Thoughts for Quarantine
I can still remember my first day of college and the preparation leading up to the big day, back in 2001. The excitement was palpable I bought all the books, printed my schedule months in advance, gathered intelligence regarding the layout of the college, wore my nicest shirt, dressed to impressed and was ready to … Continue reading Thoughts for Quarantine
WHAT IS NEXT BOOK
The new book, ‘What is Next’ is now available on Amazon What is Next: Lacrosse and Life Lessons | struggle, hustle and succeeding on purpose
My Motivational Honeymoon
Have you ever felt so motivated that you could take on a giant? When it feels as though nothing can bring you down from cloud nine and you are essentially unstoppable? Your world is limitless! Your goals are going to be crushed! You will increase your income, followers and likes by 200% in the next … Continue reading My Motivational Honeymoon
What is Next…first 3 chapters
Etched inside the 2017 Canadian Lacrosse Championship ring proudly displayed on my dresser is the inscription, “What is Next”. The very slogan that has propelled a team to a National Championship, has humbled me and taught me about life, love, teamwork, fear, failure and fighting for your dream; One shift at a time. CHAPTER 1 … Continue reading What is Next…first 3 chapters
Managing the Distraction
It is no secret, or shocking revelation when I tell you that distraction is the enemy of our progress. Robin Sharma, Canadian author of ‘The 5am Club’ writes: “The addiction to Distraction is the death of creative production”. Robin Sharma I have to laugh a little, as I’m spending a Saturday in Starbucks trying to … Continue reading Managing the Distraction
My Worst Nightmare
In my opinion, one of the worst, day wrecking, gut wrenching, vomit inducing, mental breaking, nightmare of the epic proportions, is spilling my coffee. Just the mere thought of it has my skin crawling and begins to produce a visceral reaction that makes me eerily uncomfortable. knowing sips from the Heaven’s above will never be … Continue reading My Worst Nightmare
To Fix or To Heal…
I’m a fixer. Insert gasp of shock and surprise! My whole life has been built around the need and desire to help others. In my career, my family and my day to day interactions with others, I am constantly looking for ways to help fix. Whether it is with a coffee and conversation, a simple … Continue reading To Fix or To Heal…
Trampolines
Many moons ago I worked at a summer camp in Cavan Ontario. Maple Creek Ranch was one of Ontario’s premier summer camps for kids ranging from youngsters to teens. I was first a camper each summer, but as I grew older and my dad being the first aid man on staff, I reached staff designation … Continue reading Trampolines
New Year thoughts…from the ground up
I’ve taken a few days to gather my thoughts on the inevitable New Year’s post. I’ve been asked by several people when I plan on writing something about said topic. To be honest, I really didn’t want to. Personally, my 2018 was pretty awful and rather terrible. A difficult separation, a tragic loss to a … Continue reading New Year thoughts…from the ground up
Lessons from my 11yr old…
Thought I would share another piece from my upcoming book (hopefully due out sometime in 2019)… I learn a lot from my kids, not just in regards to the increasingly complex realm of parenting, but also the life lessons that they can teach me as I try to teach them. I honestly think that there … Continue reading Lessons from my 11yr old…
Don’t miss the Signs…
My inner reflection took place this past summer after another successful championship Lakers season, giving more proof to the What is Next strategy of the team, sweeping the visitors from the Canadian West coast in four games thanks to our focus on the small details of each shift. I took some time with my dad … Continue reading Don’t miss the Signs…
Tattoos and Redemption
I got my first tattoo when I was twenty years old. I waited until I was newly married and along with my wife, we did what most couples in the early parts of the new millennium were doing and got matching Chinese symbol ankle tattoos. My tattoo stands for God is Truth, it is the … Continue reading Tattoos and Redemption
Problem with Productivity
Hustle is for Hipsters and Lunch Since the dawn of mainstream internet self help (sometime in the late 90’s), the word Hustle has been on the forefront of most social media platforms and the pocket ammo of most self-proclaimed business gurus and life coaches. It’s the concept that to achieve your goals, you need to … Continue reading Problem with Productivity
Reflections on the Water
For the fist time in years, I took some time for me… it was one of the most difficult and mentally grueling tasks I have accomplished in a while. Being in the middle of a very stressful personal situation, trying to maintain a business and have some time for self care is an impossible task. … Continue reading Reflections on the Water
Fear of the (un)known
Its no surprise to you by now that I am a little bit of a coffee addict. I tend to relate my life story to the process of making the most glorious nectar of the gods from bean to cup and how there is a strange parallel that can be drawn from this highly complicated … Continue reading Fear of the (un)known
Going for a spin
