I carry one of those little tent cards. But sometimes he calls me Zaire.”
  • “And you. What do you have to say for yourself?”
  • “Heck, your honour. There’s a billion of them. How am I supposed to remember them all? But I’ll try to say Fred.”
  • “Okay, nobody wins. Now get back to work.”

U of T’s Jordan Peterson says forcing language is how the communists got started. He doesn’t appear to like any of this political correctness, but I think it’s great. Like when’s the last time you heard the term “fudge packer” or called anyone a fag? We don’t say things like that anymore and I think it’s good.

There’s a trans guy at my deli. I call him TJ and he seems to be fine with it. And now that we’re talking about names, how about all the things we call fat people? I don’t like the word “tubby.”

Dr. Jordan says these new laws violate our entitlement to free speech. Specifically, you can now be charged with a hate crime in Ontario by failing to comply. So as a public employee, he can lose his job by not using these government specified pronouns. He says that when we stopped calling Chinese people oriental and shifted to calling them Asian, it came organically, not through law. And this is the way it should be.

But that’s not my concern. I don’t like how he’s being treated. Peterson has been accosted and attacked ever since he spoke up. He’s being associated with Nazism, white supremacy, being a gender-hater, and every other evil term out there. I think there’s something wrong with that.

Freedom

This debate has shifted from pronouns to one about freedom.

Peterson does a lot more than just argue about words. Other than being a prof, he’s a clinical psychologist who’s deeply learned in a number of areas and has written a few books. He was scheduled to speak in Edmonton in February. After booking space at the local, publicly funded theatre, Jordan was notified the reservation had been cancelled because management didn’t agree with his views.

So does the facility have the right to deny anyone service because of his or her beliefs?

In the US, a bakery tried to deny a gay couple the ability to buy a wedding cake. The Supreme Court ruled in favour of the couple. They said the freedom to purchase comes before the freedom to sell. So even though a pub can bounce you for being drunk and disorderly, they can’t refuse you service because of sexual preference. Just like you can’t be refused for race, colour, ethnicity, religion, or what type of spaghetti sauce you like.

Now in defense of my transgender in-laws, I’m sure there’s a good argument in favour of adding more terms than just him and her. I’m also sure of a few more things: political correctness works best when it occurs naturally—it shouldn’t be legislated. Jordan isn’t Jim Keegstra denying the holocaust—his speech was to be predominately about his new book, 12 Rules for Life. And if denying service is against the law in the US, it should be against the law here.

Conclusion

Decide for yourself. Here’s an interview with Jordan and another exiled prof on Joe Rogan. (To add insult to injury, the guy is from Alberta.) I sure hope he sues. In the meantime, TJ and I are going for a drink.

Country Music

Everyone knows the problem with country music is that so much of it is God awful. That’s why you have to filter through a thousand songs just to find a few good ones. But the good ones are always worth the effort. You already know artists like Keith Urban and Kenny Chesney, but there are a few more you should be aware of. For example, these people:

Of course, every genre has its love songs but country also specializes in funny. Here are a few:  

Country is also known for its anthems. Currently, Sara Evans holds the one for the ladies where some chick just belts it out, and Toby Keith will be remembered forever for his reaction to 9/11 (it’s not the aristocrats from New York who send their kids to fight).

Summary

From a crude perspective, other than first nations and immigrants there are only two types of people: city slickers and country folk. And though no one likes to be pigeon-holed, understanding pigeon holes is a window into understanding people. This is country.

P.S. Here’s a good station, 1.FM – Absolute Country Hits (but it’s still mostly awful).

Honourable mention goes to Zac Brown Band – Chicken Fried, Luke Combs – Hurricane, Sara Evans – Suds in the Bucket, Thomas Rhett – Unforgettable, Brooks & Dunn – Ain’t Nothing ‘Bout You, Sugarland – Want To and Baby Girl, and Darius Rucker – Alright.

Immigrants

Danny Thomas used to tell a joke about a newcomer to New York. He couldn’t speak English but liked to eat out. One time a friend helped him order dessert. It was apple pie and coffee. For months he had the same thing because that’s all he could say. Then he ran into his friend again and said, “You know, sometimes I’d like to have steak.” Friend gave him the words and off he dashed to a restaurant. The waitress approached and asked for his order. He said, steak. “And how would you like that cooked?” “Apple pie and coffee.”

Other than adding bodies to help pay for this country of ours, immigration is good for business. Years ago, the Department of Immigration discovered native born Canadians only come in three family types—some givers, some not.

Educated, hardworking, and emotionally stable

Net contributors to the system. These people do hard jobs, volunteer for charities, and pay loads of taxes. Raised to give more than they take, they act as the strong within our communities and are essential for any society to thrive. Mixing talents with effort they bring yeast to the bread and though this tiering isn’t about money, they typically have it.

Middle people

Middle people also do hard jobs but not the hardest, they’re also educated but not in the most difficult disciplines, and they too are well-raised. Their ethic of hard work, pay your bills, and save for retirement makes them the backbone of society. Plus, they stay out of jail and off social assistance. Not causing problems for anyone.

