Mark on the Move

A high-tech bra with a built-in heart rate sensor will only release upon detecting some serious love vibes. Read this article by Amanda Kooser on CNET.

English artist Simon Beck creates stunningly large geometric patterns in the snow by walking miles in snow shoes. Visit Beck's Facebook page for more photos of his amazing work. Last winter we wrot...

I have an INSIDE SCOOP... A good friend of mine and business colleague is releasing her own blog in a few days.

Stay tuned for more or follow the link and her social media blogs. She is going to ROCK the boat of the fashion world! Get your Style on with:

http://www.manhattantomulholland.com/

"That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind"

I Need A Dollar (Aloe Blacc) cover by Aleksandra Something (by Aleksandra Ilijevski)

HAPPY FRIDAY peeps. A few years back I was inspired by this gal. As I was looking for a few of my favs of her for a friend this morning, reminded me how good and uplifting the beat is and her voice. Turn up the music people! ENJOY!

by Mark on the Move | on August 12, 2013  

  Today I write you about a very good friend of mine. His name is Kevin Hodes.

If you want to know what real life success is, then you need to know Kevin. If you want to know more about life, then you need to know Kevin. He is one of those rare gems you find in this lifetime. I hope this story helps you along your journey.

A few years back, I wanted a change in life. I wanted something special to happen to me and my family. While working at a client one day. This guy comes over, arms a whaling and flying all over the place trying to track me down. Ok, maybe I over exaggerated a bit.. HAHA

The moment he caught up with me, I was like who the heck is this guy. OMG I thought, is he nuts. Well yes he is but in a good way. After a short conversation, I followed him home and helped him out on a project he had. And before you knew it, we were talking for hours, well for minutes but it seemed like hours. From that day on, we have been best friends. What seems to be decades has only been half. It is time I will never forget and will cherish throughout my lifetime.

Kevin, what can you really say about the guy. He is funny, a kid, a serious business owner and a very loving father. He even plays with his KIDS toys!

If there is one thing I have learned from Kevin Hodes, it’s this. LISTEN!

Listen to everyone. Help others than need help. Follow your heart. Work with people that make a difference. In the end, those that still stand around you, those are the friends you keep.

I dedicate this story to my friend. He is a successful business owner. There is nothing he will not do for a friend.  His success is his passion to help everyone succeed in whatever they do. Yes, he has a great business, has a great family, he changes lives. Nothing compares to how he helps from his heart.

He supports many charities and political organizations. He works 20 hour days, while his head works 48 hours a day. And through all that he still spends time with his family. I am not sure how he does it, but he does it and does it well.

There is so much more for me to learn about him. I hope someday, I am looked upon as I look up to him. He has been a true friend to me, he has been there when I have been down, when I have been in pain, when I just wanted to quit or walk away. He changed me, he changed my life as I know it.

 Thank you Kevin Hodes, you walked in to my life for a reason only you and I know.

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Chiropractic. Now, I am sure that some of you will say, whatever, hokey pokey and so forth. Honestly, if you have never had the experience then you have no earthly idea what it really can do for you.

You see, back in the 80’s I was working hard to go pro track. I was on my way to the big league. I was a hurdler. One day during an event I fell on the 8th hurdle. I got back on my feet, I was in 1st place nearly a hurdle ahead and I placed 7th of 8 runners. I was in so much pain and I had no idea why. Well, okay, I was all cut up from the hurdles, and I knew where that pain was coming from, but what caused me to fall?

Shortly after the race I headed to the doctor. After many exams and tests, it was determined that I had just strained muscles in my hips and back. Flash forward, I still suffer that today. It was not until 2005 when after more than 12 years of seeing a chiropractor that I was sent to a back specialist. I had just pulled two muscles again in my back and legs. Really bad Charlie horses too. (my wife can tell you how bad)

BOOM! Spinal Stenosis. That’s what I had and I was born with it. Now it made sense of all the things that were going wrong with me over the years.  I am a full believer of chiropractic care work. As well as an inversion machine I own and use daily. If it was not for my good Dr, I would probably be in a wheelchair today. I had a choice to make, keep running and be in a wheelchair or stop running and I could go on enjoying life. Besides, I have a bone spur in my lower back that could go at any time, or it may never and just cause me grief.

