Draft Search for Significance Chapter 1

The Search for Significance

 Chapter One

We are all unaware of how wounded we are. Emotionally, relationally, and spiritually we are not objective about our health in these areas and therefore we do not know how to get moving in the right direction. I highlighted a lot from this first chapter but the one I underlined was the following: It’s difficult - if not impossible - to turn on the light of objectivity by ourselves. McGee goes on to say it’s a one-two punch of the Holy Spirit and another friend that’s required to turn the light on. I couldn't agree more, yet I continually feel the challenge to pursue both of those relationships on a regular basis in my life.

I’m excited to read this book so that I’m forced to consider these relationships. I find lots of comfort when I read the Psalms, and those are readily quote by McGee later in the chapter. And the reminder from McGee is helpful: simply ask the Lord to give you the courage to be honest. Give Him permission to shine His Psirit’s light on your thoughts, feelings, and actions. But even as we allow this work of God to happen, we must remember that we are on a battlefield. We must be equipped for spiritual battle. That strength comes directly from the Word of God, prayer with God, and fellowship with His people (our brothers and sisters). Do you have that? Do I? If not, what are we doing to pursue it? 

I know I’m loved. My problem is too often I don’t feel like I’m loved by God. I have doubts (pretty big doubts, if I’m honest). Beyond doubts, I flat-out don’t like certain situations and “seasons” God has put into my life. Or from another perspetive, I don’t like how He’s equipped me to handle those situations. These thoughts lead me to that place where I don’t feel God’s love and it takes a disiplined effort to not only get into His presence but feel the loving hand of my Father. 

Draft Search for Significance Chapter 1

 The Search for Significance

Introduction

I love Nancy’s book club. Well, I guess I love the motivation behind it and the potential that it has. I don’t necessarily love the execution. Six years ago when our aunt Nancy died, Unlce Paul (her brother) introduced a book club to the family. Nancy was a voracious reader and he wanted that legacy to live on. I’ve always had the desire to create a blog from this so that an extended family which stretches across Wisconsin and Minnesota could discuss the book each year. Sadly, I’ve never made this happen. 

So here it goes: The Search For Significance

We are all unaware of how wounded we are. Emotionally, relationally, and spiritually we are not objective about our health in these areas and therefore we do not know how to get moving in the right direction. 

Add a Post Title

Testing Markdown

1. here’s a list

2. second item

3. and third

New title (H3)

Here’s the H4

Body - this text needs to be followed up with bullets. So...

• bullet 1

• number 2

• three

• and FOUR

It’s time to get people’s attention. Adn that shoudl do it. If not, try the subtle italics.

Add a Post Title

Testing DeskPM again. I want to drop a pic in here.  

Then keep writing.

After the Preview is clicked, we should be able to his ESC to get out of it.

And then can we format the pics for justification after?

So now, after publishing, can I edit by adding this additional text? Let’s hope .md works

Add a Post Title

Testing DeskPM again. I want to drop a pic in here.  

Then keep writing.

After the Preview is clicked, we should be able to his ESC to get out of it.

And then can we format the pics for justification after?

2014-06-02 Pete.dpm

Pete D.

I’m going to write a blog post about Pete D. who is the crossing guard at Monroe and Grant here in Madison. On Wednesday mornings I go to Barriques on Monroe after my TRX Kettlebell fusion class. As I walk up Monroe, I can see Pete jogging up the block with his crossing guard vest on. What a model for the kids. He’s active, he’s helping kids; we need more adults like this in our community.


So until I get that pic of Pete, here’s one of Sorin climbing in the Arboretum.  It’s shrunk to 60% because at 100% I couldn’t manually grab the corners and resize. I had to go into the code (“inspect element”). Additionally, I’m having the same fading problem with text when I get to the bottom of my writing window (see below). 


Lastly, when I add a pic like this I can’t get the text below the pic. Also, after adding this pic, the first one of Sorin resized to 100%.

The Competition

Looking around at some other publishing applications and I’m looking at Byword. I just purchased it on Wednesday (after a long time of deliberation) and it’s pretty sweet. It does a lot of what DeskPM should be doing. Interestingly it doesn’t allow you to insert images, which John had built in from the start (or at least when he let me into the inner circle!


