12 Simple Steps to Enlightenment

After lots of listening to podcasts on the interwebs "studying", I've pretty much concluded that being profoundly happy most of the time can be found by using the following technique:

1. Sit and be still... some hippies call this "meditating." :)
2. Try not to think of anything.
3. Realize you can't do it.  Stuff will always pop into your head.
4. Realize you're not in control of your mind.  If you can't make it stop, it's got it's own agenda.
5. Realize that your mind has it's own agenda and makes up stuff just to keep itself entertained.
6. Realize that if your mind makes up stuff, most of it is not real.
7. Freak out.
8. Realize that if nothing is really real, YOU'RE mental image of yourself is not real.
9. REALLY FREAK OUT.
10. Realize if you're not really real, your freaking out is fabricated as well and stupid.
11. Realize everything is actually the way it's supposed to be.  Everything is "normal" and it has been your brain's fabricated image of how the world should be that has been making your life difficult.
12. Never freak out again.  (= enlightenment and/or happiness).

Most of these steps can take minutes/hours/days/years to finally come to terms with.  Enjoy!

"A snake has no idea how much it wants to wiggle until it's put in a bamboo tube."  (A phrase describing watching the brain freak out when you try to tell it to do nothing and sit still.  Basically, proof that it's on it's own agenda.  Try to stop it.  You can't.  Just like you can't stop your heart from beating or your skin from aging.)

Or, just go run an ultramarathon.  100 miles of prancing around in the cold woods for a day straight might give you the same results.

VIDEO - Start and Finish of Third Freebirds Burrito Run

Check it out!  We filmed the beginning and end of Brandon and I running the 8.1 miles between all the Freebirds locations in town.  I'll buy a burrito for the winner if I get beat.

Here's the start:

And the finish:

My burrito money is safe for now, but Brandon is getting faster.  He shaved two whole minutes off his time from last week!  And look at that smile.  Running truly is happiness. :)

The challenge isn't just for Brandon; it goes for you, too!  Show up for the next one and I just might be buying you a burrito if you can take me down.  See you there!

Video - Cycling Training and Nutrition Tips

Podcast - Adventure Running

Click here to listen!

Hey, guys!  Join us for another great episode of the ZenTri podcast as we start training for the Ironbaby and the Rocky Raccoon 100.

We announce the charity for this year's Ironbaby, go running in a Tropical Storm, and complete the first-ever Freebirds Burrito Run.  It's loads of fun, so don't miss out!

Click here to listen or download

Next Show Progress

I figured out this cool trick where you can see how the next show is coming along.  The stuff below will update in real time as I move along.  Kinda cool!