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You are here: Home / Archives for Traditions

Honoring Fathers

June 12, 2017 by Scott "Q" Marcus Leave a Comment

In honor of Father’s Day this coming Sunday…

My first book (and my most popular book in terms of sales) is called “The Shade of a Tree is the Very Best there is.” I wrote it when my oldest son (now 33) was moving out on his own. I wanted him to have all the wisdom I could possibly impart on him. The book consists of 135 motivational quotes for all occasions. I’ve been flattered that some groups use it as a weekly lesson guide to start a conversation.

(Truth be told, I don’t know how good the advice was because he moved back in a few years later. ?)

Anyway…

Two pieces of advice from my book: [Read more…]

Filed Under: family, Holidays, Motivational Monday, Personal, Relationships, Traditions Tagged With: dad, family, fatherhood, fathers and sons, fathers day, memories

Loads of Holidays in December

December 14, 2016 by Scott "Q" Marcus Leave a Comment

holidays

Because many people know me as the “weight loss guy,” they think I’m monitoring what they eat or how they act.

As I have stated on numerous occasions, should we bump into each other at a restaurant or grocery store, I’m not watching what you eat or put in your grocery cart – and I would appreciate you returning the favor. (After all, it’s just plain weird to monitor someone else’s food anyway.)

This time of year also brings out from people “true confessions.” I bump into someone who used to go to one of my meetings or that I coached and they feel the immediate need to justify their absence. The conversation will go something like this:

“Oh, hi Scott. Nice to see you, how have you been?”

“Doing great – but I’ll get better.” (A line I “stole” from a radio talk show host I like.) “How are you?”

“Well, I’ve been having some trouble with my diet. I’m definitely coming back to the meetings, but I just wanted to wait until the holidays are over.”

Firstly, there’s no need to justify to me whether or not you’re on a diet or going to meetings. We each lead our own lives. We each have our own priorities. I won’t try to run your life if you won’t run mine.

Having said that, I’ve always found it curious when one says he or she will “wait until the holidays are over” as they’ve been going on for a couple thousand years.

I don’t think they’re ending anytime soon. The reality of that raised my curiosity level and prompted me to take a look at the holidays this time of year. There are more holidays in December than chocolate Santas at the office holiday party. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Beliefs, Holidays, Newspaper Column, Traditions Tagged With: christmas, hanukkah, holidays, kwanzaa, religion, spirituality, winter solstice

All Things End

August 11, 2014 by Scott "Q" Marcus Leave a Comment

sunset-header

It’s OK to say “goodbye.”

All things end.

Relationships fade; people move on; even your goals can change. There is no shame in saying “goodbye” to what no longer serves you.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Change, Failure, Habits, Motivational Monday, Relationships, Traditions Tagged With: farewell, goals, looking in the mirror, moving forward, top priorities

The Healthiest Family on the Dance Floor

March 13, 2013 by Scott "Q" Marcus Leave a Comment

As an obese child, I hated P.E.

When choosing teams, I was always picked last, each side trying to give me to their opponent. When playing baseball, I would be strategically placed in “ultra right field” (outside the foul line if possible) so as to have virtually no contact with the ball, thereby helping to ensure my team would not be humiliated by my clumsiness.

man-dancing-blurryIn the gym, I was forced to do pull-ups by a drill-sergeant phys-ed teacher. Dangling from the steel crossbar in front of a gaggle of snickering classmates, too heavy to do anything but limply hang, kicking my feet as if that would help pull me up, the coach bellowing, “Come on tubby! If you can’t do it, go on a diet.” Disgusted, he’d discharge me from my personal hanging purgatory and I’d attempt to blend into the back of the class, hoping for a distraction to come quickly and pull everyone’s red hot gazes from me.

One doesn’t “hang around” much when one goes to Zumba as 58-year-old, but one’s old memories do.

My biggest fear when I began was that I would pass out.

I was fearful that my macho competitive persona (I might be middle aged but I am still a male) would override my professorial intellectual one and I’d over-exert myself attempting to keep pace with a roomful of twenty-something exercise enthusiasts adorned in designer leotards, headbands, and leg warmers (does anyone wear leg warmers anymore?) For my efforts, I would be mortified by having a heart attack, collapsing mid beat on the polished floor. The remaining dancers would heft me to the ambulance, albeit while maintaining the rhythm of a hot salsa dance move, all the while never missing a step.

My other paranoid fantasy was that I’d be humiliated. I was concerned I’d trip over my clodhoppers or people would laugh at how I look in gym shorts (since I don’t have designer leotards).

Long story short, I have (mostly) overcome my angsts, and — as hard as it to believe — I look forward to my classes, and try to find sessions to attend, even when out of town.

