JediNickD Level 11: "Many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view."

[JediNickD]

 In "Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi", Luke and Obi-Wan have this exchange:


 

Luke: Ben! Why didn't you tell me? You told me that Darth Vader betrayed and murdered my father.
 
Obi-Wan: Your father... was seduced by the Dark Side of the Force. He ceased to be Anakin Skywalker and "became" Darth Vader. When that happened, the good man who was your father was destroyed. So what I told you was true... from a certain point of view.
 
Luke: A certain point of view?
 
Obi-Wan: Luke, you're going to find that many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view.
 

 
 
In explaining to Luke why he hide his father's identity from him, Obi-Wan instills a simple lesson which every Jedi must learn.  Many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our point of view.  These "truths", whether based on fact or opinion, could be seen as false from another point of view where there are more (or less) facts or just a difference of opinion.  It is common for a Jedi to practice looking at a situation from different angles to find the appropriate solution.  Throughout this 6 week challenge, I plan to emphasize this lesson daily.
 
On October 5th, my wife and I will be running a "Run For Your Lives" 5k.  My goal is to survive while keeping pace with my wife.  Time is not really a concern.  My cardio/conditioning for the next few weeks will revolve around getting my body ready for this mission.  I need to be able to sprint for long distances, evade being eaten in small spaces, and do both those for twice as long as I'd do it alone.  This fall, I am playing Flag Football again.  It is a great training environment for the Zombie Run, but I have to be careful not to injury myself.
 

 

My main quest with attribute points is below:

 

• FITNESS: Build STA +2 and DEX +2 by Running 20 miles and Sprinting 1000 meters total.
• FITNESS: Build STR +2 and DEX +1 by completing 60 minutes of HIITs in 5 sessions.
• DIET: Build CON +2 by eating Salad 16 times or more and Snack Food 12 times or less.
• LIFE: Build WIS +3 and CHA +3 by completing my last Manual Speech to earn my Advance Communicator Bronze in Toastmasters and completing 2 IJRS Communcation 101 Lessons and 1 IJRS Creed 101 Lesson in Jedi Training.

 

SIDE QUEST CHALLENGE GOALS

• FITNESS
  • Barbells
    • Bench Press = 180 lbs, 60 reps
  • Dumbells
    • Bench Press = 40 lbs, 60 reps
    • Fly = 40 lbs, 60 reps
    • Overhead Press = 40 lbs, 60 reps
    • Standing Curl = 40 lbs, 60 reps
    • Row = 40 lbs, 60 reps
    • Side Raise = 30 lbs, 60 reps
    • Goblet Squat = 65 lbs, 60 reps
    • Lateral Squat = 40 lbs, 60 reps
  • Bodyweight Exercises
    • Leg Press = 1000 lbs, 30 reps
    • Box Jump = 31 in, 100 reps
    • Lunge = 0 lbs, 100 reps
    • Burpee = 0 lbs, 100 reps
    • Mount Climbers = 0 lbs, 100 reps
    • Dive Bomber = 0 lbs, 100 reps
    • Push Up = 0 lbs, 200 reps
  • Abdominal Exercises
    • Crunch = 0 lbs, 500 reps
    • Bicycle Crunch = 0 lbs, 500 reps
    • Leg Lift = 0 lbs, 500 reps
    • Side Leg Lift = 0 lbs, 500 reps
    • Oblique Twist = 0 lbs, 500 reps
    • Side Bend = 0 lbs, 500 reps
    • Side Raise = 0 lbs, 500 reps
    • Rollout Wheel = 0 lbs, 200 reps
    • Reverse Situp = 0 lbs, 100 reps
  • Cardio
    • Sprinting Distance = 1000 meters, 20 reps
    • 50m Dash = sec, 5 reps
    • 200m Dash = sec, 5 reps
    • Shuttle Run = sec, 5 reps
    • Jogging Distance = 20 miles, 10 reps
    • HIIT = 60 min, 5 reps
• DIET
  • Diet
    • Vitamins = 40 qty
    • Snack Food = 12 qty
    • Salads = 16 qty
    • Dr Pepper = 20 qty

