Full Strength LIFE

Science Update: Is Coffee Truly a "Life Elixir?"

First thing each morning I put on the brew. I love my coffee and I’m as particular about the bean and the brew as many are about fine wine. I prefer a Starbucks Americano (espresso with hot water) but will settle for a cup of dark, rich Sumatra blend or a French Roast.

If you've engaged the riveting pages of Strength for Life, you know I’m totally transparent in my enthusiasm for the caffeinated brown bean.

And when it comes to being a fan of coffee, I’m not alone. With over 1.2 billion cups annually, coffee is the second most popular beverage in the US. And as it turns out that may not be a bad thing at all.. in fact it may be a good thing.

A recently published study shows a correlation between coffee consumption and decreased risk of death. Often times with these sort of large group studies I can see the deeper or more likely correlation—as with the research which supports that "flossing leads to better health and a longer life."

Look at this flossing connection a little deeper you too may start to suspect that it’s not that flossing is causing them to be healthier but rather that people who are more aware of self-care tend to floss more often, and thus they live longer, healthier lives.

So it’s not a cause and effect but in this care I don’t see an obvious hidden correlation.

Certainly there’s some reason why people who drink coffee live longer—maybe it’s simply they are enjoying life a little more and decide it’s worth sticking around for.

What connection do you see?

A study published in the June 2008 Annals of Internal Medicine tracked 129,000 people over two decades. Scientists at the Autonomous University of Madrid and the Harvard School of Public Health concluded that, compared with those who shunned coffee, women drinking four to five cups of “black sunshine” a day were 34 percent less likely to die, and men drinking more than five cups a day were 44 percent less likely to die—of heart disease, that is. (All of them will eventually die of something.)

Not only that; they found that the coffee drinkers were less likely to die prematurely from any cause—women 26 percent less and men 35 percent less. 

"The more coffee you drink, the less risk of mortality you have," Esther Lopez-Garcia, Spanish epidemiologist and the study’s leader, told the press. "The general idea is that coffee is good not bad."

Enjoy your morning cup with renewed vigor, figuratively and literally. But also remember, everything in moderation, even moderation.

The Inagural "Strength" Count : You Can Play Too

I'm looking forward to today's inauguration of our 44th President. It's a ceremony that is uniquely American--one we should take the time to recognize. That said, I vaguely recall the previous 8-10 of my adult life. It's hard to know exactly how many... given the count of 2 term presidents.

I do very clearly recall one that predated my arrival, the inauguration speech of John F. Kennedy, which is likely the most quoted speech in history of any sort. As brilliant an orator as Barrack Obama has been, I don't think it's fair to expect him to exceed this high point.

I do hope you too will be watching and if you should, my challenge to you is this:

Count the number of times the then president uses the word "Strength."

When the speech ends, email me the count (the exact number of times he used the word, "Strength") at [shawn@Strength-for-Life.com].

The first one to send in the right count will receive a one month supply of the world's finest Total Nutrition Shake, Full Strength.

It's just a fun way to get people really tuned in--plus, I suspect that in trying times like these, "Strength" will be a more profound theme than ever.

While you're counting, you might consider taking the oath along with Barrack.

What would you do today if you were on Flight 1549?

Just a few minutes ago I was watching some of the survivors from US Air flight 1549 that was so skillfully put down in the Hudson River yesterday... they were speaking with amazing gratitude about the pilot,  about the fellow passengers. They seemed to have stunning clarity about the world around them, about life, people, connection.

I got to thinking about how the world would look to me had I been a survivor of that flight.

- What would I do today?
- How would I feel?
- How might people
- How might I be connected with people all around me?

A wake up call is all about awareness. When we are most fully awake--which is most aware--the world is an amazing, vivid powerful place. It's almost entirely different than the patterned life of subtle grew we most live in.

To be awake is to be alive and to be alive is to feel the life force that is all around us.

So, I ask you... if you were a survivor of flight 1549 what would you do today? How would you most fully embrace life? How would you feel about life, about people?

Think about if for a few minutes. Take it in...then do that and feel that way. Fact is, if you're reading this you ARE one of the lucky ones, you too are a survivor. And while the proximity of death my seem to be much closer for the passengers than any of us--you should know it's but a razor's edge by now.

