
“Can you repeat that?”
“What was it that just you said? “
“I did not get it all down. Wait, hold up!”
More often than not, there were frequent interruptions during class. Although I began my academic studies in Washington, both of my degrees were completed in Israel. From the beginning, I was astonished, and yes a bit perturbed, to discover a typical Israeli student behavior.
Who Screwed Up?
For the most part, it appeared that the Israeli educational system did little to prepare its students to take notes. In addition, I found writing skills to be lacking. Later, as our children went through the system, my initial assessments regarding the Israeli students were corroborated.
Of particular interest is the incongruency between our extraordinary entrepreneur innovation and our ordinary writing proficiency. Imagine what a one up we could achieve if our writing skills were to match our innovation mastery…
Surely, now as our psychometric testing has begun to incorporate a writing module, I am not the only Israeli to recognize this as an issue worthy of national debate.

Multiple Monitors?
Since the discovery of the “boob tube” and every screen since, we have been reading less and less. I am uncertain if part of the incompetence is not due to indigestion. It is not a challenging problem, nothing that a little fiber and some good “reads” won’t cure…
Playing House
There are any number of issues that we enter the age of majority ill prepared to face. This is universal.
Except for the fortunate few, for we step into a relationship, bear and raise children and play house: playing house because, quite frankly, no one ever coached and taught us the ropes of the game.
Such are the subjects of health and nutrition, heck; even our doctors are under educated in the science of nutrition and lack the tools to connect the two with the gusto merited.
In The Headlines
The rampant growth of chronic disease has caused many a headline of late:
12 Frightening Facts About Milk
High Steaks: Why and How to Eat Less Meat
Cleveland Clinic Says Bye-Bye to Big Macs
Reversing Heart Disease with Diet
Sugar: Eight Times More Addictive Than Cocaine
The Man who Believes Sugar is Poison
Is Broccoli a Nutritional Showstopper?
Spirulina: The Amazing Superfood You’ve Never Heard Of…
For today, let’s agree to put this debate aside. Instead of health and nutrition, I want to target sports and nutrition. It is common knowledge that physical fitness and good health are closely intertwined. Many a couch potato has found his way to the gym, some even making their way to triathlons and the like.
Much as our teachers failed to instruct us on how to be good parents or good spouses, no one was around to coach us, we the ones who were not chosen to be on the team, how to be good athletes or, specifically, the connection between performance, diet and health.
Growing pains
Other than some obvious ground rules like the importance of hydration, not overeating before activity and perhaps wearing a hat in the sun, we blindly grope our way. Though not an athlete per se, I have learned much from my growing pains and would love to share some invaluable knowledge I have gained on the trails.
It appears that I have much to share. Instead of showering you with an extremely long post, I am going to just share the headlines now.
12 Trail Posts Not To Be Missed
Be Prepared
Dress The Part
Dress Up
It’s Not Frivolous!
Burn Baby Burn
Balance
Speed Can Be Your Ally
Questionable Obstacles
Be a Lefty
Play Dirty
The Enigma In You
On The Seventh Day
Have I got your attention? Trying to figure out what the heck I am talking out? Stay tuned next week as the mystery unfolds:)
I would like to thank you for your patience in reading this post to its end.
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Thank you and have a great week!
CHOOSE to embody the power that is naturally yours!
Shalom Ruthie!
Your words are spot on. If I have one message it is this
It is our choices that shape our lives
Our health, our happiness and our legacy
Not necessarily major life changing choices
But rather the mundane day to day ones
What did you put on your plate today?
Did you venture?
Did you breathe?
Did you laugh?
Did you dance?
Did you love?
The power is ours!
♥Helene
Basically I agree with your writings this week. In addition, I would like to add that when we are young we tend to have a know it all attitude coupled with that won't happen to me mentality. As Mark Twain said "youth is wasted on the young." Too late we wake up to find that Big Macs have done their damage and return to good health is not so simple. Certainly much more difficult than being on the right path from the beginning. We all know what we should do for physical and mental health – it's almost in our… Read more »