http://mikeharris.org Wed, 03 Dec 2008 02:17:10 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Not into Mythology? Me neither, but as I prepared to write this "how to" about avoiding the unintended consequences of the long holiday season, I thought that a scene from the life of Hercules was the best way to illustrate it. Hercules, as I am sure you all remember from ... http://mikeharris.org/2008/12/02/hammering-the-holiday-hydra-headed-horror/ In my Thanksgiving eve blog I talked about pushing myself out of my comfort zone to go run in a local 5K race. It worked out fine! On the way over there (about 10 miles) I worried about everything--was I dressed warm enough? Too warm? Where would I park? Would I ... http://mikeharris.org/2008/12/01/it-went-well/ One of the things I have "preached about" over and over on this website is the absolute necessity to conquer fear! Fear is the ugly gift that keeps on giving. If you contemplate something you're terribly afraid of--let's use encountering a person you absolutely dread as an example--you will pay ... http://mikeharris.org/2008/11/26/getting-out-of-your-comfort-zone/ Here's  what I've learned about finishing several challenges over the years, as well as failing to finish  a couple of them. (Those two failures were due to injuries and surgeries, but led to top 1000 finishes during the next challenge.) 1. The strongest finish begins with careful planning, goal setting and ... http://mikeharris.org/2008/11/24/finishing-strong/ I was listening to a sermon on Saturday night, and when it came to the part about being real and authentic, I heard something that really stood out. It was this: "Behavioral scientists from all cultures agree that the one universal trait among all cultures is that NOBODY LIKES A ... http://mikeharris.org/2008/11/16/nobody-likes-a-liar/ Well, not really spanning the globe, but more like spanning the central U.S. Right now I'm in the Lansing Michigan regional airport, one of the few places where web access is truly free, and heading to McPherson Kansas to see my mother. Mom is 86 and lives alone there, so ... http://mikeharris.org/2008/11/08/spanning-the-globe/ This is a really big day for me! I couldn't be happier than I am right now, even though my political favorites took a serious beating yesterday; my job is completely insecure at this point and I won't know whether I 'll get to continue past January, and our retirement ... http://mikeharris.org/2008/11/04/its-a-great-day-today/ The title here is one of my three favorite bumper stickers. The others, for the record, are, "Keep honking--I’m Reloading!" and "In spite of the high cost of living, it remains popular!" The voices in my head bumper sticker is special to me because there really is great truth in it. ... http://mikeharris.org/2008/10/28/i-do-whatever-the-voices-in-my-head-tell-me-to/ Just Say No! by: Michael Harris,  first published  3/26/2007   Every single day of your Body for Life challenge, you will be presented with opportunities to change your plans. Seriously, every day you will receive invitations to dine, attend events, to stay after school, to haul someone somewhere, to sleep in, and any ... http://mikeharris.org/2008/10/27/just-say-no/ THE FOOD: Many people wonder if the diet is "really all that important" and regard exercise as the key to the whole transformation bit. But, that's not true.  Adhering to the diet, and eating small and very healthy meals is the KEY. Why? First of all, for most people, food has ... http://mikeharris.org/2008/10/26/how-things-work/