One of the big things Byword has to offer is the ability to publish to Evernote. This is **huge** for me (and yes, I know markdown is not supported yet, just trying to get into the habit). I can see me using it kind of like Drafts for iPhone - fire it up, make a note and publish right to my Evernote Inbox. 

Well, I wrote paragraph one, then paragraph two, then inserted the image above and it seems like the second paragraph may leak into the image. Publishing now to find out.

*update: you can see from the previous post it didn’t format well.  I’ve inserted to line breaks now and I’m reinserting, republishing.

Add a Post Title

Adding two images to Blogger. This one is a screen shot of the Dan Patrick show featuring JJ Watt.
The next one is right under, looks perfect right now. New line, all good!

Now I have the pic on the left, so I’m writing here on teh right. JJ Watt had an amazing ox jump. Look at the box - it’s at his chest. And he’s able to explode and elevate, not just getting there but standing there! 














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Testing right image now. Here’s a pic of JJ youth football in my hometown, Pewaukee, Wisc.



Now entering more text, the cursor went top left again (into the margin), but typing brought it back tow where it’s supposed to be.

2014-05-05 autosave testing

2014-05-05

Drafting this Monday morning. Hitting save and then coming back, looking over the auto save feature.

9:43 AM checking autosave.

9:54 AM checking autosave

9:55 AM

Auto save working well.

Published to Blogger.

2014-05-05 autosave testing

2014-05-05

Drafting this Monday morning. Hitting save and then coming back, looking over the auto save feature.

9:43 AM checking autosave.

9:54 AM checking autosave

9:55 AM

Auto save working well.

Add a Post Title

My original blog was on blogger. Just typing that brings back fond memories of my initial days publishing for the first time. I need to go back and read some more of those. Great time.

So I really had a tough time with images there, so I want to see if DeskPM is handling them any better.

Well I would say that’s better - entered a left, right, and center. Just started typing after that and I’m already right below all images, not starting up and to the right anymore! Win!!

I think an H2 would be appropriate for my last section.

This is Heading 2

I love espresso. I’m training for Olympic distance triathlons this summer. And well, On Wisconsin!!

** undo took away the formatting and the text, then the next text.

Add a Post Title

My original blog was on blogger. Just typing that brings back fond memories of my initial days publishing for the first time. I need to go back and read some more of those. Great time.

So I really had a tough time with images there, so I want to see if DeskPM is handling them any better.

Well I would say that’s better - entered a left, right, and center. Just started typing after that and I’m already right below all images, not starting up and to the right anymore! Win!!

I think an H2 would be appropriate for my last section.

This is Heading 2

I love espresso. I’m training for Olympic distance triathlons this summer. And well, On Wisconsin!!

** undo took away the formatting and the text, then the next text.

Chris and Hans recorded their podcast (week 16) following the Titans game this week.  Chris was broadcasting behind enemy lines, deep in Minnesota.  He was joined by his brother-in-law and friend of the show Jon Anderson.



Podcast Week 16

Game Plan Launch - the New Home

I know that not many of my readers used Twitter.  This post is NOT about Twitter so keep reading.  But the micro-blogging platform has opened my eyes to a whole new world of people, relationship, conversations and information.  It's also forced me to develop my writing here at the Game Plan.

To that end, I'm launching a new project today.  Here's the premise: I want to take my blogging to the next level and create a more professional platform for myself, both personally and professionally.  I have learned a lot on Blogger, starting a total of four blogs and consulting for two others.  I have been challenged by some very successful people to take the Game Plan and make it a more suitable "home base" for everything I do online. 

The goal is to be more professional.  But the process is one that could take months, even years to develop.  And that's not the point.  The point is to get out there and allow it to grow.  I continually coach clients to start small, establish consistency and build a new lifestyle for themselves.  So I need to practice what I preach.  There will never be a good time to launch this new project because I'll always want to make a few more adjustments.  I simply need to jump in and make my adjustments as I go. 

Since this is a soft launch, I'm going to skip the disclaimers.  There's a lot more work on my end to make this project more complete, but the location and structure has been set.  I'll fill in the pieces as I go. 

So let's Go!  My new home is HansSchiefelbein.com  I hope you'll join us.

