JediNickD Level 14: "In my experience, there's no such thing as luck."

[JediNickD]

In Episode IV: A New Hope, Obi-Wan Kenobi is training Luke Skywalker in the fundamentals of the Force and Jedi. Aboard the Millenium Falcon, during a lightsaber training exercise, Luke is able to use the Force to deflect laser bolts while blinded.  Han Solo is unimpressed calling it luck.  Kenobi responds, "In my experience, there's no such thing as luck." 
 
His experience is that of a Jedi Master, listening to the "Will of the Force" and being able to predict or anticipate future events.  Using instinct, intuition, observation, and knowledge, one can predict and anticipate future events like a Jedi.  Maybe not deflecting blaster bolts, but predicting the motives or actions of another person can be fairly helpful in many situations.  I don't rely on luck unless I'm playing a friendly game.  It is better to create your own luck by understanding the circumstances and generating favorable odds through use of instinct, intuition, observation, and knowledge.
 
My main quest with attribute points is below:

• FITNESS: Build STA +2 and DEX +1 by Running, Hiking, Biking, Rowing, or Training (HIIT) for 20 minutes or more, three times a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday).
• FITNESS: Build STR +2 and DEX +1 by completing 400 minutes of Sports Training* in 10 sessions and meeting at least 85 % of my fitness side quest goals.
• DIET: Build CON +3 by eating "Healthy Meals"** 20 times or more, drinking 300 fl oz of Dr Pepper or less, taking care of my skin and lips by applying moisturizer 80 times or more (twice daily), brushing my teeth 80 times or more (twice daily), and flossing 40 times or more (once daily).
• LIFE: Build WIS +3 and CHA +3 by completing one Toastmaster Speech for the Spring Contest Season (practice on 2/25 and contest on 3/8), completing two Successful Club or Better Speaker Series Speeches to earn my Advance Communicator Silver in Toastmasters, and completing three lessons from the IJRS Personal 101 and Spirituality 101 Manuals in Jedi Training.

* - Training or playing Basketball, Soccer, Rugby, Football, Hockey, Swimming, or Racquet Ball

** - "Healthy Meals" means no grease, minimal fat and calories, mostly veggies, meat, and fruit, while avoiding starches. Breakfast is not included in count.
 
 
SIDE CHALLENGE GOALS

• FITNESS
  • Barbells
    • Deadlift = 190 lbs, 60 reps
    • Back Squat = 210 lbs, 60 reps
    • Bench Press = 195 lbs, 60 reps
    • Overhead Press = 100 lbs, 60 reps
    • Standing Curl = 70 lbs, 30 reps
  • Dumbells
    • Bench Press = 50 lbs, 60 reps
    • Fly = 50 lbs, 60 reps
    • Row = 55 lbs, 60 reps
    • Side Raise = 35 lbs, 60 reps
    • Hammer Curl = lbs, 30 reps
    • Hammer Ext = lbs, 30 reps
    • Goblet Squat = 85 lbs, 60 reps
    • Tricep Ext = 70 lbs, 60 reps
  • Bodyweight Exercises
    • Leg Press = 1150 lbs, 60 reps
    • Leg Ext = 160 lbs, 30 reps
    • Burpee = lbs, 100 reps
    • Mount Climbers = lbs, 200 reps
    • HS PU = lbs, 60 reps
    • Pull Up = lbs, 60 reps
    • Chin Up = lbs, 60 reps
    • Hammer Pull Up = lbs, 60 reps
    • Dip = lbs, 100 reps
    • Dive Bomber = 0 lbs, 60 reps
    • Push Up = 0 lbs, 300 reps
  • Abdominal Exercises
    • Crunch = 0 lbs, 800 reps
    • Bicycle Crunch = 0 lbs, 800 reps
    • Leg Lift = 0 lbs, 200 reps
    • Side Leg Lift = 0 lbs, 300 reps
    • Oblique Twist = 0 lbs, 600 reps
    • Side Bend = 0 lbs, 600 reps
    • Side Raise = 0 lbs, 400 reps
    • Rollout Wheel = 0 lbs, 300 reps
  • Cardio
    • HIIT = min, 5 reps
    • Sports Training = 300 min, 6
• DIET
  • Diet
    • Skin and Lip Care = 40 qty
    • Dr Pepper = 300 fl oz
    • Healthy Meals = 20 qty
    • Floss = 40 qty
    • Brush Teeth = 80 qty
• LIFE
  • Family
  • NF Community
    • Challenge Thread = 6 qty
    • Battle Log = 40 qty
    • Epic Quest = 3 qty
  • Toastmasters
    • Manual Lessons = 1 qty
    • Officer Duties = 600 min
    • Module Series = 2 qty
    • Meeting Roles = 4 qty
    • Table Topics = 4 qty
  • Jedi
    • IJRS Personal 101 = 1 qty
    • IJRS Spirituality 101 = 2 qty
    • Jedi Reading = 500 min
  • Geocaching

[JediNickD]

I'll do my measurements on Monday morning.  Hoping to see some improvement from last challenge!

