The Corrigan Encore

What can you do?

October 18, 2023 John Corrigan

I am standing in a coaches office staring at a poster on the wall. The poster has an athlete on a track in the start position for a sprint. Hands down on the track one foot in front of the other on their toes. The quote on the poster reads

You’ll never know what you’re capable of until you take that first step and just go for it.

I love this poster and quote. It is simple yet truly profound. It can be easy to over analyze and evaluate situations especially difficult or fearful ones and life is full of difficult and fearful situations. As we think and analyze fear can become prohibitive and even crippling. Fear may stop us from trying and that is a shame because the quote is true we really do not know what we are capable of.

Life itself is a pretty powerful and incredible thing and if you are reading this than you are alive and thinking. Thinking is also a pretty powerful thing.

Never underestimate the power of thought; it is the greatest path to discovery
Idowu Koyenikan, Wealth for All: Living a Life of Success at the Edge of Your Ability

You are a living thinking being and you are way more powerful than you can imagine. You are definitely more powerful than your fears.

You are one thing only. You are a Divine Being. An all-powerful Creator. You are a Deity in jeans and a t-shirt, and within you dwells the infinite wisdom of the ages and the sacred creative force of All that is, will be and ever was.
Anthon St. Maarten, Divine Living: The Essential Guide To Your True Destiny

So whatever you are facing today, you got this! You are awesome and you look great in jeans too 😉 .

Not that

October 17, 2023 John Corrigan

There is a lot of gun violence in the United States. It is the middle of October and as of September there were over 500 mass shootings in the United States. If by a miracle there were no more mass shootings in the United States this year there have already been more mass shootings in the United States then there have been days in the year. For one reason or another more people than I have ever imagined commit some pretty awful crimes against life and it is very temnpting to simply “write off” these people and call them monsters but that are not monsters are they?

I think it was Oprah Winfrey who did an interview with the father of Jeffery Dahmer. Jeffery Dahmer was a serial killer who, killed seventeen men and then ate the bodies of the men. There is a Netflix documentary about Jeffery Dahmer called Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, I actually have not watched it yet but plan to. Even in the name of documentary/ miniseries the word monster is used but I remember when Oprah was interviewing Lionel (Jeffs dad) thinking that this is a son who did these monstrous things.

See to “write off” monstrous actions from members of a society does society and all its members an injustice and does not provide a good path forward as a species. In the Oprah interview Lionel mentions how he wishes of course that he had paid more attention to Jefferies development and how he failed to see what are now considered to be red flags when Jeffery was as young as 4 years old.

Jeffery Dahmer died in prison. Prison is a quick answer for the people that a society “writes off” as monsters and usually does not involve research understanding or growth for a society.

Generally speaking, punishment makes men hard and cold; it concentrates; it sharpens the feeling of alienation; it strengthens the power of resistance
Friedrich Nietzsche, On the Genealogy of Morals / Ecce Homo

Here in the United States we love to lock people up and hurt them especially when we have deemed them monsters. Here in the United States we also love to call people monsters.

I no doubt agree that the actions of Jeffery Dahmer and other criminals are monstrous however I cannot agree that Jeffery Dahmer and other criminals are monsters because they are not they are people. It is far to easy and destructive to call a criminal a monster throw them and jail and go on about our lives like this is ok it is not. Human beings have to work together somehow (especially in the United States) or the species will not survive and we are not working together when one group has no issue with calling another group monsters and locking up or killing them by the thousands.

Election season seems to never stop in the United States something you may wish to look for when participating in that election season is a politician that at least gives some lip service to rehabilitation and reform in the justice system.

Make it a Movement

October 13, 2023 John Corrigan

In an earlier post of mine I mentioned that we need to take back our weekends. I am trying to do this and friends and family are too, however work is demanding and it does not always seem possible but, it is. We can have a healthy work life balance if we make the effort to do so.

So let’s all work together and make this happen.