In this video is a dear friend of mine that supports the “TCA – Texas Chiropractic Association” Mr. Brian Jones. We both are lucky to be walking today because of what chiropractic work does for you. I have been fortunate to be a part of this team to work on a project called. “My Texas Doctor”. Brian and I worked on this video in 2012. It was shot up in New York CBS studio and he hits a few points about the cause and what it did for him and his life after his football career.

Today, even though Brian and I fight for the same cause, we take the care very seriously. I see a doctor every few weeks. I have an inversion machine at home and use it often, sometimes more than I need but if I stop, I will not only be sore, I will be in pain and can barely walk or move.

Enough about me…Brian speaks the truth on what the organization is doing and there is a support organization for the legislatures called: GovBiz Partners. In the video he talks about how he supports the cause and how important it is to let the government know that Chiropractors are doctors too and the goal is to get insurance to cover the care.

If you see a Chiropractor, you win. If you’re not seeing one, you should. Take it from me and Brian, we really would not be where we are in life.

“Chiropractic Care Works”

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LIFE! Well, actually the roads I took while living this life. You know the saying, Wish I knew then what I know now?  If that was possible, we would all be a better person, heck this world would be better. Right?

In my 47 years of walking this life, I have seen many things from the good to the bad. I have had many friends, some have gone, and few have stayed. But, when you think about life in general, what is it that we really think about? Most cases, it seems to be I goofed and would like to go fix it.  Am I right?

What IF, and I mean literally what if we could control our lives and choose the paths we prefer? What if  we could make a difference each day in someone’s life? What if, you had the power to change the world? Guess what….YOU DO! All the things we wish and we think, we do control. It is up to you to decide the 4 paths you walk.

Forward, Left, Right and Reverse.

How I see it:

§  Forward: Means we can walk ahead the path we wish to take full control of our destiny. It is the path we chose at that time.

§  Left: A path that usually gets us in trouble or veers us down a path we know is wrong.

§  Right: A path we feel is the correct path in life at that time. We 2nd guess ourselves and are not always right!

§  Reverse: Obviously we goofed again, we think too much about the past. We don’t like change! 

Now, those are my opinions and there is no data research. Just me telling you how I think we move around this hard life. I don’t think there is really any wrong path except the ones you know are wrong and you feel guilty about it. STOP!

I was talking with a colleague today and I told him, we have a best friend we talk to everyday. I am not talking the spiritual one. I am referring to your BRAIN. Think of this: Your alone, and you talk to yourself in your head, you think, you make decisions, you choose what and how you want things. Do you realize that while your thinking and asking your BRAIN (Best Friend) that you’re also having a conversation with your BRAIN. So you’re asking your BRAIN if your BRAIN is ok with that decision or path. Your carrying two conversations with yourself.  Seem odd? We all do it! It's normal.

(I laughed writing that part above, imagine it took me two more conversations to write it)

The lesson for me is once I realized that I talk things through, I am a thinker. I carry on multiple conversations inside my BRAIN. I ask my BRAIN questions, I demand answers, so I re-think them through.  I get frustrated trying to figure out the answer I am looking for. Trying to convince myself what you want to hear or think.  Does this sound like you?

For me, I learned that this life is not easy and I do not trust myself enough and 2nd guess myself often. I am not sure I will ever feel that I finally learned the lesson of life, but what I have learned is to listen to my HEART!

Was it easy, NO! It probably has taken me 47 years and I am only half way through. The reality is I learn something each and every day. The moral of the story: You will learn what is right and wrong when you listen to your heart!

I love life, and I know you do to, so the next time you find yourself in a pickle, take it from me, don’t over think it, just ask yourself, is it right for me and the path I want for me. The mistakes you made are in the past, don’t let them control you. Don’t let them win. Surround yourself with real people that appreciate who you are.

