PQTD #116 podcast- Be Creative!

This might seem like a rather strange subject for a Paleo Quick Tip of the Day, but nevertheless, it is a crucial topic.  To be a balanced paleolithic or ancestral type of person, creating things is a big part of being successful.  Men and women are born with a need to explore and develop their talents, to nurture them along and create; if you don’t do so, you are setting yourself up for unhappiness. 

If you have never seen the magnificent cave paintings of cave dwellers, you should take a look online!  The elaborate, detailed paintings of animals of that era are so well done, so lovingly crafted, as to almost look real.  Think of the effort expended in doing this artistic labor, and realize that these paleolithic people had a compulsion to create, just as we do. 

All through history, from Egypt and the pyramids through ancient Greece and Rome, beautiful statues and paintings were produced constantly.  Surely their music was wonderful as well, although we have never actually heard it ourselves, they enjoyed it very much!  Clothing, tools, weapons- everything had to be created, and the very act of creation was a big part of the experience of being human.

Only in the modern era have people even had the option to not create!  There are those who work, and then just want to be entertained.  Television, mindless computer games, whatever.  This is the path to unhappiness, and ultimately not being fulfilled.  We all need to create, things that we love to do that fulfill us and our lives. 

You don’t need to be a professional, in fact you will probably love something even more if you don’t rely on it for your living.  Making music and writing are two of my creative endeavors, but so is exercise, lawn and garden care, woodcutting, and old vehicles.  You can choose your favorites, whether woodworking, knitting, drawing and painting- the list goes on and on. 

Through exercise and a proper paleo diet, you can literally create a better body.  Reading is wonderful to explore different worlds and learning, but be careful not to overdo it- too much reading can interfere with your own creative endeavors!  I fell into this trap early on- it’s like exercising too much- it can turn a positive endeavor into a harmful one.  Always put your own creative efforts first. 

You don’t necessarily have to spend lots of time at any one thing.  When I write, I usually set a time limit of about an hour and a half.  Same with making music, and sometimes the actual time is much less.  Once you are in the habit of creating on a regular basis, you really miss it!  Although sometimes it is hard to sit down and write, or to go into the basement and start work on my gymnastic rings, or pick up the guitar- once I get going, I usually don’t want to stop!  (But I do, because I know I will do all of these things again tomorrow).

So go thou and do likewise.  Choose a creative endeavor, a hobby if you will.  Choose more than one- paleo people were multi-talented folks, they had to be to survive.  Pour yourself into it, enjoy the effort.  You are now exerting yourself not just in creating something, you are making yourself fully human!

“Creativity is intelligence having fun”  Albert Einstein

New CD coming out- PALEOJAY PLAYS ON!

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The ultimate natural workout!

OK, today I had a busy, busy day... OFF!

Your body is a TRACTOR- keep it running strong!

That's right, I had the whole day off, and I spent the morning running errands.  Actually, I find it quite enjoyable to spend time driving around while everyone else is working- nothing is crowded, I already got my Perfectly Paleo Exercise in during the early AM, along with my Paleo Coffee, which is just organic coffee, run through the Aerobie Press, and with a tablespoon or so of added coconut oil... and, ala Bulletproof coffee, you can add pastured Butter as well- but I prefer to add that to my smoothie... here is more about that-Splendor from the grass! My 100th blog post- wowzer!!

Anyway, my point is the REAL WORK, as in actual, physical, taxing WORK, is also the ultimate workOUT!  When you are performing real-world tasks, such as I was today here in rural Wisconsin, like freeing a frozen trailer wheel, and then taking your back blade (for snow) off of your 3 point hitch, and then using the aforementioned trailer to haul (literally) tons of firewood since the trailer is now available...

This is REAL WORK.  Something that is a rarity nowadays in modern America!!

Hard to believe, but very true.

Working out in a gym, or in your living room is also character building...

But NOTHING like REAL, ACTUAL, PHYSICAL WORK.

It is a necessary ingredient for self actualization.  In other words, to become the best YOU that you can be, you need to accomplish, on a regular basis, REAL, HONEST TO GOD PHYSICAL TASKS!  On your own, with no help, and really challenging on a physical basis.

So, I freed up that trailer wheel, and I was REALLY pleased with myself!  (It took grease, a hammer, a screwdriver, a lot of grease, and forcing the trailer in reverse afterwords, if you must know)- and then, I took off the snow blade, and thought "Hey- now I can use the trailer to haul firewood!"   And so I took off, driving up to wood pile after wood pile, and loading them up!  

Wow, do I know how to have a good time or what!!?"

And, do you know what?  I was having a good time!  But I was also working my core, my back, my entire BODY as it was meant to be used.  Even getting off and back on the tractor (just like mounting a HORSE!) was taxing- 

The point is that this is how we are MEANT to live!

God did not want us to be slumped over in some cubicle all day, and then drive home and sit in front of a TV- 

HE JUST DIDN'T-

AND THIS IS NOT LIFE!!

We are meant to move.  To lift, puzzle out crazy physical problems, tax our bodies, and then rest, recuperate, enjoy our tribe and family, sing and dance, and sleep...  

The dance of life, if you will!  

But what is lost in the modern world, most often, is the PHYSICAL component.

To stress yourself in the real world,

Solving real, physical problems

and taxing your own body to achieve that end...

Is NECESSARY to realize self actualization, or:

HAPPINESS!  

So, go on out and do what needs to be done!  Do your daily visualized workouts, and rejuvenate yourself daily!  Sleep for a MINIMUM of 8 hours per night!!  

But do NOT neglect to accomplish REAL WORLD TASKS!  

This is what really taxes, strains, and MAKES YOU WHAT YOU ARE!  

It's not easy, but is SURE beats living in a nursing home!

J