Month: July 2017

In physiology, we teach that there are (at least) seven hierarchal levels of organization to the human body.  We are organisms (the organismal level) made up of eleven interdependent organ systems (i.e., cardiovascular, digestive, endocrine, integumentary, lymphatic, muscular, nervous, reproductive, respiratory, skeletal, and urinary systems) consisting of multiple organs (the organ level) working together to perform a common function or functions.  Organs consist of at least two different tissue types (the tissue level) that perform a specific function within the body.  Tissues consist of numerous types of cells (the cellular level) that, in turn, are made up of internal cellular organs that perform specific functions within the cell.  At the basic level (the chemical level), the human organism is made up atoms and molecules and atoms.  With the ongoing discoveries in the field of quantum physics, we might also begin to consider the human organism at a subatomic level.  Further, as quantum physicists probe deeper into the very structure of life, we learn that at some level all life is merely energy.  In Physics, we learned the law of conservation of energy.  The law of conservation of energy states that energy can be neither created nor destroyed.  My mind begins to get overwhelmed as I move to this level of physiology—as physiology moves to physics—but what I can understand is that at the very foundations of life we are one.  Thus, the Physical and Spiritual dimensions merge as one.  Can we truly begin to grasp this as a society?

Be your best today; be better tomorrow.

Carpe momento!

I did not grow up around lacrosse, which I believe to be unfortunate.  My son plays.  It is a fascinating sport, and the coaches I have been exposed to are passionate and sure to make sure the boys honor the traditions of their sport.  Unfortunately, there are few lacrosse movies.  One, however, stands out.  Crooked Arrows is an inspiring movie that instills not only a love for the game, but a greater purpose to its play—and, likewise, teaches us life lessons.

In short, it is a movie about a Native American lacrosse team, competing against much better equipped and better prepared prep schools, and their coach, who is struggling between wanting to modernize the reservation and coming to grips with his Native roots.  The movie is full of inspirational pearls.  Here are a few of my favorites, I think they speak for themselves:

“The eagle once ruled our skies. And then, one day, he was struck down by the arrow. As he lay dying, the eagle could not understand why. The shaft of the arrow had been feathered by one of his own plumes. We often give our enemies the means to our own defeat. Look inside. Ask your heart. The truth may sleep, but it never dies.”—Crooked Arrow (played by Dennis Ambriz)

“All right, yeah, they’re bigger than you, faster than you. And they have better facilities and they have more championships. And, yes, they have a better coach than you. But you know what? None of that matters, okay? This game is not about them, this game is not about us. And it’s not about the scoreboard. In the ancient game, they didn’t keep score. They played to honor the Creator, and so will we. We’ll play to honor our ancestors who were buried with their sticks. We will play to honor our grandchildren who will be given sticks when they’re born. This game has been in our blood for a thousand years, gentlemen. Today, win or lose, we return lacrosse to our people.”—Joe Logan (played by Brandon Routh)

“No arrow flies straight. There’s nothing wrong with a crooked arrow. As long as it follows its own path, it will find its way.”—Crooked Arrow

Follow your path and carpe momento.