Celebrate life every day and do that which gives you that feeling you most want to feel.

Here's to your LIFE at Full Strength!

Even if You Can’t, "Yes We Can"

It’s been a tough political season. This nation was as divided and as united as I’ve seen in my life time. Both are true. That’s the nature (risk and benefit) of being energized—and energized we have been.

I am inspired by the greatness of this nation and by what we can accomplish when inspired—when we have Hope. I get that the courage of a McCain and the Inspiration of Obama is as much about you or I as the candidates. It’s the courage, strength and inspiration that resides inside you and I that we project.

And yet I am grateful the strength each showed in being able to wear the burden of our collective projection and still bring their own.

Not every person in America voted for Obama. No doubt people stand against, and will continue to stand against, issues but I don’t believe that one can in good conscious stand against the President Elect—any more than one could stand against hope.

There has never been anything false about hope



Whether you’re able to see it now or need to wait until some time in the future, we are not as divided as our politics suggest.

YES
WE
CAN!

Strength with a BIG-"S"...

Today Americans decide who will lead US out of this dark time and bring our country back to full Strength.

If you've been tuned in, you most likely noticed that Strength has been a favorite theme throughout this election, for both candidates, and for good reason: Strength is what we must have to transform.

And when I say Strength I mean Strength  with a BIG "S". Strength that includes the physical and transcends it, that is strength of, body, mind, and spirit.

That's the sort of true Strength that has the power to changes lives—and the world.

As you may have noticed, I talk a lot about Strength too. Why? Because it's our way out--up, over and through this mess we're in physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.

We've settled for "good enough" for long enough--now it is time to aim higher, to aim for the abundance, awareness and responsibility that is Strength.

Here's a short video clip where I talk more about the meaning of Strength. Check it out:

See the Story of Strength on FullStrength.TV.

My no iPhone Experience: From Raving Fan to Just Raving

I love my Macbook. No big thing until you consider I used to think macs were for artists. I was an engineer, wrote code, never liked Windows but knew how to make a PC work, low-level. So Macs were not my thing.

Then I got one—a new one—and loved it. Still, I miss a few things about my PC’s but overall, no comparison. It’s all Mac, all the time for me.

All good. Then I finally decided to get connected, to get the new 3G iPhone.

Being a busy guy who values my time immensely, I waited until the rush was over. I think it’s way cool (like as in "nuts" cool) that people will stand in line for days to get a phone but don’t think for a moment I’m going there.

Now way, no how.

So, I wait… and wait… then it looks like things are easing up. And it’s my birthday and my wife, Angie has given me a gift certificate to get one a new iPhone, so off the APPLE world I go.

Here’s the really, really short version of my ravingly bad experience. I walk in… no one talks to me. Perhaps I look too old? Who knows… I walk and walk. No one. Then I spot a random, unlabeled line in the center of the store. More people my age standing there. I ask. Yep, this is the iPhone line.

Just 4 people ahead of me. No big thing, right?

The Shape of Dara Torres’ Life

Already the proud owner of 9 gold medals, she went to her first Olympics before the Tiger Woods, of the pool, Michael Phelps was born and now she’s qualified to swim for the US in Bejing by winning both the 50 and 100 meter freestyle—swimming’s premier sprints.

Unless you’ve been away on a very deserted island, your iPhone rendered useless by a spilled pitcher of marg’s, you’ve heard about Dara Torres’ nearly superhuman performances at the tender age of 41. 

No question, Dara Torres is at full Strength

If you’re in your 20’s, it’s pretty cool to see someone “nearly your mom’s age” kicking-ass like this. If you’re in your 30’s her record setting performance may bring relief and hope that 40-something isn’t all “that bad.” And if you’re in your 40’s or beyond, Dara’s strength is elevating, inspiring and perhaps a bit of a wake up call for your own life potential.

For it seems that for many, once across the big 4-0, age becomes the central reason (aka excuse) for why they are struggling to get in (and stay in) shape. I’m not one of those opportunistic hype-sters you often find promising you there’s no such thing as age. Age is real—what’s not is the way it impacts most people, much more rapidly and drastically than it should.