Project Launch

Forgive the cliche, but there's no time like the present.  There's no better time than right now to do that project you've been "Planning" for months, if not years.  For many of the people I talk to, this is in regards to working out, losing weight.  That's why Nike took the cliche and made the passive statement an active one: Just Do It.

Earlier this week I listened to an interview that mentioned a phrase called "analysis paralysis."  The idea was that someone could get stuck analyzing a situation so much so that it actually paralyzes them from making a decision and proceeding with action. Analysis paralysis is one hurdle to getting things done, or in this case launched.

There's always a couple really good reasons why you don't launch a project, right?  In the exercise world, you don't know how you'll find at least 20 minutes per day to workout.  And even if you do, how can you do this 3-5 days per week like ACSM recommends.  And there's so many exercises to choose from.  How can you do them all, or which ones should you do?  And then of course you know that life will get busy, and you'll probably never stick to the workout routine.  So it never starts.

What about other projects?  For me right now, I'm working on an online project that has taken me months to “complete”.  I've watched the pros do it and I want to launch my own.  But the pros are so good at it.  How could I ever get to their level?  I don’t want to do this if it's not the best. So it's been put off month after month.

What I'm working on is a new blog.  It will be a website, really.  When I say I’ve been working on it for months I mean that i've dabbled with it here and there.  Realistically it gets very little of my time.  But still I’ve been procrastinating a launch because it’s not quite where I want it to be.  I want to put a professional foot forward and have a product I'm proud of.  And that's where I've been hung up. 

That's the inspiration for this post, because I've made a decision. 

The website will never be ready to launch.  There's always more time and money to be put into it.  Actually, the time component which has been holding me up is the component that I could control (and start) right now!  The sooner I launch my new website, the sooner I can get the “project launch” out from under me.

So the point it this: I'm in search of progress, not perfection.  There's never a perfect time to start a workout program.  So you should start tomorrow morning.  For me, there's never a perfect time to launch my new website.  So I'm starting Monday morning.

All the details will be there on the opening page.  To get there, you'll have to come back here.  So it’s a date? 

See you Monday for the launch!


   

The Principle of Overload

There is a principle in fitness training that is essential to experience any type of improvement in performance.  It's called the principle of overload and here's how it works.  Our bodies get really good at performing the demands we place on it.  If you ask your body to run 2 miles every other day, your body will get really good at that.  If you ask your body to do 60 push-ups and 60 sit-ups every day, your body will get really good at that.

What about at work?  If you tell your body to walk around the store room and move a few boxes, your body will get really good at that.  But what if those boxes got heavier?  You'd struggle!  Or what if you were asked to move 30% faster?  You'd struggle!

This is where the principle of overload comes in.  When you overload your system (i.e. your body) you systematically break down your muscles so that they grow back stronger.  This is the only way to improve performance, by breaking down muscle fibers.


I experienced a perfect example of this on my 12 mile run this morning.  I'm training for a half marathon in Middleton at the end of the month.  Training has gone well so far, but my longest run was last week and it was only 8.75 miles.  To jump to 12 miles was ambitious, but I know my body and it's abilities.  Typical distance training calls for small increases in "long runs" once per week.  To go from 8.75 to 9.5 or even 10 would have been very comfortable.  But that additional two miles was excessive overload today.

And I felt it.  My route was three 4-mile loops, and on the third loop I was halfway through when it hit me.  I knew it was coming, but knowing the principles of overload and progression made the feeling even more pronounced.  I had entered a mileage where my body was completely stress because it hadn't been there before (during this particular training session).

Of course this brings up another topic - the fight.  What do you do when you are at a place you've never been before, but you need to make it to the finish line?  Another post for another day.

Back to overload.  This morning's run was excessive overload but it was a controlled situation and it was a place I've been before, albeit one year ago.  Still, the overload is necessary for improved performance.  (I'll have to remind my legs throughout the day that this is for their good.)

So what about you?  Training, work, personal, spiritual.  If the principle of overload says that you must exert greater than normal stress on a system to grow it stronger, how are you doing that?

Change in Race Schedule

Katie and I are signed up for the Chicago Half Marathon in two weeks, but have to change our plans because we could not find a babysitter for Norah.  Now don't you all start jumping out of the woodwork now - we've already made our decision.

