Cash Flows: April 2011

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Yo, Chubby

I grew up skinny. I was the "runt" of my class, a little bitty dude with bad teeth and skinny, skinny arms. My mom used to hold my forearms in just one hand and comment on how skinny I was and that she was worried about me. One day, I got fat and felt good about it.

I recall eating everything I could find as those skinny, worried comments really stuck with me. Then I got fat, then fatter, then even fatter. What could have been passed off as a mere childhood worry morphed into a real live adult worry. After retiring from the bmx scene and opting for the academic and work world, I ballooned up like a free range tick. At the top of my fat acquisition program, I was up to nearly 245 lbs. That is basically two people in just one body, hence, my multiple personalities.

I made a decision about 75 days ago to change my life, my outlook, and my chances. It is working wonderfully and I am so please with my results and my new lifestyle. At times, I get to eat whatever I want. I can have a frosted funnel cake fiesta with cheese and cream gravy every so often as long as the other 90 percent of the time I am living a healthy lifestyle. It works. In just a couple of months I am down well over 20 lbs and a couple of dress sizes! My multiple chins are decreasing. I am getting healthy, not skinny and I love how it feels. I can do it.

So, I've listened to modern doctors, philosophers, and diet product salesmen tell me how bad off we are in the United States. They say we are in an epedemic of fat, diabetes, and choice related disease. The government, in their wisdom, initiated health insurance because of all the uninsured and sick people. Ha. I scoffed with great scoffiness. Surely these people are wrong....uh oh, I just got back from the beach in Port Aransas.

THE STUDY: BASED ON REAL SCIENCE AND MATH:

I decided to check the stats. I had to walk a bit from my car to the funnel cake stand as we approached Sand Fest 2011. I would make a count of people that were:

1. Over 30
2. Did not appear to have just had a child
3. Males and Females randomly
4. Chubby went into the "healthy" category, really fat went into the "fat category".

Here is what I found out: The government is right, we cannot OR will not take care of ourselves, so they need to do it for us. I am part of the problem, but I repent. I reject bad health as a choice. Here are what the numbers showed me and I am disgusted:

104 Sample People

78 Were grossly spilling out of their swimsuits and looked like three quarts of marshmellow fluff in a two quart pan.

26 Were chubby or less, with some actually appearing to be athletic. I did not count skinny kids of which I used to be one too.

About 75% of the beach population has chosen to live a less than fulfilling life, or a life with less health.

What is bad health and good health? Is good health just a lack of disease or symptoms? Nah, good health is something up the scale a bit where you are strong and feel good. Bad health is something less than zero on the scale. We need to choose good health. We need to treat the causes of our diseases where possible, and not treat the symptoms.

Tomorrow I start another 24 day advocare challenge with the people in my life. This time, I am stepping it up a bit and I don't even know what that means. We are also starting "40 DAYS OF PRAYER" at The Solomon Group. We sit around and pray with each other over our lives, our family, and our goals. Those 40 days end about May 27. If I hit my goals, and Audrey hits her goals, here is how May 28th plays out:

8:00 a.m. Limo picks us up and takes us to breakfast at Kerby Lane

8:45          Head to the local shopping to shop like a rockstar. Audrey gets 10 new outfits along with all relevant bling, shoes, hats, etc. I get a new wardrobe as well.

12:00        Noon Limo takes us to Dave and Busters (Audrey's Fave!) where we have lunch and play games for a couple of hours

2:00           Head to local Apple store: Audrey, Katy, Jenn, and I get to each purchase one item of our choice.

3:00          Finish shopping requirements

5:00           Limo takes us all to dinner at Melting Pot

7:00          Movie

9:00          Ice Cream

9:30          Limo Driver is exhausted and gets to go home!

It is a good goal, and I am eager to succede. Girls, this is for you.

I am so thrilled that we live in a country where we still have a choice to the outcome of our lives. Take that choice and make it count.

Cash Matthews

Friday, April 8, 2011

Wow, Thanks, 23/68 And Beach

I need to blog more. It is theraputic for me and for the one of you out there reading this, I am confident that my writing makes you feel better about your own life! There is so much going on here, a blog is a great way to bring it all together and look at your mess from a top down view.

Wow. Almost two years has gone by since we opened the new Solomon Group building, with all of the hopes and dreams so fresh. Today we reached another milestone, at least for me. Without too much fanfare, we made payroll. And rent. And a major website to support our http://www.taxelope.com/ program. And a few other things....not often do I get to pat myself on the back, but for some reason today I am feeling some major relief.

God has blessed us so richly with love, kindness, and opportunity. Our "B.O.N.G. events have flourished and I continue to find myself surrounded by believers who are for us. Our North BONG sold out and had standing room only. One of our goals is to help promote ethical commerce in Austin, and then the U.S. and to help the small business person thrive. Somehow, we seem to be accomplishing these things and I know that all the credit has a Divine origin. I continue to meet individuals who amaze me, and this cannot be an accident.

PEOPLE WHO AMAZE ME!

1. David Temple. Our 2010 Advisor of The Year at The Solomon Group. David is one of the most dedicated learners of our business, and he continues to grow and thrive in ways that truly inspire me. I love his quick wit and his manner around our office. David is truly a team player and someone I admire greatly.

2. Ben Randle. Another outstanding fellow, Ben has grown into a hihg-caliber business person and his ability with people one-on-one is so impressive. He is one of those who you just love when you meet him, and it shows in how people respond to him. We are lucky to have Ben and Tammy as part of our growing company and I look forward to watching him as he has set his sights high for the coming months and years!

3. Kevin Hollemans. Wow. I don't care if you spell WOW backwards or forwards, but Kevin is a WOW factor. This guy is on fire in so many ways, people are showing up just to watch! He is on fire for God, for his family, for his business, and it is so cool to see a man of his caliber making and accomplishing goals. Wow. Did I say wow yet?

4. Jennifer Eskina. Possibly the most talented person I know. Perserverance would be one word for her. Dedicated could fit in there also. Gobs of talent, and all of it is something she has worked for. Tomorrow she will be speaking to hundreds of at risk girls. Her talk is about girls/business and her relationship with God. She juggles so much, and always makes time to do the right thing. Lives get changed tomorrow, and there are going to be kids who will benefit their whole lives through after this program at First Independant Baptist Church. Jenn, you are THE MAN!

God has put so many great people in my life, and I am thankful for them all.

Ok then, this is day 68 and I am still down 23 lbs and a bunch of dress sizes. Well, belt loop holes! I feel better too, which is nice. I didn't realize I was just a decision away.

Tomorrow I am off to the beach house to do some work. Sand Fest is coming up. Wanna come and play?

Goodnight Sarah and Audrey...It is impossible to say how much I love you both.

Woof. I am a lucky dog.