Fact is your

life, my life, everyone’s life has a shape. Unfortunately most people’s lives are shaped like a cross section of a speed bump. They rise up, arch over and through their peak and don’t wake up to their declining condition until they’re well into the descent. It doesn’t need to be this way. You can change it, at any age.

How to Create a New Shape to Your Body and Life

In Chapter 2 of my new my book, Strength for Life, I explain how we’ve been conditioned to accept this early and unnecessary demise—and how you can change The Shape of Your Life, both figuratively and literally, in short order.

How to Stay Strong in a Weak Economy

Are you feelin’ it?

You know, that impending sense of doom, the inner-dialogue that starts every time you look at a gas pump or turn on the news? You know, we’ve had it pretty good for a lot of years and perhaps we’ve taken the good life for granted.

While everyone else is focusing on how to s-t-r-e-t-c-h a dollar or what bus route will get you to Walmart, I’ve got a different bit of advice for you in these challenging times.

Rather than trying to manage your emotions go straight upstream to the control room and take control of your focus—your attention. Stop staring at the gruesome details that cause unrest and stay composed, focused and strong. Know what you are doing and where you are going.

The hidden truth that few realize is that your life is quite literally the manifestation of your belief system. What this means is that if you see the world as a scary place that going to bring you great challenges, then it will be just that.   

Tim Russert: Big Man, Big Loss (and 1 in Half a Million)

As you know by now, we lost Tim Russert last week. A sudden, tragic and painful loss, he will be missed by his family, friends and so many millions.

Tim was a brilliant man with a huge heart whose authenticity and values were clear to see. I appreciated him, along with millions of others, for who he was and the job he did for all of us.

Like all lives, it’s sad when they end but Tim’s passing is further reaching than most for he impacted so many. The good news is he made a difference the bad news is that means all the more people will feel the loss.

[As tragic as Tim’s passing is, it’s important to note what Dr. Oz said: “Of the 450,000 people a year who die of heart attacks in this country, probably half of them never knew they were at risk of a heart attack.” That means Tim, as special as he was in many ways was just 1 in nearly half a million each year who die from heart disease. That seems like too many to me.]

In every major life event, such as death, there are life-lessons to be learned: Allow me to share a few that come to mind in this case.

The first and most obvious is you never know how long you have. Thus it’s wise to avoid things that lesson your odds of seeing tomorrow—like ignoring your health and wellbeing.

Walking the Tightrope of Health?

When Life Calls for Strength—This Father Delivers

Three minutes of prime time TV or the one minutes of the daily news will give one ample reason to doubt the evolving human race. Yet, when sufficiently challenged, even in the least likely candidate a super-hero you may find.

As ordinary as they most often seem, people are amazing. Only we rarely witness a person’s full potential as we tend to keep our inner strength as hidden as Bruce Wayne does his alter ego. At least until… Until life does that thing life does—challenges us. 

The story here is one of those times that forges a hero’s true strength. It’s a story of a father and a son, a story of hope and doing the right thing. It’s a story so real, so raw and so painful it’s beyond most people’s capacity to assimilate. It’s the type of story that you may be inclined to shy away from—thinking of it as that “bad news.” We get enough of that, so I understand not wanting more but this is more than just a great read--it's important. To turn it out is to miss the real story inside the story—the infinite capacity--the true strength of the human spirit.

There are no times more taxing, more requiring of strength than the death of a loved on, an immediate member of your family. Having experienced the challenge of summing up my father’s life in eulogy (a story I share in my new book) I can attest to how deeply the moment calls upon one’s inner strength.

Yet, I still can not begin to imagine the pain that must accompany the inverse—when a parent says good-bye to a child. And in the case of this inspiring, gripping amazing story shared by ESPN’s Bill Simmons, a gifted young athlete who was counting the days until he would be able to remove his parents from a life plagued by inner-city terrorism.

Read Bill Simmon's, To An Athlete Dying Young.

May we all learn something from the too short life of Jamiel Andre Shaw II, a kid who did things the right way.