LIFE REIMAGINED: Recent Episodes
Rex Stevens
An opportunity to reinterpret and rethink the evolution of our own unique sense of human expression. The chance to explore with an adaptable lens our view on health, movement, diet, thought, friendship, career, morals, values, beliefs, religions, marriage, and relationships. A willingness to view a new conception of or to simply imagine again how we would consider answering questions like what do we really want and what do we truly believe is possible.
1 yr and 1 day ago, 1/23/23 I blew out a candle wishing for my mom’s suffering on this earth to end. 1/24/23 or the next day, it did!
Had my patience tested in the public sauna today. Silly and laughable when I look back at the event but an awesome opportunity to dive a bit deeper into self control and reset.
When is the pain or dysfunction enough to finally prompt a change? Are you resisting change simply because it doesn’t hurt enough or is it because you just don’t know what to do?
Do we speak just to speak? Do we speak because we know? If we know is that knowing intellectual, is it innate, is it from experience? More lessons learned in the public sauna!
Looking to FTJ - Finish The Job. Playing with the number 40 over this next stretch of time. Observing probabilities and seeking outcomes we desire.
Where can I continue to find joy, create joyful moments, and add reflexive internal adaptations to energetically attract more joy in my life? A special thanks to Blakey and Sadie for showing it to me everyday.
Are we off to the races and missing some present moments that might shift our energy in a positive way? A story that made me pause in the group sauna today.
I stumble and bumble over a phrase my Grandmother issued to me one of our last conversations on the phone. “Rex, may God grant you the favor of being a blessing to someone this day.’
What happens when the coach stops timing the conditioning drills at basketball practice? Is the effort the same? Is the mindset the same? How does this carry over to other areas in your life?
Could going with your gut, trusting your instincts lead to even greater rewards? An example of just that with my youngest son Leyton on his special day.
In a meeting today, we were all asked this question. Although I was not externally vocal, my internal answer was ‘connectivity’.
It will be multiple trips around the sun until we come to meet this date again. What can we learn from a simple lonely day?
A commentary on a paragraph from Glennon Doyle’s new book ‘Untamed’. A challenge on whether you are doing life ‘right or wrong’.
Is it possible to have an appropriate weight or a healthy appearance yet still be suffering on the internal? Likewise, does my physique have to be magazine worthy aesthetically to be able to assume toughness or athletic ability?
We are all unique and bring our own set of skills to various aspects of our lives. Last night, 3 uniquely different lenses and skill sets when viewing the game of basketball were had by the referees at a CIF playoff game yet they were able to set their egos aside and come together to cooperate for the betterment of all involved.
A review of Kobe and Gigi’s Memorial Service and a letter written by Tom Brady as a result that challenges us to ‘Seize the Day’.
Am I seeking to be better in all I do as a Chiropractor each day? In my failures with patients, does it cause me to seek out my weaknesses and look to improve or does it cause me to negative spiral into the paralyzing land of ‘not being good enough’?
A came upon a letter written by a young man with a graduate degree who wound up homeless and eventually took his own life. This is not meant to be anything other then to bring awareness to the thoughts, feelings and emotions that engulfed this human in his last moments.
Am I the voice of my own mind or am I simply the one who hears it? Am I the only one who has the power to give or take away my inner Freedom? Two great quote are looked at today from best selling author of the ‘The Surrender Experiment’ and ‘Untethered Soul’ Michael Singer.
Not originally a part of this well known, often recited prayer, but for me, I won’t say the prayer without adding this conclusive statement above. After all, without willingness, how really can we expect change?
What’s the probability that if you try intermittent fasting for 24 hours that your physical and emotional health will deteriorate???? I’ve always witnessed the opposite both in myself and others. If you’re intrigued, give it a go, you may be pleasantly surprised. Forget the intellectual of why for a moment and look to just experience!
In discussion with my 11 yo we contemplated whether it matters after making the right pass to a teammate for a potential assist in basketball, does it matter whether they make the shot?
Random deep thought on our growing ability to ‘pause’ death on this planet. If it begins to backfire and the earth becomes unsustainable as a result, would the answer be to ‘pause’ new life?
What does it mean to be spiritual? Is there a pressure that comes with it? How do I remain a ‘neutral witness in what is’?
The childhood game ‘truth or dare’ brought with it fun, excitement, wonderment, but frankly at times a little anxiety. I ask myself in this episode where is it easy for me to take the ‘dare’ and keep my heart open and where do I resist.
An opportunity to discover the various ways we all give and receive love on this special day.
A look back on the environment and message I took away from watching the entertaining basketball legends the Harlem Globetrotters.
A generic overview of the famous book written by Don Miguel Ruiz with a slight focus on the Fourth Agreement, Always Do Your Best. (Be impeccable with your word, Don’t take anything personally, Don’t make assumptions)
NY Times article suggesting pharmacists becoming more apprehensive about making mistakes. Who’s to blame? How much responsibility do we have as a patient?
When describing an aspect of our life in relation to time, I explore why time may seem to stand still VS why time can seem to fly by.
A myriad of thoughts on the cultural influences on what family means VS the reality of who are real families are. A discussion on sacrifices we make and even betrayals of self to fit a mold we know doesn’t match our spiritual longings. I also explore John Mayer’s song titled ‘In the Blood’, which fits perfectly with this topic asking challenging questions about family from verse to verse.