Driving by the Peterborough Exhibition after work today conjured up memories of a time I would prefer to let go from my vast collection of childhood stories. The contraption of certain horror that caught my attention was the spiraling death trap with lights that starts horizontal than proceeds to propel itself in a vertical fashion … Continue reading Going for a spin
Finding Joy in the Mediocre
I’m not sure if I’m the only one on the Lacrosse bench that takes some of the coaches words as deep life lessons that make for great blog posts?!? In the midst of a few expletives (that shouldn’t be repeated), were scattered the words “focus on what is in front of you”. In the context … Continue reading Finding Joy in the Mediocre
Willing to be Misunderstood
My last post dove into the complexity of understanding and that with true understanding comes true wisdom. And speaking of personal experience, realizing the importance of the messages we send to others with our words, actions and behaviors. I want to take some time to explore the other side of the subject; when our message … Continue reading Willing to be Misunderstood
Wisdom to Understand
Proverbs 4:7 (KJV) The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight. Other translations: 7 Getting wisdom is the most important thing you can do! And with your wisdom, develop common sense and good judgment. (TLB) Understanding seems to be somewhat hard to attain. Wisdom and knowledge can be quite elusive … Continue reading Wisdom to Understand
Raging Water
Today was a tough day… the reality of a broken relationship, questioning all my past and current choices, the hurt of misunderstanding, the feeling of shame, the weight of my family’s future and the constant barrage of self sabotaging negative dialogue is raging a war inside my head. My heart aches, and my body hurts. … Continue reading Raging Water
Open Hands
one of the most obvious life lessons I have had the (unfortunate) pleasure of learning over the past few years, is the life is not in my control. As much as I can try and take control of things and try to steer situations, outcomes, even people in a direction that I feel they should … Continue reading Open Hands
The Good Doctor
To be able to pen words of wisdom and enlightenment, with an inspirational depth unattainable by another human while being consistent and concise with cadence and and incredible advice… is a dream that one day I wish to realize. I will never be as eloquent and precise as one of my all all time favorite … Continue reading The Good Doctor
assumptions and judgements
I feel like I live with this strange dichotomy. I love to teach, to educate and share my knowledge. To be in front of others; a group of strangers leading them into a deeper understanding of a particular topic I am passionate about. Yet at the same time I hate the feeling of being judged. … Continue reading assumptions and judgements
Social Loneliness
According to my social media reach, my popularity and friendships are extensive…I couldn’t begin to tell you just how many “friends” or “followers” I have on all the various platforms I visit daily. This is rather unfortunate and somewhat meaningless to my actual social reality. Running a business has prompted the unfortunate necessity for an … Continue reading Social Loneliness
Opportunity in Hard Places
Jon Acuff’s book “Quitter” is a great book about being caught in the tension between your day job and your dream job, and the steps you need to take in order to quit said day job to exceptionally succeed in your dream job. I have to admit that there were some concepts in a couple … Continue reading Opportunity in Hard Places
Shadows and Worry
These past few months have not ceased to amaze me… Even though I’ve learned a lot about myself, I’m still struggling to understand, process and implement all the things I need in order to be a better version of me. And to be honest, I think part of the reason why is fear. Fear of … Continue reading Shadows and Worry
In the Journey
“In the Journey is where life is found…” This quote hit me pretty hard as the recent documentary ’25in24′ came to an end. It still amazes me how one line in a film or song can have such a huge impact. I suppose it may have to do with my days lately and how they … Continue reading In the Journey
Think Inside the Box
I used to have this theory that the more credentials I have, the more letters behind my name or the more expansive my diversification of skills became, the better and more successful I would be as a business owner. However, in recent years, as my skills have evolved over fourteen years as a Massage … Continue reading Think Inside the Box
Coffee and Conversations
It comes as no surprise that I like my coffee. If you’ve followed any of my social media accounts – @joshmartinrmt on Instagram – you will see that I post a picture from my seat at Starbucks every time I sit to write…It’s pretty much my second office and luckily for me, it’s literally a … Continue reading Coffee and Conversations
Freedom in Failure
I wanted to write a post on failure, and just how important of a gift it is…but the irony is that I feel like I have, in fact, failed as it has taken me an incredibly long time to write it. This topic is a bit of a debate within certain populations and people groups. … Continue reading Freedom in Failure
Emotional Self-Sabotage
So I think my Counselor hates me….or is at least incredibly frustrated with my very apparent lack of ability to do anything related to self-care. As I revealed in my previous posts, I am a people-pleaser. On the Enneagram Test, I am a hard 2 with a 6 and 3 rolled in… I’m the Helper, … Continue reading Emotional Self-Sabotage