Turn off the phone When you leave work today (I am typing this up on a Friday) turn off or put your work phone away. Stay as late as you need to get your work done for the week but, when your work for the week is done do not start on next weeks work, that will be there on Monday.
Understand the scope of your role When your work for the week is done… What is your work for the hour day week month year? We have entered into the age of generalists at work and as such the scope of many workers has grown so much so that employees are really not sure when their work is done or what exactly they are responsible for. Learning your place and scope at work will help you disconnect when you are done for the day week and month. If yoiu work for a good employer scope of work will be clear, most do not and scope of work is often muddy at best. A tactic that can and should be taken is a “Signing off” procedure everyday. You can sign off when you leave for the day or week through an email letting your manager know your accomplishments or through a verbal check out letting them know the accomplishments and giving them the chance to let you know if there is something you missed.
Set it and forget it You’ve signed off and turned off the phone and now it is time to set work off. Change your focus to what really matters you, family and friends. Its the weekend make plans and do something with loved ones, it can be as simple as a matinee or as elaborate as a short vacation. Stay in a hotel for one night and be a tourist in a neighboring city, take a train, plane or bus ride and explore an attraction you’ve seen on Tik Tok, go to the park and play some pickleball. Do something that is not work, you earned the weekend.

Once we have taken back the weekend we will work on taking back our evenings and eventually our lives. The pandemic and technology have blurred the lines between work and leisure time, let’s start a movement to make the lines clear and present.

…with all this taking back the weekend talk i had to post a music video of him for us to rock to…… You are welcome

How can we?

October 12, 2023 John Corrigan

Accidents happen, and the nature of an accident causes changes and damage to the normal day and life that we are living. Often we see accidents happen to others and we wonder what can we do to help.

I remember listening to a country music star talk about how he was shocked when he heard the news about the terrorist attack in the United States on 9/11/2001. The star went on to say that, after the shock he just wanted to help and wasn’t sure how he could. He then decided to write and play music about the event because that is what he knew.

Of course we can and do and should give to charities, money is always helpful to a charity and if you can do it I would suggest giving in a sustainable manner (monthly, bi monthly or yearly). Money as charity is good because it is modular, the charity can use it for just about anything however, we often feel like we can and should do more but what more can we do? That’s a tough question..

Do what you know best; if you’re a runner, run, if you’re a bell, ring.
Ignas Bernstein

Often we work within our strengths, or our work becomes a strength. If you are looking for a way to help a friend or family member (beyond monetary), you should lean into your strengths. You would be surprised at what someone needs when they have suffered damage because of an accident. There was a family in my church that suffered the loss of the matriarch, and I wanted to help out. I on multiple occasions brought the family plates of food and was shocked at how much this simple act seemed to help the family.

We can do a lot of help by leaning into our strengths and helping with as much kindness as we can muster. I think maybe even more important than the action of help is the attitude that we give the help with. Help with kindness in mind, not obligation or pity.

No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted
Aesop

Take time today to help others.

Sometimes we need it

October 10, 2023 John Corrigan

People are social animals. The importance of social connections is inarguable among experts in the medical community. We need help form friends and family even if it is just a phone call or sitting in silence. Hermits risk loneliness and health problems.

Being there for others and reaching out to others is a totally healthy normal thing to do. When I think about friends and families helping each other I cannot help but hear the Beatles song, “with A Little Help from My Friends”. What an amazing song, great lyrics and a tune that is amazing!

Take time today to call or visit a friend or family remember we all need each other.

Take care of yourselves, and each other
Jerry Springer

Everyone matters

September 28, 2023 John Corrigan

There was this interesting video about a leader on Facebook who, changed a dynamic in his organization by changing the focus of the organization from goals to impacts. The speaker was Brian Fretwell do check out some of his stuff when you get the chance.

The leader would ask instead of “where are we with these goals?’, “What has impacted you this week and how have you impacted others this week?”. The leader said that they received engagement like they had never seen and it helped the company.

The speaker of the video mentions that the change happened because people were not feeling seen or did not feel like they mattered and when the focus of the leadership changed from goals to impact the people felt seen and heard.

I know that this world can be crazy and sometimes you have taken all you can bear. (Yes it is from that song.)

The truth is that you do matter and when you feel like you do not or you are doing things that make others feel like they do not matter it is time to take a breath and remember that, life is precious a gift and everyone with life matters.

One voice kind of for 25 years

September 27, 2023 John Corrigan

Today is when Google celebrates its 25th birthday. In 1998 two computer science students got together and used the Python programming language to search the internet. 25 years later and the company’s search is used on almost every continent on the globe.

The internet is basically a network of connected computers, computers with work, play and thoughts.

In the video that I have pasted here Bill Gates tries to explain what the internet is to David Letterman. I love this video because Gates is enthusiastic about the internet and Lettermen is the skeptic. The video was recorded three years before Google was created and it was I think the creation of Google that gave insight to the skeptics like David Letterman to the real power of the internet which, is people. People power the internet, with ideas, sites, services, codes anything they can imagine it seems can be created accessed and made better.