• LIFE
  • Family
    • Hang with Wife = 100 hrs
    • Hang with Kids = 100 hrs
    • Chores = 80 hrs
  • NF Community
    • Challenge Thread = 15 qty
    • Battle Log = 42 qty
    • Epic Quest = 12 qty
    • New Thread = 5 qty
    • New Follow = 3 qty
    • Friend Thread = 12 qty
  • Toastmasters
    • Manual Lessons = 1 qty
    • Officer Duties = 1000 qty
    • Club Series = 1 qty
    • Meeting Roles = 4 qty
    • Table Topics = 2 qty
  • Jedi
    • IJRS Com 101 = 2 qty
    • IJRS Creed 101 = 1 qty
    • Jedi Reading = 500 min
  • Geocaching
    • Caching = 6 qty
    • Stashing = 1 qty

[Mikroftt]

Great quote and post!  Sounds like you will be very busy in the coming days!  Good luck!

[JediNickD]

EXCITEMENT!  I won both the Humorous Speech and Evaluation Contests at my joint club contest today!  The Humorous Speech contest was the only legitimate contest as I was the only contestant in the Evaluation Contest, but I felt that I earned the win with a well done speech.  I was not expecting to win the Humorous Contest.  My competition, who beat me last year too, was superbly funny, but I'm guessing she suffered from not being as prepared with her speech content.  I posted my speech in my Epic Quest (EDIT: Link Added) so people can give me pointers to help me along as I get to represent both my clubs in the Area Contest on the 27th!

[JediNickD]

Updated my challenge with my Main Quest and attribute points.

 

Last night, my flag football game was cancelled (opponent forfeited and dropped from the league); therefore, I was able to attend a Toastmaster evening meeting.  The group is a very fun and lively bunch.  Not intentionally, because I had no idea she was speaking, I scoped out my Humorous Speech competition.  She had an excellent story but lacked critical speech elements.  We did a Round Robin evaluation where the entire audience gives the speaker feedback.  I was honest with my assessment of what the speech lacked while pointing out a few things I did like.  After the meeting, she found out I was her competition and demanded that since she showed me her's that I have to show her mine.  Without any notes, I did my best to recall the speech I gave not more than 8 hours before.  It was difficult to remember some points and connections, but I did really well with the anecedotes and main message.  I want to deliver the speech with no notes at the Area Contest on 9/27.  I have a lot of work to do to prepare for the contest, but I am confident in my material after yesterday.  A special thanks to all the Toastmasters who have been my cheerleaders, supporting cast, and inspiration all in one.

[JediNickD]

Signed up for Mini Challenge #2.  I've got some planking to do.

 

The Humorous Speech competition is tomorrow.  I need a lot of practice time to memorize my speech.  Long way to go. 

 

This week has been a busy one as I am transitioning between groups at work.  I am staying in the same line of work, but everyone around me and their programs are moving to another group.  This means I have to transistion my group responsibilities to someone else.  I'll likely pick up similar responsibilities in my new spot.  Hopefully, if I get a new lab area and desk, it is as great as the one I set up here.

[maegs]

Congratulations on winning the Humourous Speech & Evaluation contests!

[JediNickD]

I didn't fair as well at the Area Contest failing to place.  I was nervous as all hell and forgot half my speech in both contests (luckily I had comprehensive notes).  I needed to work harder to memorize my humorous speech, I guess.  I also needed to practice it in front of more people.  Yesterday, I retooled the speech for the Dinner Party lesson from the Entertaining Speaker manual so I could complete my Advanced Communicator Bronze Award.  Other Toastmasters recommend I work on it for the International Speech Contest in the spring.  I think that is a good idea.  I plan to use similar material to get through one of my next manuals, Humorously Speaking.

[JediNickD]

Wow! I've been gone a month! I can't believe I didn't post an update on the Zombie Run in early October. Anyway, I've kept up with the challenge, updated my spreadsheet, and been too busy at work to drop a note here. Updating this thing is low on my priority list, but don't think I won't be posting some good grades. I'm making time today and prepping for a new challenge for next week. A simpler challenge which will be easier to update.