It's tough for me because I've wanted to run Chicago for years and this year my mom bought my entrance fee as a birthday gift!  Well, it just wasn't meant to be.  Katie is really bummed too because she's been training so hard.  I wish I knew how many 5-mile runs she's done pushing both kids in the double-jogger. 

But fear not: the Schiefelbein's will not be denied!  We've decided to sign up for a half marathon in Middleton October 31st.  This entails a rededication to our training.  We're going to taper down a bit and then build back up to peak in about 8 weeks.

As for me, I'm hoping this little rest will allow me to ramp up my training.  I'll admit that I lost interest in the last couple weeks.  My long runs have been good, and I'm getting faster.  But the short runs during the week haven't been happening.  So this little adjustment may be just what I need.

I've been training with my Five Fingers occasionally.  This will allow me to get back into regular training once a week barefoot.  Also, I haven't had the time this summer to train on the track doing sprint work which was a goal of mine.  I guess I'm getting a second chance here.

Are you training for anything this fall?  There's always a good Turkey Trot somewhere locally.  And a good (cold) Jingle Bell run is always fun! 

Vibram Five Fingers

Have you heard of the barefoot running craze?  Did you know that the Stanford track team practices barefoot and only puts on their Nike shoes for competitions?  Barefoot running sounds hard on the feet... could it actually be good for your health and training?

When I heard that the book Born to Run was based on an ancient tribe in Mexico and their ultra-running culture, I was immediately turned off.  It just sounded a little too far-fetched for me.  But it was recommended by Michael Hyatt, CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishing and a voice I highly respect.  It took me a couple months to get into the book; Katie and her dad beat me to it.  They said it's a must-read.  So read I did.  And it's changed everything.

The idea of the book is this: our feet were made to run, and all of the "protection" of high-end running shoes inhibit their ability to get stronger.  Essentially the cushion prevents our feet from being stressed and this eventually weakens the feet, leading to injury.  In another post, I'll do a book review of Born to Run.  Today, I'd like to tell you about my experience with barefoot running.

My running career consists of two half marathons and three full marathons.  I have an educational background in biomechanics and exercise physiology.  Born to Run drew on these collective experiences and knowledge and convinced me to at least try to train part-time barefoot running.

I bought my Vibram Five Fingers three weeks ago partially on a birthday gift from my brother-in-law, Peter.   It is very important to know that you don't just jump into training barefoot.  So I've progressed from quarter-mile runs to about three miles yesterday.  This has taken place over the last three weeks.  Currently I'm on vacation in Sanibel Island, Florida and I just completed a 38-minute run in my Vibrams.

Many people ask, "How does it feel?"  Friends on Facebook are asking, "How do your ankles and calves respond?"  My answer aligns perfectly with one of my principles of training: progression is essential.

My feet hurt pretty bad after my first couple weeks of running in the Vibrams.  But I could literally feel my feet getting stronger.  I know the biomechanics of my feet and their high arches.  I know I've done a bunch of sprinting on the balls of my feet and barefoot running on grass and sand.  So I know the science says they'll get stronger.  But as with any form of training, there's a breakdown phase before there's a strengthening phase.  I'm starting to get stronger.

In Summary:  Born to Run convinced me to explore the barefoot running method.  I bought Vibram Five-Fingers and have been progressively training longer distances in them.  I have a long way to go to change my running form.  But as an athlete and a trainer, I've dedicated my life to helping people understand health and fitness.  This is just one other component to training of which I'm seeking to become an expert.

Any questions?  Find me on Facebook or ask in the Comments section.  In my next post, I'll talk about my first water-shed running moment - my first mile run in the Vibrams followed by four miles in my running shoes.

Family Camp 2010

For the second year in a row, Katie and I took the family to Fort Wilderness in Reinlander, WI for Family Camp.  This has turned into one of our favorite weeks of the year.  The Northwoods are so beautiful, but for us it has been about the community.

When I think back on our week at the Fort, I think of a giant family gathering.   How cheesy does that sound?  But here's the deal: the camp is full of families with kids of all ages.  Each family is so unique and so friendly.  We have met the neatest people there.  The Fort has established a sense of community that makes me as a parent extremely comfortable having my son freely walk around and explore.  This was my biggest memory from 2010: Sorin was able to walk around the dining hall and the walking trails on his own for so much of the trip.  Don't get me wrong, I kept a close eye on him.  But you can immediately feel the community love on these kids from the smiles, to the waves, to the gentle direction and watchful eye of a stranger who's about to become a new friend.

