Steve Scalph

So my wife tells me today that she heard on the radio that two-thirds of the people in the United States receive a tax refund and that the average is between $2000 and $3000!

So I asked about 9 people today and they look at me like I am crazy. Where are these people? Who are they? How do they do that?

Oh, we ended up paying not only the Federal Government, but also the State of Indiana.

What gives? I guess I am just one of those WEALTHY Business Owners who end up paying.

Do you a lot of people that fell into this AVERAGE?

Last week I could feel it coming on – GOUT! Been there, done that, was not something I was looking forward to. If you have had an attack of Gout, you know what I am talking about.

Well over the weekend it really hit hard, with a swollen big toe on my left foot. It wasn’t bad cutting grass sitting on my Dixon ZTR but any walking around was painful. I spent a lot of time with my foot elevated while I laid on the couch. I didn’t feel bad about this because I had made a trip to LA Fitness Sunday morning for a good workout, just nothing that required walking.

This morning, Monday, I had a scheduled doctor’s appointment for my annual physical. BP good, Cholesterol good, no unusual aches or pains, no chest pains, just one big fat swollen toe! The doctor was pretty bored. Before my physical, my wife tells me that she heard on Dr Oz that raisins soaked in gin brings relief for arthritis, or gout. The doctor has never heard of this.

Personally, I am thinking this is okay because a year ago I stopped drinking alcohol as it creates uric acid which causes gout. Now I am thinking that my GIN Martinis would go good with 9 or so golden raisins!

Well, I get home and I have a whole jar full of raisins soaked in GIN. I am thinking this is okay! Think I may look forward to remedy!

Anyone ever heard of this?

Wow, what an eye opener!

About a year ago I became a vegetarian and feel really great for the changes in diet that I have accomplished. After reading “The Veganist” I am extremely happy that I made the changes. Industrial meat is not healthy at all and the lives these poor animals live in order to provide food for us is abominable.

The biggest impact this book made on me was the testimonials of individuals who changed their lifestyle by changing their diets. Many in a short period of time. One example was “Robert Dew’s Story, Reversign the Family Heart-Atttack Pattern”. Within 6 months he went from Blood Pressure of 130/95 to 115/65 and Cholesterol 250/127 with no meds, just diet and exercise. Oh, but there is more, but you will have to read the book.

My personal experience is that by doing the Lemonade Master Cleanse, changing my diet, and regular exercise, my blood pressure has dropped from 160/100 (a year ago) to 114/65 (last week at the doctors office). Next week a full physical to see what the other indicators are.

A friend posted this question on Facebook and it reminded me of a neighbor of ours in Rome, NY who lived at the end of a dead end street. A lot of teenagers parked there in the evenings – do teenagers still do that?

Anyway, the young adults started throwing trash out of their cars. This proactive neighbor placed a 55 gallon drum out for trash. Then he proceeded to inform the teens parking there that he did not mind them parking at the end of the road (on his property) but that they please place their trash in the 55 gallon drum.

Surprisingly enough, they responded by complying with his wishes.

I think this was a simple act of asking the teens to be responsible and they were.

I just find it difficult to understand how kids are raised to think that they can just throw their junk on other people’s property. USE A TRASH CAN, Please.

The other day during my workout at LA Fitness, I did 50 setups and stretched for about 10 minutes, then off to the crunch machine. Put 110 pounds on it and did 50 crunches to really work my back and abs. Felt great.

The next day I am feeling the tightness in my abs and back. Love that feeling!

Then on Saturday, my wife and I are shopping at the Ft Ben Harrison Commissary, and I have to sneeze. Try holding it back so I don’t spray all over everything – my wife is trying to train me – but I sneeze anyway. And don’t you know it, I pull a muscle in my back. This is nuts, I think….. A simple, powerful sneeze and I pull a muscle. Go figure…

So now, I am walking around like an old man! Oh, wait, I may be an old man. Back to LA Fitness on Sunday and doing fine.

My friend Neil just published a blog about turning 44 (youngster) which brought back a memory from my past. Now Neil related his experience to marketing, because that is what he does. I relate this to some that I am more passionate about now as I prepare to turn 68, exercise and health.