[JediNickD]

Progress Summary:

CHALLENGE PROGRESS 1900-01-00

• FITNESS
  • Barbells
    • Back Squat = 80 lbs, 30 reps
    • Incline Bench = 140 lbs, 36 reps
    • Bench Press = 200 lbs, 63 reps
    • Overhead Press = 80 lbs, 100 reps
    • Standing Curl = 75 lbs, 90 reps
  • Dumbells
    • Bench Press = 40 lbs, 30 reps
    • Fly = 40 lbs, 30 reps
    • Overhead Press = 30 lbs, 30 reps
    • Standing Curl = 40 lbs, 30 reps
    • Row = 40 lbs, 30 reps
    • Side Raise = 30 lbs, 90 reps
    • Goblet Squat = 65 lbs, 110 reps
    • Lateral Squat = 50 lbs, 90 reps
    • Tricep Ext = 65 lbs, 50 reps
  • Bodyweight Exercises
    • Leg Press = 1000 lbs, 30 reps
    • Box Jump = 31 in, 120 reps
    • Lunge = 0 lbs, 140 reps
    • Burpee = 0 lbs, 100 reps
    • Mount Climbers = 0 lbs, 130 reps
    • HS PU = 0 lbs, 10 reps
    • Pull Up = 0 lbs, 17 reps
    • Chin Up = 0 lbs, 17 reps
    • Hammer Pull Up = 0 lbs, 10 reps
    • Dip = 0 lbs, 60 reps
    • Dive Bomber = 0 lbs, 110 reps
    • Push Up = 0 lbs, 350 reps
  • Abdominal Exercises
    • Crunch = 0 lbs, 1050 reps
    • Bicycle Crunch = 0 lbs, 810 reps
    • Leg Lift = 0 lbs, 510 reps
    • Side Leg Lift = 0 lbs, 600 reps
    • Oblique Twist = 10 lbs, 820 reps
    • Side Bend = 0 lbs, 900 reps
    • Side Raise = 0 lbs, 800 reps
    • Rollout Wheel = 0 lbs, 60 reps
    • Reverse Situp = 0 lbs, 135 reps
  • Cardio
    • Sprinting Distance = 1027.95200011671 meters, 1 reps
    • 50m Dash = 0 sec, 4 reps
    • 200m Dash = 0 sec, 3 reps
    • Shuttle Run = 8.95 sec, 8 reps
    • Jogging Distance = 10.7 miles, 4 reps
    • 3 mile Jog = 35.25 min, 1 reps
    • 1 mile Jog = 0.291666666666667 min, 1 reps
    • HIIT = 170 min, 11 reps
    • Sports Training = 580 min, 15 reps
    • Hike = 3 miles, 2 reps
    • Bike = 8 miles, 3 reps
• DIET
  • Diet
    • Vitamins = 41 qty
    • Snack Food = 10 qty
    • Salads = 17 qty
    • Dr Pepper = 18 qty
    • Water = 3113 qty
• LIFE
  • Family
    • Hang with Wife = 115.5 hrs
    • Hang with Kids = 102.5 hrs
    • Chores = 108 hrs
  • NF Community
    • Challenge Thread = 7 qty
    • Battle Log = 11 qty
    • Epic Quest = 1 qty
  • Toastmasters
    • Manual Lessons = 4 qty
    • Officer Duties = 525 qty
    • Meeting Roles = 5 qty
    • Table Topics = 3 qty
  • Jedi
    • IJRS Com 101 = 2 qty
    • IJRS Creed 101 = 1 qty
    • Jedi Reading = 510 min
  • Geocaching
    • Caching = 3 qty

[JediNickD]

On October 5th, my wife and I ran a "Run For Your Lives" 5k.  My goal was to survive while keeping pace with my wife and I succeeded with the help of a "med pack" on the last mile. 
 
 
My main quest with attribute points and grades is below:

• FITNESS: Build STA +2 and DEX +2 by Running 20 miles and Sprinting 1000 meters total.  A
• FITNESS: Build STR +2 and DEX +1 by completing 60 minutes of HIITs in 5 sessions.  A
• DIET: Build CON +2 by eating Salad 16 times or more and Snack Food 12 times or less.  A
• LIFE: Build WIS +3 and CHA +3 by completing my last Manual Speech to earn my Advance Communicator Bronze in Toastmasters and completing 2 IJRS Communcation 101 Lessons and 1 IJRS Creed 101 Lesson in Jedi Training.  A

I also competed in two mini-challenges and knocked off a bunch of my side quest goals!

[Mikroftt]

Congratulations on a successful challenge!  I look forward to hearing more success from you in the future.