I watched for one week while Sorin walked more than he's ever walked in a week.   The camp is wide open and has trails that must be a path to adventure for a little kid.  Sorin had his first exposure to so many trees, the lake, trails, and even a playground.  I had him in our backpack for a couple trips and he loved the view from my back.  One of the warmest feeling I got was when so many of the men and women would look at him and call him by name.  To have other families embrace my child is very special.

My parenting years are only numbering two, but I feel it's safe to say that this type of community is not common for today's youth.  Sorin has an extended community of family and friends that make me excited to allow him to grow up as a Fort camper.

And Norah.  Well it was her first year and she was an angel.  Not really, but how do you follow up Sorin's experience with an 8-week old baby?  Norah didn't sleep so well so we had a long week in that regards.  To be fully honest, I slept pretty well - it was Katie that struggled.  All kidding aside, we did have a hard time with Norah.  We wouldn't have it any other way, but two kids under two makes "vacation" not the most accurate description of the week. 

Still, Katie and I had some nice times together on walks to and from meals and a couple times at the beach.  Of course we also had the added benefit of both sets of grandparents at Family Camp with us.  They helped quite a bit which is so nice. 

Katie and Sorin and I were in a tent for the week at Family Camp #1 last year.  This year with a newborn we decided to get a cabin.  Boy was that a great idea!  We had a huge cabin all to ourselves without a worry of waking up any other campers when Norah started to cry.  One of my favorite memories was around 7pm each night.  I'd give Sorin a quick shower to clean off his suntan lotion and dirt.  We'd get our pajamas on and sit around on the mattress that Katie and I slept on which was place between two bunk beds.  Sorin's pack-n-play was on the other side of a bunk and Norah slept on another bed or right next to Katie.  We had this whole cabin to ourselves to end our day as a family getting ready for bed.  It's moments like this that make me excited to create and continue annual rituals like Family Camp.

If you have children from newborn through high school, I would highly recommend Fort Wilderness Family Camp.  You can ask question in the Comment section or email me.  Kids these days have a lot of video games, tv, cell phones, and the cement of the city.  Fort Wilderness allows me and my family to get out into God's creation, see His beauty, and explore the great outdoors.

A Common Thread of Competition

Last week our family was on vacation up in Reinlander, Wisconsin.  For the second year in a row we attended Family Camp #1 at Fort Wilderness.  I'll be writing about that experience this weekend, but right now I want to talk about a recurring discussion I was having all week: training.

When training conversations came up, I could feel an interesting vibe and buzz.  Maybe it's because I'm a fitness guy and that topic gets me jazzed.  But I think it's more than that.  It wasn't community because it was a bunch of conversations I had with individuals.  Still, being the common denominator in all of them I can't help but recognize the theme. 

Here's some of the stories I heard: one was doing her first marathon after just completing her first triathlon.  Another is doing her first marathon after realizing she signed up for the full instead of the half.  Another was asking me about doing her first 10K or even half marathon, but she's chosen to run around her hometown lake - no small feat, it's 17 miles!  One woman just got done with P90X and she and I were discussing the pros and cons of the training and what's next for her. 

When the topic of training was brought up, I certainly perked up and took extra notice.  Maybe that was part of the reason I was feeling a vibe each time.  But even if that was the case, there's no disputing our mutual excitement to talk about training.

If exercise and training evokes such positive conversations, why?  My guess is that each person feels a sense of empowerment and pride.  Their fitness is a challenge.  You don't hear people talking about their trip to the gym and the great treadmill work they did or the additional set they got through on their bench press.  But training for a marathon?  Now there's a lively discussion.

What about you?  Are you training for anything?  Katie and I are signed up for the Chicago half marathon in September.  I've got a bunch of friends doing other races and competitions this fall.  Would you be intrested in training for your first 5K?  10K?  Sprint triathon?

Or maybe you're just working out to get in shape.  That's cool, and great work! 

Feel free to comment below if you'd like to join our community of athletes?