Lifestyle – Page 24 – Walk Into the Future

Philly Soul

What comes to mind when you hear Hall and Oates?

Group from the 80’s, blue-eyed soul, lots of hit songs or I remember them? I’m guessing all those things crossed your mind when I mentioned them and yes, they are still around.

I was extremely happy to discover Hall and Oates was touring the country again this summer. I grew up listening to their music and watching the early videos on MTV and Night Tracks on TBS. Turns out the Hall and Oates video for Family Man (H20 album) was the first video aired on Night Tracks. It seems they were always churning out a hit or two that captured my attention and had me singing along with them. (FYI: Night Tracks aired June 1983 – May 1992).

Sometimes you forget how many hits an artist has until you see them live. The closest place I could see Hall and Oates was in Orlando at the Amway Center. I’ve been in the Amway for college and professional basketball games but never for a concert. Multiple outlets had tickets available but decided to use Vividseats.com since this site didn’t have the ‘extra’ fees associated with booking directly with the Amway Center or Ticketmaster. I’m always looking for a deal!

Train was the opening act for Hall and Oates. I’ve heard some of their music but I’m not a fan. I was pleasantly surprised to see and hear a lot of Hall and Oates fans singing along to every word of Train’s set. Turns out the lead singer is from the Philadelphia area and has been influenced by Hall and Oates. May have to give them another listen knowing this new fact.

Hall and Oates started their set with ‘Maneater’ which was one of their largest hits from the 80’s. Their sound and band were better than I expected. The musicianship displayed was impressive and had everyone standing, singing and dancing along. They covered about an hour and a half of their hits going back to the early days: She’s Gone, Can’t Stop the Music, Sara Smile, Rich Girl, Kiss on My List, Maneater, One on One and new stuff [Philly forget me Not with Train].

Texted one of my Philly area friends during the show and asked for her favorite Hall and Oates song. She gave me two: She’s Gone and Rich Girl. I texted back my favorite Hall and Oates song is: Sarah Smile. Of course, this changed as they played hit after hit and I loved each one of them. Guess my true favorite Hall and Oates song is the most recent one I hear. Their sound and music carry well, and they will be making audiences smile for years to come. Their last encore song was You Make my Dreams Come True. What an appropriate song to send fans home–well done Hall and Oates!

Went back and watched their 2014 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony and they performed just as well there. Hit after hit and making the crowd smile.

What’s your favorite Hall and Oates song? When’s the last time you listened to it? I recommend going to YouTube and experiencing it again—enjoy!

July 26, 2018

Spin Class

When’s the last time you took a spin class? Well, decided to get back in the saddle today and tried spinning again. Wanted to enhance my current cardio routine with something challenging without having to go out and fight the Florida heat and humidity summer brings. Found a local church with a Fitness Ministry where they offer multiple class formats and times to reach a larger population.

The church allows registered participants to attend the first class for free. This was a bonus as I have been searching for additional ways to supplement my cardio and half marathon training program. Thought spin would be a fun and challenging way to burn more calories and interact (network) with others in the community.

Our instructor was very nice and made everyone feel welcome. She had to spend a little extra time with me to get my bike set-up since I haven’t been on a spin bike in about 4 years. Once we got my seat and handle bar height levels corrected, the fun began. Several warm up routines got us physically and mentally prepared for a hard, fun and energizing 45-minute ride. The instructor made a point to let us all know the ride would be at our individual pace. We were coached to take breaks, adjust pedal tension and get water whenever needed. This made the class an enjoyable experience for me. There were several times I didn’t know if I could make it over the next ‘hill’ but our instructor kept me moving forward and I was able to complete the entire 45-minute circuit. Not bad for my first time back in the saddle after a 4-year layoff.

Looking forward to getting back and taking my next class. Thinking about buying a package of classes since I know they will get used especially over the hot summer months.

An extra benefit of spin class was the mind cleaning aspects the ride had. I was able to completely focus on riding my bike over the next hill. The breathing techniques we utilized helped free my mind and created a unique experience for me. I know it was just a spin class, but the enjoyment of the ride was eye opening and has me looking forward to my next visit.

This Fitness Ministry is an excellent way to give back and help the community! Well done!

What have you always wanted to try or do but never make the time? When will you free your mind with a ‘spin’ class?

July 12, 2018

Why Walk into the Future?

Walk into the Future signifies the ability to understand tomorrow is coming and you should not be afraid to move forward. The way you decide to walk into the future will be your own unique journey. Chart your course and then work to navigate your way towards the life goals you decide to create. Use your time to explore and find what makes you happy on this new journey. Examples include:

Take that vacation you have been putting off
Decide to create your own blog to document your walk into the future
Make time for family and friends (again)
Discover new talents you may have or wanted to explore
Live life the way you want to

The specifics of these examples can be worked out in more detail but leverage this concept to guide your journey.

My first ‘walk’ was to head down to Negril, Jamaica to enjoy the food, sun and culture. This experience was a way to unwind and recharge my mental focus. I was able to catch up on some long overdue reading for personal enjoyment. The ability to consume works by my favorite authors brings me a lot of joy, so this was an added benefit of walking into the future via my trip to Negril. Time for naps was readily available and enjoyed during this phase as well. What’s a trip to Negril, Jamaica without a trip to Rick’s Café to watch people (tourists and locals) take turns cliff diving. The reggae is awesome, and the sunsets are great at Rick’s Café. Being there enjoying the irie vibe is a tremendous way to unwind and enjoy the island.

This recharge will be used to launch several 2018 projects to bring me closer to who I want to be (professional and personal) and to bring a new level of good to my community. The charge is to make a difference daily!

Enjoy the process! Walk—don’t run!