Dooley Noted: 10/9/2016
Today, I turned 38.
As I spend a glorious day off doing things I adore, I recounted some of the major things I learned at age 37.
1. People who tell you that you can’t have it all actually don’t have it all and are projecting their disdain onto you.
2. Breathing drills are never to be skipped. The breath is all you ever have. All else is an illusion.
3. Hi-Chew candies are my kryptonite, except when consumed post-lift. Then they become anabolic.
4. If you date someone for a second time, don’t expect it to be much different than the first time.
5. The same people who told you that you could never do it will be following your lead.
6. The things with which you struggle are the exact things you must be doing.
7. If the back squat reproduces your back pain or hip pinching, you really need to work on your front squat.
8. Even in your darkest moment, you’re not dead yet.
9. Running feels magical if you first earn the mobility, stability and strength to support the run.
10. If you recommend it, people listen. Support your choices carefully and with solid logistics.
11. If you’re lucky enough to marry the love of your life, work every day to create space for the union to grow.
12. Just because you’ve done something every day for years, doesn’t mean you have to keep doing it.
13. Bleeding-heart animal lovers sometimes catch happily feral cats and turn them into shelters, where they show their misery every day of being trapped indoors.
14. Taiwan has the friendliest, most respectful students and colleagues on planet Earth.
15. Even if you have a command on the material, you’re not done learning how to make it more digestible to others.
16. Strength on a wobbly platform is not authentic strength. It will eventually show itself with bodily injury or discomfort.
17. When you meet the love of your life and actually open your eyes, you’ll want to marry immediately.
18. No matter how great your situation becomes, never lose sight of helping others.
19. Pay for lounge access on long layovers. They have beds and showers.
20. Helping your protégés surpass you is how you change the world.
21. Citibike gets you everywhere in 1/3 of the time of taxis and subways.
22. But if you bike in NYC, look alive or you may not stay alive.
23. No better chocolate exists than Pana organic chocolate from Down Under.
24. Ojo Caliente is one of the most hidden getaways of absolutely gorgeous views and nourishing hot springs.
25. Anatomy matters, and people are knowing less and less about anatomy.
26. Get ready in 10 minutes for your wedding, because you’re going to just cry off that makeup anyway.
27. Letting people help you frees up more time for you to help others.
28. Eat your greens, but not raw and not in the morning. They’re too cold-natured and can wreak havoc on digestion.
29. NKT is the only seminar I know promoting this hard pill to swallow: if you lack mobility of a limb on both sides, it’s a core stability problem. Stop focusing so much on the limb.
30. If anatomy curricula are going to be cut worldwide, then it’s my duty to keep it going with Immaculate Dissection.
31. If you listen more than you talk, you’ll have more helpful things to say.
32. Bubble tea and a long walk solve problems.
33. A wrench is just a wrench, and you can bend it with your hands.
34. Whether it’s a 24 kilo press or a 32 kilo getup, work for the skill consistently and you’ll get the goal.
35. Marriage isn’t hard. It’s the best job I’ve ever had, being my husband’s wife. It’s an honor to work with him in the only union where the world encourages mixing business and pleasure.
36. Eat the cookie if you want the cookie. No bargaining is necessary.
37. Even on your toughest day, when you feel and look like garbage, someone thinks you’re beautiful.
I can’t wait to find out more about life in year 38.
You can wish me a happy 38th birthday if you like.
As always, it’s your call. 🙂
– Dr. Kathy Dooley