A friend of mine received his Blue Chip, 6 month alcohol sobriety coin, yesterday. I share on my experiences with him, myself and other stories I’ve been witness to with regards to successes and failures both with 12 step programs as well as therapies and treatments that target our reflexes/involuntary programming/subconscious.
I read a short story about valuable life lessons learned while playing/coaching T-Ball.
I tell a story that demonstrates an overt lack of sensitivity of one life form to another, a human to a camel.
One day after the Super Bowl, the second guessers are out spewing harsh criticisms in hindsight at coaches and players from the San Francisco 49ers. But does second guessing always have to be so negative? I explore how this exercise of second guessing can be positive and can lead to a life filled with progress and learning.
From expecting to never coach again to joining a week later as an assistant to the OMS Basketball squad, I reflect on what it means to be part of a team, a uniquely different coaching environment then I’d recently been exposed to, and why it’s so crucial to check your ego at the door.
I contemplate all that can be learned from a friends very difficult 31 day physical challenge to start the year 2020.
I recall a conversation with a top collegiate football official and the advice he gave me regarding what distinguishes the great officials from the good ones.
When being exposed to a new hobby, sport, game, or skill how awesome it is not only to have the right equipment but also to have friends with experience and friends who are encouragers. This episode shares on my sons getting their first real exposure to surfing on the central coast.
I explore the concept of ‘cheat days’ as it pertains to diet, occupation and relationships. What’s potentially missing at our fundamental core when we feel the need to ‘cheat’.
A reading from The Rock, Dwayne Johnson, as he reflects on his fathers sudden death. I parallel to the pressure I put on myself as a father and the suffering that often accompanies that as I yearn to be a leader to my sons.
Reflections on my 44th year of life as I turn 45 tomorrow. Tools I’ve added, the process of surrender and learning to find the comfort in being held.
‘The biggest key to stardom is the rest of the team.’ A motto our Mission 7th grade basketball team embraced as they completed an undefeated 22-0 season. A quick share on lessons learned from these boys and their head coach.
On the night Connor McGregor re-entered the Octagon with a quick and dominant win over Donald Cerrone, I recall a quote from him that stated ‘I am not talented, I am obsessed.’ I ponder briefly those thoughts in my own life.
An inspirational reading about finding our ‘voice’ from within. Written by Hall of Fame NBA Coach Pat Riley
Sometimes when you least expect it, seemingly random people in your life pick you up. I got to see a litany of them all just today. One by one they strolled in to interact with me in some beautiful way and I am thankful and remarkably humbled. Thanks to Tim, Brandon, Keith, Eric, Russ, and Kellie for believing in and supporting me.
A reading from the children’s book written by NY Times Bestselling authors and creators, Rosenthal and Lichtenheld.
Two examples shared of clouded lenses distorting reality and making it difficult to determine paths to take and roads to follow. An encouragement to share our lenses with one another. Life is better together.
When the lights go out in the home, where does your mind go? What story does it tell? Fear or connection.
An important life lesson I learned from my Grandpa Dickerson while playing the game of Cribbage. It was a 28 not a 29 I ended up with, but a feeling of connection, warmth and love that will forever be priceless!
Lessons from a counselor and both my sons on good deeds that on the surface appeared like they backfired...or did they?
Story of a random thank you from a patient I hadn’t seen in 2 years and why our ‘fears’ are often not real.
Wild Geese by Mary Oliver You do not have to be good. You do not have to walk on your knees for a hundred miles through the desert repenting. You only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine. Meanwhile the world goes on. Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain are moving across the landscapes, over the prairies and the deep trees, the mountains and the rivers. Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air, are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely, the world offers itself to your imagination, calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting -- over and over announcing your place in the family of things.
The death of a young middle school basketball player in Templeton ignited a gym unified in connection before our competitive contest. Perspective, visualization, pause, and a unique life moment that brought a body of people together.
The thing is to become a master, and in your old age to acquire the courage to do what children did when they knew nothing.” –Henry Miller. Deep thought: A child’s natural state seems to be joy and they must be taken out of that state whereas it so often seems an adults natural state is not joy and they are looking for events to find it.
IG photo of Sadie and I and it’s relevance to the lyrics in a song by Need to Breathe titled ‘Through Smoke’. Lyrics: Before the truth will come to fill our eyes The wool comes down in the form of fire And when the answers and the truth have cut their ties Will you still find me, will you still see me Through smoke Through smoke
I was born in a house in a town just like your own I was raised to believe in the power of the unknown When the answers and the truth take different sides Will you still find me, will you still see me Through smoke Through smoke
When their whispers have painted pictures that Make you doubt what you once believed in Paper stories that hide the glory To keep us searching Through smoke (Who do you believe when you can't get through) Through smoke (When everything you know seems so untrue) Through smoke (When I'm lost in a place that I thought I knew) Through smoke (Give me some way that I might find you) Through smoke
Wisdom from my 10 year old as he unprompted observed he could control his breath in the cold through visualization and postural position. Fascinating awareness of self and its relation to environment.
Purple Gatorade, a nearly 500 lb man that I encountered in the sauna and what I learned from them both.