In the end, you will have learned, a powerful lesson in life.

“Live Life, Don’t Let Life Live You!”

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Thank YOU for checking out my blog post today! Please comment below!

Being an ex-athlete I see many people all over the country run or jog.  For years I have wanted to pull over and talk to the runner when I see their poor habits. Running is a process or state of mind for the  body and soul,  or an entertainment ritual, and  for some, it is a way of life.

I had this coach that I had the pleasure to work with back in Jr. High. His name was Coach Mitchel. During the Jr. High years, he taught me many things. The main teaching was how to control your mind and that your body will follow. Do not allow the mind to control the goal in mind.

In high school Coach Mitchel had a plan for me. He was about to retire when I left Jr. High. To my surprise he retired but came on board for 1 year to see how I would perform. His goal was to prep me for a long career in track. To make it to the Olympics one day. That’s another story for another time.

Back to the reason I wanted to write this story. Running. I miss it, I wish I could run.

As I drive around town I see these runners and how they are whaling their arms all over the place or they are breathing hard.  Or maybe they just look like they are in pain.  Remember what I said in the beginning about the reason we run?

Example: I saw this guy running a few weeks back. I talked to myself in the car, I am sure I called her names and or yelled out to myself, you’re doing it wrong. I think I said she needs to go to the bathroom. HAHA  She had that constipated look.  First of all, when you run, you set yourself up that the run is going to be long and hot. STOP! FAIL!  You should tell yourself, I am ready to run, I can do this. Period! And just GO!

When you start to run your mind should be clear of everything. And I mean everything. DO NOT run because your mad or that your life is in shambles. This is bad! Once you learn to control your mind, it will then control your body, your breathing and the distance you run. Your body listens to your mind already without you telling it what to do. Much like the way we walk, we just do it, we don’t force it, we don’t stop and say hey, go this way, or go that way. We just walk. It’s simple. Running is the same thing, just faster.

Your mind controls everything. Upon your start, take your hands and relax them, do not make a fist. Your arms should work in a fluid like motion. They should be motionless, and seem to just glide in the air. If you stretched well,  then the rest of your body parts will do the same. As you continue moving forward try not to tense up. Relax and slow your breathing down, do not slow the body down.

Breathing. This is a hard one. When you run, your brain tells your body that your tired. That is because you were breathing too fast or too hard. That causes you to tire out.  Your breathing should be relaxed. Try not to hyper ventilate, breath very slow. Remember you control your body, thus you can control your breathing.  My wife points out to me at times that even though it has been many years since I have ran, she is amused at the state I am in, even when I am not in good shape. That is because I learned how to control my in just about everything I do.

We have the ability to teach our body new things every day. Though reading this may seem simple. It is difficult to master. Just remember if you relax, your body will relax and your mind will relax and before you know it, the run is over and you feel great.

Were human, we do have a lot of what I call “Drama” going on in life. Running is a luxury many don’t have. Take care of your body and let it do what it does best. If you will relax the next time you run, I promise you, you will fill like you ran a marathon and the next time you will go even further. At some point you will find that spot where you and your mind will lead the way without you thinking how to do it.

(My nephew Jeremy Wariner, Olympic champion) - Running the right way!

Items needed: You may laugh but it’s true.

Undergarments: make sure they are snug and not loose. And woman, make sure your bra holds you firm but not too tight

Shirt and Shorts: Same as undergarments, but more relaxed. If you feel good on how you look, that’s one thing, the truth is, if it is too tight you’re not relaxed and if it is too big, you’re not relaxed.

Shoes: IMPORTANT! Make sure they fit your feet, and that they are comfortable. Do not run your shoes all the way down. I know you’re not made of money, spend good money on shoes that fit well, absorb the shock of your bodies weight. Purchase 3-4 pairs and of different types. One pair for your workout,  two pairs to swap out when you race, and a backup pair for hard workout courses or street runs. And like I said, run a few times on them and then chunk them.

