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Getting Fit, Glass and Relax, and Hacking Habits

A few weeks back +Noble Ackerson recommended a book that sounded interesting, but I didn't really want to spend the money on it at the time. That book was "The Power of Habit, by Charles Duhigg". Well, I received some Play Store gift card over the last few weeks due to being awesome at work and decided to pick it up. I haven't quite finished it yet, but I can without a doubt say that it will make you look at things in an entirely different way. You'll begin to recognize all the habits that you have and even the habits that your company has. The things that we do every day without knowing and without even questioning. It's astounding. One of the key aspects of the book though is that if you know and understand a habit, you can change it. I've started to utilize what the book details about habits to accomplish a few things that I've realized I want to do.

First, I plan on utilizing the habit forming routines to get to the point that I exercise every morning before work. As soon as I wake up, I go into the office, put on Glass, and say "Ok, Glass, Start a workout". This is possible due to the amazing +LynxFit software put together by the minds at ByteAnAtom. I've only been using it a few days, though I installed it weeks ago (I was lazy, see why I want to change?) and already I can feel muscles I didn't know I had being sore. And they're sore in the area's I've always wanted to work on every time I exercised, but didn't know how. I already walk a couple miles every day, but beginning in the new year, a coworker and I will begin training to participate in the Spartan Race in/near Washington, DC, depending on when it will be in 2014. We're not ready yet, though he may be more prepared than I am, but we're going to give it a shot. There's a few others in the office who may be interested too, so we may have a whole crew by the time the race occurs. I'm not sure when it typically is in the year, but if it's around late August or afterwards, I think we'll be okay. I'll be utilizing another of the aspects of habit forming mentioned in the book, having others to support you when you get down and want to quit. The same technique that has helped so many AA members achieve success is actually grounded in simple habits. This will be an incredibly difficult goal to achieve, but I want one of those awesome medals damn it.

I'm also participating in the Project Ara research by Motorola. Our current task is to "build" our desired Project Ara phone and carry it with us for a week to see how it could improve our day. So far, the research stuff has been interesting. I need to work on my phone a little more to make it more capable of lasting a day in my pocket, currently it's just wire frame and made of plastic with my 3Doodler.

Speaking of my 3Doodler, I recently made a Gandalf stick figure person to ride atop an award we have at work known as the Crystal Eagle. It is hilarious and awesome.

In the spirit of getting back on track, I am also organizing another Glass and Relax event. In case you're wondering what a Glass and Relax is, it is an event where you just hang out with fellow Explorers, maybe get some food, a few drinks if you prefer, and in general just relax and enjoy the company with as little demonstrations and explanations to people as possible. Anyone with Glass (and any significant others/guests) is welcome to participate. While I say as little demonstrations as possible, that's not to say we're trying to be rude, it's just meant as more of a step away from our normal routine of explaining it to everyone we pass on the street. You're still welcome to stop and explain what Glass is to someone if you like. This event is scheduled for March first and we will be heading to Medieval Times near Baltimore, Maryland. It is going to be awesome. Rachel and I took mom out to see it while she was visiting and we all had a blast. The Master of Ceremonies referred to our Glass as "Witch Goggles" and "Witch Glasses" and cautioned us from showing them to the commoners lest we be burned at the stake for magic. He even stopped by during the show to ask how they were doing (we were taking pictures and video the entire time). One of the knights even asked if we could see Narnia on them. (Note: I'm using the plural terms because Rachel and I both have Glass.) This trip will surely be even more awesome. I would like to be able to get an entire section full of wearers of "Witch Goggles", but that's a lot of seats to fill. The event is still a ways off, but as of right now it looks like we're going to have a decently sized group attending. I'm very excited.

Oh! I'll also be receiving my Glass swap box sometime this week, so sometime next week I should be the proud owner of a new XE-C model of Glass, still #teamtangerine of course. I'm interested in trying out Wink again now that it's officially supported and to see what other improvements they may have made. I know of a few already due to inspecting the wife's Glass, but I'm curious what I'll notice while wearing it every day.

All in all, this has been an amazing year with some incredible changes in my life and I look forward to what 2014 has in store. With the proper goals and habits in place, this time next year I plan to have a Spartan Race medal hanging in front of me. Right next to the Zero helmet and the Para-koopa.


Oh, one last thing. I've recently discovered Mega Ran via Google Music All Access. You should check it out if you're a MegaMan fan at all.

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