Hands and Heart
One of the ways to my heart is through my hands. There is nothing more fulfilling and surprisingly calming for me then when my children reach out to hold my hand. There is something about feeling the love, warmth and innocence of a child you love with everything you are, grasping your hand so tight. … Continue reading Hands and Heart
In the Waiting…
It’s quite difficult to follow a post like my last one (Sticks & Stones…), but I was awake all night last night trying to calm my soul a little. I received a much deeper response to it then I truly anticipated. Hearing that so many others have suffered or are suffering through their own struggles … Continue reading In the Waiting…
Sticks and Stones…
Full disclaimer here… I might get a little deep in this post, not for sympathy or attention, but to help, because we are not alone! In recent months I’ve been spending a large amount of time with a counselor, and at first I was very ashamed to admit it, but several conversations over the past … Continue reading Sticks and Stones…
my mosiac mug…
life is fragile. have you ever dropped your favorite caffeinated beverage containment unit? You know, the one you have your morning coffee with… daily? That special mug that no matter how much you wash it, has that beautiful circumferential remnant stain providing a unique taste from years of glorious liquid that has seen you through … Continue reading my mosiac mug…
From the first note to the Final downbeat…
There are very few things in this life that hold such incredible significance to me than music. I always knew music would have a place in my life but never did I think I would be a musician. It wasn’t until my senior year of high school when injury sunk my certain opportunity at a … Continue reading From the first note to the Final downbeat…
Queens & Fractions
In the stillness of the moment of her King being laid to rest, the voice of her coach cut through so clearly; “Never tip your King so quick…Focus on what you have. Do not be quick to tip your king, You must never surrender.” I watched this movie the other night and it took me … Continue reading Queens & Fractions
Time…
We can waste it, or make good use of it There can sometimes never be enough or sometimes simply too much To some, it is worth more than they have to give. For others, it is a precious gift It can be spent wisely and used for those that are most important to us We … Continue reading Time…
your story…
“Your story isn’t finished yet”. this thought challenged me in a semi-sleepy-state the other night. Most self-employed entrepreneurs can likely relate that sleep is a precious commodity that we rarely get to experience; even on a good day. Minds race, thoughts, visions, goals, lists etc, bombard our conscious and ricochet through our temples. With millions … Continue reading your story…
air
its been a while since my last post and boy has life been interesting… not going to get into all the details, but it has been tough… I’ve already shared about the importance of breathing, and how life can make us forget that we are still alive, and just how much of a gift that … Continue reading air
vision and perspective…
Being in business for a decade now has taught me a significant lesson on sacrifice. Not a lesson I have leaned on my own or taught myself, rather an introspective glance into the world my wife and family lives everyday, being attached to a self employed entrepreneur. when deciding to take a step into this … Continue reading vision and perspective…
Skinned Knees…
This summer my four year old son learned how to ride a two wheeler bike with no training wheels. super proud dad moment! I could write about his motivation, determination, tenacity and persistence which lead to conquering the art of the peddle driven recreational vehicle in less then two hours and how we can take … Continue reading Skinned Knees…
Motivation vs Influence
it is quite difficult to get motivated these days. There seems to be this twenty-nine & one principle that I’m plagued with. 29 days of the month I’m lucky to have my head on straight 1 (or 2) days of the month I am motivated, driven and focused, ready to destroy any obstacle in my … Continue reading Motivation vs Influence
Breathe
A simple tattoo was all it took to remind me just how important it is to “breathe”. It was the only word inscribed with permanent ink in the sensitive skin of a wrist. No words needed to be exchanged to experience one of those moments that will have a lasting impact on my current … Continue reading Breathe
Choices
I don’t consider myself an expert in the sports injury or business field. There are plenty of world renown therapists, medical practitioners and business leaders that are years ahead of me. However, I am passionate about what I do, with a decade of experience starting and operating a small business. There have been several … Continue reading Choices
From the ground up…
Welcome to a new blog… in an ever-changing, technologically advanced world that contains an absurd amount of words written by anyone from my fourth grade daughter to the most incredibly influential pop superstars and world leaders, why would anyone want to hear what I have to say?!? This is a question I have struggled with … Continue reading From the ground up…
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