Socks: They need to be a breathable type, not too thin, and thick is out of the question. If your shoes have the right fit for your feet, then the sock is just to keep you from blistering.

Sunglasses: wear a pair!!! If your eyes are straining, then your forehead is, thus your body is in tension. Plus side, save your eyes from the sun.

Water: Wear a back pack when you work out. Of course in races you’re not allow to run with water. So when you do drink water, drink it slow and thoroughly. Your body needs it!

Music: YES! Wear your ipod, iphone or other device to listen to music that lifts you and inspires you. It will help you run smoother. I caution this, be sure to relax!

I was inspired to write this article for a dear friend of mine. She is going to be running in the NY Marathon this year. I wish her well in her race and I hope this can help her. If you care to donate for her charity, or find out more information, the link is below.

Thank you all for reading and next time you run, remember to relax, breath slow and most of all, enjoy it! Oh and in case your wandering. From 6th grade to 12th grade, I never lost a final race. After all I had an awesome coach. After High school, I had a running accident and my career was over, I never lost the passion to run. I continued to run for many years though not professionally.  people say, enjoy the RIDE, I say enjoy the RUN!

Now you know…

http://www.crowdrise.com/MobileKitchenClassroomNYC2013/fundraiser/jessicachase#sthash.sktHBNKv.dpuf

BENEFITING: New Venture Fund

ORGANIZER: SHFT Mobile Kitchen Classroom

EVENT: 2013 ING New York City Marathon

EVENT DATE: Nov 03, 2013

A few days back I had this gentleman that came to see me about a project he had started and wanted to move forward with it nationally. I met with Edward, and we discussed his idea and project. There is no name for the project as I found out. At this point I knew I had it cut out for me to help this guy figure out what he was all about.

The story goes: He had an itch to help kids. Started with his son, and took on a few more around his community. Most of the kids were part of single moms and just had no father figure. He realized the kids needed some coaching and mentoring. He went back to his family and they came up with a project to help kids be a better person. Everything from school, to friendship to working at their job and just plain ole ears to listen to them.

He has about 16 kids in his group and they have this pact that 5 days a week from 5am to 7am, they run. Yes, you read it right, they run! 3-5 miles per day. They have a buddy system that no man is left behind, they support each other in and out of the group.

Edward started to see this group was much more than just teenagers needing a father figure. He noticed that they just needed a support system. He found 2 other partners to help him get this group from an idea to an actual project. A non-profit project in the making. After many conversations, it was time for them to seek out help to get their digital online world in place. Thus, I was called upon. YEAH ME!

I setup up a time for Edward to come and talk to me. During the conversation, and mind you I only had about 30-45 minutes to speak with him. I was so inspired by the story and the project, it took us nearly 3 hours! He came to me wanting a mobile app. I first asked if he had a website. No he said. Oops, can’t do an app. Why? Without a website, Apple will not approve an app. However, it gets even more difficult for him as I start to ask more questions. Like, what is the name of your project? What do you want to do in the project? How will you ask for donations? Who will you target? Who, Who, Who and so on… Nothing! No answers!

I was so impressed what he and the other 2 partners were doing even though they need direction and guidance. I stopped the conversation and without hesitation. I stated, I want to help. It’s what I do. I want to do this.  YEAH ME! (right?)

Yes, I want to help all I can, while I don’t have the answers on how to start. I relayed the suggestions in some order for phase 1. 1: figure out who and what the group is, 2: determine what the mission is, 3: create the name of the project 4: discuss among the partners their visions and write down the goals, 5: call me and let’s talk about phase 2.

The story of how he quit his job to help a group of kids of all ages, to support them, mentor them, to listen and coach them. To help them become better in life, complete an education and go to college. All while remaining loyal to themselves for a brighter future. From that, I took action and I will help this group get all they need, from a web site, to a mobile app and anything I can do to help within their budget and mine.

I will support this group and become their first board member, Ambassador, Speaker, Counselor, and let’s just be honest here. Whatever they need, they will get it.