Since I didn’t know anyone in this new environment, I staked out a corner and observed as other participants entered. I witnessed an obese, late-thirties mom take a spot beside me. Nearby was her adolescent daughter, apparently on her way to replicating her mom’s physique, and Dad, who — although being shorter than me — probably tipped the scales at twice my weight.

Simply stated, it was a very heavy family.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Exercise, family, Newspaper Column, Traditions, Weight Loss Tagged With: bullying, childhood obesity, dance classes, family time, obese child, obese children, obese kids, shame, zumba

Living As a Hero – a Life With Honor

January 10, 2013 by Scott "Q" Marcus Leave a Comment

by John Joyce

All my life I’ve been fascinated with heroes.

It all started with Superman and the Saturday morning cartoons.  Eventually I discovered the legendary exploits of some of Ancient Greece’s greatest heroes like Achilles and Hercules.  As I grew older my heroes became the great Americans who had fought and died to preserve the values they believed in; the civic leaders who risked everything to try and bring justice to society.  These heroes didn’t have magical powers, they weren’t invincible; but that made them all the more compelling.  These were mortal men, often from modest backgrounds, but nonetheless they held themselves to the same code of honor that I had come to admire among the mythical heroes of my youth.  It occurred to me that though I would never be able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, I could emulate these real-life heroes and perhaps learn to comport myself with the honor and dignity that seemed to define a hero.

My first serious effort in that regard was to join the United States Marine Corps.  The core-values of Honor, Courage, and Commitment that the Marine Corps espouses were captivating to my young mind.  In fact, many of the heroes I had revered in my youth had been Marines themselves.  From the moment I first walked into my recruiter’s office I knew I was willing to do whatever it might take to earn the title “U.S. Marine.”

Boot Camp was the first time I’d ever met a real-life hero in person and the experience changed me forever.  Both of my drill instructors had served in the Gulf War and both of them were heroes.  They were both very tough men, but they never spoke of being tough.  Instead, when they had the opportunity to speak freely with us, they shared about their love of our country and our Corps.  They shared about the sacrifices they had been required to make by dedicating their entire life to the Marine Corps and how they had never had a moment of regret.  They shared about how difficult it is to “always do the right thing, even when no one is looking.”  They shared about how they had failed, but then picked themselves up again, and reasserted their commitment to truth and honor.

While I was in the Marine Corps I would get the chance to meet many more heroes.

I was lucky enough to build close personal relationships with some of the bravest men in our country.  I will never forget the example that was set by those men.  I will never forget writing to the mother of Lance Corporal James T. Byrd, a Marine who had been under my command and who died in Iraq, and telling her how proud I was to have had a real American hero as a friend and teammate.  I will never forget the responsibility I have to my fallen comrades; I must live up to the standards they have set.

My time in the Marine Corps was definitely time well spent.  It helped me shape an ideal for the type of life I’d like to lead, but it’s time for the next step.  Not all of my heroes have been combat soldiers.  Several of the men I admire were able to make the world a better place through the law.  Lawyers like Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln prove that men of honor are found in the courtroom as well as on the battlefield.  While I was in college I sought out mentors who had experience in the legal profession.  I learned that there were esteemed traditions of honor and integrity in our nation’s legal system.  I came to think of American lawyers as members of a trusted brotherhood that dates back to the founding of our country.  I became eager to prove myself worthy of membership in that elite cadre.  Some of the most important battles our society engages in are legal battles.  Questions of justice, equality, and liberty are typically decided in court these days; I want to be part of that fight.  I’m hoping that becoming a lawyer will allow me to continue to serve my country, and maybe learn a little more about what it takes to be a hero.

I’m determined to live a life of honor.

I’m determined to become the kind of man that the fallen-heroes I’ve known would want me to be.  I know it won’t be easy, but I’m determined to give it my best shot.  Our world offers countless temptations to go astray.  We all face situations in which doing the right thing brings unpleasant consequences.  When faced with this dilemma we can follow the easier, softer path or we can do what we know is right.  The choice we make will define our character.  I believe that if we choose the way of honor and maintain our commitment to sound ideals we can all be heroes.

About the author: John Joyce is a former Marine turned law student.  He has overcome addiction, lived through divorce, and learned a lot along the way.  He hopes sharing his experience can benefit others.  John believes in an abundant Power of the universe that can solve all our problems.  John’s primary focus is on building a connection with that Power.”  You can find him at www.facebook.com/johnpatrickjoyce or johnjoycejr@gmail.com

Editor’s note: John sent me an email asking to write for the site. I was so impressed by his personal statement that I actually picked up the phone and called him and asked if I could use that as his first piece. It’s what you just read. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Filed Under: Guest Author, Inspiration, Power of Attitude, Traditions Tagged With: core values, honor, life hero, life heroes, united states marine, united states marine corps

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