Neil’s blog reminded me of an anniversary party I went to a number of years ago. Actually it was my in-laws 50th wedding anniversary. I was probably in my early 40′s.

One of the guest was a life long friend of my mother-in-law. Joy was a petite woman, very active and very out-spoken and approaching 80 years old. I always enjoyed talking with Joy because of her enthusiasm for life. Because of all the grandchildren there, we started talking about age. I asked if Joy would like to be a teen again.

“Oh, No! But I wouldn’t mind be 25 again” she replied. Then she continued “the hardest part about getting older is getting up the morning, looking in the mirror, and not recognizing the image in the mirror, because you know that that young person is still inside.”

Today I can appreciate this statement more than ever. About a year ago I experienced a gout attack and immediately made a decision (I just don’t like pain) to eat healthier, exercise more and lose some weight. In that year I have lost 25 pounds, exercise 3 times a week, and have changed to a vegetarian diet. Isn’t that what life is about – change?

This morning when I got up or rather dragged myself out of bed as I could tell I had exercised last night, but as I got moving around, I recognized that youth within, that feeling of energy, strength, and robust enthusiasm for what was ahead. Then I looked in the mirror and realized that I had more work to do, but also was enthusiastic and positive about the journey.

A few days ago I posted a blog “Green” about receiving 3 separate bills on the same day from my insurance company. I made a mistake! I named the wrong company.

Years ago I heard a saying “If you aren’t making mistakes, you aren’t doing anything”.

This proves it. I am doing something! And believe me, I have made a lot of mistakes, but I figure I am getting closer to perfect. Well, maybe just better as I am sure I will never it perfect. However, it is a great goal to shoot for!

I did notice I got an inordinate number of hits on the blog site when I made a mistake.

The other day I was driving home along highway 267 in Plainfield in the left lane. I was going about 2 miles over the posted speed limit when I was passed on the right and immediately given the famous finger!

Now in years past I would have been angry or even enraged! But my immediate thought was “what’s his problem?” I continued to watch this driver weave in and out along 267 until we both arrived at the traffic light to I-70 at the same time. If I had not been driving I think I would have been ROTFLOL!

As I think back on this I still wonder what his hurry was? Why did I get SPECIAL recognition?

Life is beautiful, smell the roses on the way, and don’t get caught up in some idiot’s rudeness or game!

A few days ago I received 3 bills from my new insurance company; one for my car; one for my home; and an umbrella policy. I elected to pay quarterly.

I grabbed the three bills today and decided to pay them. As I opened the first, I noticed a statement on the back of the enclosed envelope for mailing in my payment . “GO GREEN” it stated. Online Paperless Policy Viewing, Online Paperless Bill Viewing, Electronic Bill Payment.

This company is looking to GO GREEN, yet they send me 3 separate bills in 3 separate envelopes with 3 separate advertising flyers and 3 return envelopes. Not to mention 3 times the postage. Now I understand that Auto-Owners Insurance is large company and they probably rationalize that it would cost them money to multi-stuff (my word) one envelope to one customer. I would think a simple computer program could ALERT them of this process.

Who is paying for this? Oh, that’s right ME, the CUSTOMER!

I just find it ironic that they want me to GO GREEN, but they are not taking the initiative to GO GREEN. I would suggest that you look within to promote GOING GREEN!

I received a small package in the mail the other day from my sister in California. Inside the package was a small book “The Game of Life and How To Play It” by Florence Scovel Shinn. She had mentioned that she was sending me a book.

I noticed a couple of endorsements by one of my favorite writers and speakers, Dr. Norman Vincent Peale. (I met Dr. Peale years ago on an elevator in a Dallas hotel) I also noticed that the book was written in 1925. Well, nothing new here, I thought.

I set the book aside, but picked it up a couple evening later and began to read. What an easy read and what profound content. Nothing I had not read or heard before, but just a refresher course in the law of prosperity, the power of the word, the law of nonresistance, casting the burden and more. Shinn fills the pages with example after example that are as pertinent today as they were in the 1920′s.

I found myself re-readiing parts of this and starting to practice some of these concepts. I know that they really work for I have personally experienced some of these things. (I will share one with you in another blog that not only amazed me but also my family).

For a free pdf version of Shinn’s book click here!