One thing I try very hard not to be skeptical about is the ability of life to create, build and amaze. The internet is one of many things that life has made and it is pretty cool.

No alarm clock needed

September 26, 2023 John Corrigan

In 2006 there was a movie starring Dane Cook, Ashley Simpson and Dax Shepard. The three are employees at a super store like CostCo or Sams club. Bothe Dane Cook and Dax Shepard are vying for the attention of Ashley Simpson. It is well known that Ashley Simpson only dates guys who are or have been the employee of the month. Dane Cooks character a slacker finally finds a reason to get excited for work and try’s to be a good employee. Part of his transformation to a good employee involves getting to work on time. In a pivotal scene Dane Cook wakes up on time without the aid of his alarm clock.

Waking up without an alarm clock is called precision sleeping and it happens when our bodies become accustomed to a schedule. Early risers swear by the benefits of waking early. Here is a pretty good read on the importance of waking up early.

“I would have it inscribed on the curtains of your bed and the walls of your chamber: If you do not rise early you can make progress in nothing.”
Willian Pitt Chatham, British statesman

I have benefited from waking up early and have expereinced waking up just in time and I can say that while it can be hard to set up a schedule waking up early has far more benefits than waking up just in time or late. one major benefit of waking up early is control. When I set and adhere to a schedule that involves waking up early I have a sense of control of a big part of my life. I think that waking up on time without an alarm is a major way to demonstrate our control.

At the end of the day, you can’t control the results; you can only control your effort level and your focus.
Ben Zobrist

There is very little we can control in our lives and schedule is one of the big ones that can make a big difference. So moving forward let us all aspire to be one of those people that wake up without their alarm and conquer their days.

Bathwater and babies

September 25, 2023 John Corrigan

A project is planned, perfected, practiced and them performed. That is an idea situation however many projects are not planned, practiced or performed and almost no project is perfect. I worked with a project manger who planned out his project for 8 months and did no performance, that manager was let go for lack of performance. The planning perfecting and practice stage of a project are important however when any of these stages prevent action on a project than the stages should be looked at and reconsidered.

Dans ses écrits, un sage Italien
Dit que le mieux est l’ennemi du bien.
Voltaire

A podcast that I am a pretty big fan of called People I Mostly Admire, interviewed psychologist and author Thomas Curran. Thomas wrote a book titled The Perfection Trap. In his book Thomas explains that the pursuit of perfection and being a perfectionist is not a good thing. Perfectionism causes burnout and depression and in his book Thomas gives us tools to avoid perfectionism and embrace the power of good enough.

A wise Italian says, the best is the enemy of the good.

Voltaire

Chasing perfection as with any pursuit must be done with temperance and common sense if it is not the one chasing perfection risks jeopardizing their mental heath and destroying their relationships with family and friends.

Perfectionism is a trait that is often associated with obsessive compulsive disorder and is often not diagnosed or treated because it is a useful trait. People who are not your friends or loved ones will use your perfectionism to promote their own agenda.

Today we should understand that while perfection is good perfectionism should be avoided.

Perfection is impossible; just strive to do your best.
Angela Watson

You are enough and your best is enough and you can and will do your best everyday.

Soundtrack of Our lives

September 18, 2023 John Corrigan

The band named Soundtrack of Our Lives, is a Swedish rock band their most popular song was Second Life Replay.

The song is pretty good but I love the bands name. When i was younger I played the pc game Sim City. In the game Sim City you are the mayor/planner/terraformer of a city. You build up land features, zone the land and manage the people on that land through city policy. The one thing I truly loved about the whole process was the music that played in the background of the game. As you built streets, rivers and lakes you were treated to Jazz music. I would listen to the jazz and go to work.

Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything
Plato

I love all kinds of music. The book titled And to Think I Saw it on Mulberry Street was Theodore Geisel’s first published book. The format for the book was said to have come from the sounds of an Ocean Liners engine on a transatlantic trip the author took.

“Everything in Life is Vibration”
Albert Einstein

Everything on earth vibrates and creates a frequency. There really is a sound to everything. The right music can make life that much better and the right music is whatever you like at a specific time.

My taste in music is eclectic and I think if people are truly honest that most peoples taste in music is also eclectic. Depending on what headspace we are in or want to be in there is music for that.

This week let’s all listen to a style or genre of music we have never heard before. There was a former work colleague who listened to a heavy dose of Celtic punk music. Until I rode to lunch with this guy I had never before heard of this music now if the mood is right I quite enjoy some Flogging Molly.

Enjoy life and the sound of all of it.