Saturday, August 20, 2016

Dog Days of Summer, What Does it Really Mean?

What does the term “Dog Days” actually mean?

We all know the modern definition of hot, humid sultry days in August. Days so hot efforts seem to be at a minimum just to conserve energy. To some it is too hot to work, so why not go on vacation.

Seems to work for Europeans. (Try to get service in Paris during August.)

Back to the definition. Turns out National Geographic was just as curious about this term. They wrote:

Many people today use the phrase to mean something like that—but originally, the phrase actually had nothing to do with dogs, or even with the lazy days of summer. Instead, it turns out, the dog days refer to the dog star, Sirius, and its position in the heavens.

To the Greeks and Romans, the “dog days” occurred around the day when Sirius appeared to rise just before the sun, in late July. They referred to these days as the hottest time of the year, a period that could bring fever, or even catastrophe.

The phrase “dog days” was translated from Latin to English about 500 years ago. Since then, it has taken on new meanings.

So, did the Greeks get it right? Are the dog days, around when Sirius rises, really the hottest days of the year?

Well, no.

Although July and August are generally known as the hottest months of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, the hottest period can vary from year to year. And depending on your latitude, the astronomical dog days can come at different times.

In Athens, for instance, Sirius will rise around the middle of August this year. But farther south, it’ll happen earlier in the year; farther north, it’ll happen later.

There’s another reason that the dog days don’t correspond neatly with the heat: the stars in Earth’s night sky shift independently of our calendar seasons.

This means that the dog days of ancient Greece aren’t the dog days of today. What it also means is that several millennia from now, this astrological event won’t even occur during the summer.

So. It sounds like we can call them the dog days for any reason we want to.
Maybe we can call them dog days because these are the final days of this summer, and like a dog, we should enjoy them in a carefree manner:

Enjoy each day.
Go crazy over every person you meet.
Learn a new trick-and show it off.
Greet people you see everyday like you haven’t seen them in years.
Play with your best friend.
Go exploring.
Act as if the food you’re eating is the best food you’ll ever have.
Take in those belly rubs.
Know the answer to “Who’s a good dog?!”
Chase a ball, bring it back and insist they throw it—just don’t give it to them right away for some reason.
Drink in the summer by the bowlful
Be thankful
Give paw.
Run as hard as you can—even if limited.
Be thrilled to go somewhere in the car
Support those who enjoy the chase
Be so excited about life you cannot help but jump up and down.

Live in the moment and own these dog days.
Miracle Stretch

Wednesday, August 3, 2016

The Rocky Road of Chronic Pain & Motivation to Move Forward

“Let me tell you something people suffering in pain already know…”

As you search the internet for motivational speakers, speeches and the like, you may be surprised at one of the top picks.

Surprised that is, unless you are a fan of the ROCKY films. Rocky Balboa, in particular.

(Warning: The following paragraphs contain spoilers)

In this 6th film, Rocky is living a modest post-fight career life, running a restaurant and coping with the loss of his wife, Adrian. Meanwhile he is watching his son become bitter and looking for his own identity and place in the world.

In the middle of the film, Rocky addresses the son’s frustrations with a speech that had as much impact on the moviegoer as it did on Rocky’s son.

Here it is:

“When things got hard, you started looking for something to blame. Like a Big Shadow.

“Let me tell you something you already know.

The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place, and I don't care how tough you are, it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it.

You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life.

But it ain't about how hard you hit…

…It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward; how much you can take and keep moving forward.

That's how winning is done!

Now, if you know what you're worth, then go out and get what you're worth. But you gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain't where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody. Cowards do that and that ain't you. You're better than that!

This speech, or at least its message, is one that could also come from someone who is hit with chronic pain.

Everyday.

This could be a message from the people who get hit with nerve, leg, back, piriformis or sciatic pain-everyday-and hit back.

In fact, over 31 million Americans face chronic pain on a daily basis.

That’s 31 million people who find the will to keep moving forward.

31 million friends and family who take the hits and keep moving forward.

(31 million Americans mostly suffering in silence, too.)

Although they may feel they are losing a battle, they are winning the war. There is always hope.

Perhaps, for many, hope is simply a stretch away. For some, it is much more.

Either way, they keep taking the hits and moving forward.

How’s that for a motivational moment?

(Now time to crank up a little "Eye of the Tiger" Rocky theme song, and some favorite past Rocky clips, courtesy of Survivor, ES, and YouTube.)