The quality of middle people is crucial to any country because they form the largest part. So if they shift up or down, it matters to the whole. Fortunately for Canada, we have a good one.

Dumb, lazy, and unloved

This last group includes the poorly educated, slow movers, usually from dysfunctional families. Whether it’s subsidized housing, welfare, or the judicial system, these folks cost money. And having too many of us on social programs can bring down the whole system. That’s why we need immigrants.

Immigrants

Canadian immigrants come in various forms and loads of them have dough. But we’re not talking about doctors from South Africa, it’s the ones who work for low wages that we like. Sure, many lack the schooling we have but they score big on hard work and love. And they’re perfect in terms of economic units.

They may bring funny customs but these people generally do a good job, show up on time, never complain, and take whatever shift. Why? Because they’re happy to have a job. And no matter what you pay, it’s always put to good use. This group lives on the lean and it’s remarkable. They don’t drink booze, do cigarettes, or smoke crack. Don’t pay finance charges or need to go to Vegas. And always eat at home, don’t buy lottery tickets, and aren’t slaves to fashion. So not only do they work on the cheap, they can live on it—which is excellent for biz.

And not only are these people economic gold, they raise nice kids. Kids who will become tomorrow’s leaders. Why? Because they’ve been raised with love—real love (and good food, though some of it’s spicy), which makes them emotionally stable—a key to becoming first tier. This along with humility and a strong work ethic builds net contributors, which means this group will soon be coaching our sports teams, sitting on boards, and generally helping others. In the meantime, their families provide great examples for those of us born here.

Summary

Almost one-third of people we grow in Canada have problems, 80% of those we import are good. You do the math. These people are amazing and you couldn’t ask for more. Newcomers embody the essence of human potential and are good for three reasons:

  • they’re good workers (show up on time, don’t complain)
  • are excellent economic units (live within their means, save money, don’t waste)
  • raise wonderful families (emotionally stable, focused on hard work and education)

Not only are immigrants clean living contributors, they’re raising tomorrow’s leaders. So from a government perspective, it’s just good business. Canada is committed to immigration — it’s a national strategy. And that’s why we’re raising the minimum wage. Any investment in these people is money put to good use.

Note: this is the fourth in a series of articles on minimum wage. The first talks about how we got one, the second talks about our huge middle class, and the third says minimum wage is a trade-off between inflation and ethics.

Don’t Eat, Just Cheat

Old time dieters constantly struggle with how much they eat. Controlling intake is always what brings us down. So here’s the trick: two small snacks plus one full meal—that’s it.

Remember the old SlimFast plan: shake for breakfast, shake for lunch, and a sensible dinner? That’s what we’ll do but without the shakes—let’s use healthy friends instead.

Half fast

Snacks are required to get you through the day and should be eaten with intent. This way, no matter what you have for supper, you’re good. Try yogurt, protein, and fibre. Yogurt is good for the tummy because of probiotics (good bacteria), things like carrot sticks can never do you harm, and cheese or a handful of nuts fills you up. This way you get only goodness from the day.

Hunger pangs need to be addressed with protein and not right away. Let your body munch on fat for a while. And you don’t need to eat first thing. Our night long fast can continue until done. So eating breakfast isn’t necessary.

True fasting is stressful and we’d all starve to death (eventually). What we need is a plan that limits intake. So wake up with fasting in mind and then cheat from there. It may take a few days to adjust, but once you get going—it works. (And that’s what dogs do.)

Body as a friend

Psychologists always talk about gratitude. That we should be thankful for every day. You know what I’m grateful for? My body. I’ve abused this vessel for years, always placing it somewhere down the list. Maybe it’s time to care for my friend.

Separate body from self and imagine your body in need of relief. It’s been dragging you around for a long time and may need a break. Time to catch up. You have loads of calories stored up that need to burn off.

Treat your body like a friend. Eating less means sleeping less and you’ll gain energy. Energy that’s now being used to digest. Remember, weight loss is a byproduct of living well. So to lop off pounds, you gotta love Big Joe (Julie, Frankie, or Jill).

First thing

When you wake up, what’s the first thing that goes through your mind? Mine was food.

The road to bettering your body includes fixing mental health and, believe it or not, you can rewire your brain. It’s the power of positive thinking and everyone can do it. Make the first thought of your day to control food intake and then continue from there.

Success comes from focus and this is your chance. Yes you’ll feel pangs, but they’re less painful than recovering from surgery. So why wait until something breaks? Move your body’s priority up to top of the list.

Summary

There’s a scene in the movie Crash, where a mother blames her oldest son for her younger son’s death. She says, “You know whose fault this is? Yours. I always told you to bring your brother home (from the streets), but you were always too busy being successful to ever get that done.” Think of this as a warning to yourself.

Rise with good thoughts, eat only two snacks a day plus one full meal, and exercise when you can. This way you’ll sleep less, have more energy, and your body gets to make a friend.