There were many years in which I truly believed that Hawai'i was probably one of the last places I wanted to visit. Commercialized. A tourist mecca. Haven for newlyweds and the like. Las Vegas of the Pacific -ok, well maybe not quite that bad (and certainly with a whole lot less polyester) ...

Then I made that fateful trip to the Big Island in 2002 - and my life changed forever.

I can look back on it now and chuckle a bit. I went purely for non-metaphysical reasons - to experience the Ironman World Championship (and as a coach no less). It was a short trip, and the intent was, admittedly, far from "self-discovery". But all it took was walking off the plane, onto the tarmac at the airport in Kona - and I knew it was a special place. There is a purity, a vibe, a power that emanates and pervades all existence on the Big Island. It is something that words can't truly describe. It's a bit mystical and other-worldly, but it was definitely something I noticed immediately upon arrival.

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... and Why The Current Medical Model Fails Everyone.

The medical and insurance worlds both claim that health promotion and "wellness" are the key to cutting health care costs and fostering an overall improvement in the health and well-being of our aging population. Health care practitioners speak of wellness and "empowerment". The insurance industry has a desire to cut the costs associated with long-term illness and has (to some degree) started to reimburse for some very basic elements related to self-care.

Unfortunately, the reality is that much of this is talk ... and as they say, talk is cheap.

"Empower" has become a societal buzz word. The American Heritage dictionary defines this word as "to give power or authority to; authorize, especially by legal or official means". But it also points out the following:

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Yes, the rumors are correct. I grew up in Canada – the great white north. Home of the comedian (Google “Canadian Comedians” and see if I jest). It's also the home of – winter – and those dreaded “Canadian cold fronts” that we all dread in Texas. If it's December in Canada, then I can guarantee you that your thoughts aren't on triathlon anymore. It's amazing how the arrival of snow (and eventually a frozen river) have your thoughts focused on three things – hockey, hockey, and Toronto Maple Leaf hockey (and not in that order).

So in the time it takes to turn on the electric blanket, brew a mug of hot chocolate, and wait for the first intermission to conclude, let's take a moment to ponder some thoughts for the off-season.

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They call it Turkey Day ... the day before the college football rivalries play out on stages around the country ... and they also call it Thanksgiving Day. This is a time to share with loved ones and to essentially "give thanks".

I've discovered that Thanksgiving should be a daily occurrence - and not just the time to gorge on turkey, sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie, and the Dallas Cowboys.

This day serves as but a reminder that every day should be one to give thanks - for health, for family, for friends, for the capacity to pursue intellectual and physical pursuits. Perhaps it shouldn't be even a daily thing - perhaps it's truly being thankful for the moment, the space between experiences and memories, the breath of fresh air that is found in the purity of flow from moment to moment.

Turkey is good, but it just isn't enough - and eating it daily would just be too much for the taste buds!

"A rolling stone gathers no moss" ...

... but THE Rolling Stones show us the true meaning of life, the timeless beauty of music and the blues and the musical hooks that just never fade with the sands of time. Tonight was a special moment in time - in which I got to experience (once again) what music is all about, what true performers bring to the stage.

Let's face it - the Rolling Stones are, as they say, the Greatest Rock And Roll Band - ever. Sure, they can put on a spectacle - and both times that I have seen them in action have indeed been "spectacles". The stage show is high-tech - but in the same breath, is just plain down-and-dirty, back alley, rock and roll grit.

But it's when you get down to the music and the performance of it that you realize what sets these gents apart. They've been a band since the early '60s - so yes, they are a tight musical force to be reckoned with. When you play with folks for that long, you get an undeniable groove that digs deep. It's that ability to play behind the beat, that greasy quality that is just so right - yet not sound off time or out of tune.

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“Buy now and avoid the Christmas rush”. Imagine – in June, I actually saw a sign proposing that people start thinking about Christmas. I am fully a believer in “advance planning and preparation” but to me, even that was a stretch.

One area in which advance planning and preparation will pay dividends (whether you've been naughty or nice!) is in getting yourself ready to prepare for marathon training. The Austin marathon is in February, and many of you have probably just gotten to the point of having defrosted from this year's Freeze-scale Marathon (apologies to Freescale – but this Canadian still found it COLD). Yet here I am proposing that you start thinking about it now.

But it's only June, you reply.

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Hello everyone -

Progress has been slow and gradual - more "behind the scenes" than anything else - but it is "progress". As the learning curve levels out a bit, I have been able to start thinking more and more about content and the visual impact of the site. I am hoping to have some more content (words and photos) up in the next couple of weeks - so stay patient and stay tuned!