[drunkensnake]

good luck with your challenge! also let me know how geocaching goes, I've been curious about it

[Mangostrike]

A fellow Star Wars Nerd? Instant subbing.

 

What's this I hear about Spirituality 101 Jedi Training? Is this a class at school or a book?

[JediNickD]

Spirituality 101 is a course offered by the Institute of Jedi Realist Studies, an online Jedi training school:  http://instituteforjedirealiststudies.org/

 

I've completed 5 courses there.  If you are interested in a Jedi slant on meditation and philospophy, then I definitely recommend it.  I've been visiting Jedi sites and forums for almost 10 years now, searching for intelligent, knowledgeable people to discuss my personal philosophy.  Through my experiences, I feel it is one of the more well-grounded Jedi websites I've visited, which is why I started training there.

[JediNickD]

good luck with your challenge! also let me know how geocaching goes, I've been curious about it

 

 

Thanks!  I've been Geocaching for 3 years now (though my account is much older, just never found a cache before) and it is an awesome way to enhance any adventure, whether traveling long distance, hiking a new trail, running through the neighborhood, biking to work, or exploring your hometown.  It is also a great way to make new friends or get closer with old ones.  I do not do it often enough, which is why I made it part of my quest.  Also, I'v gotten into placing my own hides, which is a lot of fun.  I have been collecting containers for when it warms up and the snow melts.  I've got an ammo can I can't wait to stash!

 

I wrote a speech about Geocaching for Toastmasters.  I posted it in my Epic Quest here: http://rebellion.nerdfitness.com/index.php?/topic/16806-jedinickds-epic-quest/?p=517651

 

Give it a read for more info on Geocaching.

[drunkensnake]

the real question is.....do they follow NJO philosophy or Old Republic Philosophy? and do they listen to philosophical arguments from the divergent force traditions?

[JediNickD]

The roots all stem from Yoda and Obi-Wan.  The lessons they taught Luke in the original trilogy are the core of what any Jedi online training teach.  The Jedi Code is the most significant piece pulled from the Old Republic Expanded Universe.  Luke Skywalker also has a code in the NJO Expanded Universe, which is studied and utilized by many.

 

Which philosophy is really up to the individual.  The courses are taught in a manner which presents multiple points of view to allow the student to follow their own personal path while incorporating what they feel suits them.  The homework is designed to get the student to express their personal experience, philosophy, and conclusions for discussion with teachers and other students while also encouraging personal analysis and self-development.   

 

The course which taught me the most has been Communication 101.  The course material instructs the student through the many different elements of communication including psychologoical aspects while helping the student practice them.  I've been doing Toastmasters to improve my public speaking skills, but Communication 101 armed me with knowledge I would have never thought to learn about communication.

[JediNickD]

I'm a little behind with just about everything here (I posted all 43 days worth of training journal logs in one swoop), but posting my challenge results is not nearly as important as succeeding in my challenge goals and other life goals not even listed here.  Most notably advancing my career by being a time efficiency ninja, wasting less of my break time on meaning less stuff and using it to improve myself.  I don't want to miss out on setting up my next challenge or receiving the points I earned this challenge, so here are my grades and expect my next challenge to be posted soon.  Maybe, I'll find time to post some updates?

 

 

My main quest with attribute points and GRADES is below:

• FITNESS: Build STA +2 and DEX +1 by Running, Hiking, Biking, Rowing, or Training (HIIT) for 20 minutes or more, three times a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday).  A
  - I had to alter the schedule some weeks, but I certainly made this goal while focusing heavily on the Rowing.
• FITNESS: Build STR +2 and DEX +1 by completing 400 minutes of Sports Training* in 10 sessions and meeting at least 85 % of my fitness side quest goals.  A
  - I needed to plan the sports training better with my other workouts.  I wanted to have long, focused training sessions, but I ended up with more "little here, little there" sessions than I wanted.  I did get 100 % of my fitnes side quest goals, though!
• DIET: Build CON +3 by eating "Healthy Meals"** 20 times or more, drinking 300 fl oz of Dr Pepper or less, taking care of my skin and lips by applying moisturizer 80 times or more (twice daily), brushing my teeth 80 times or more (twice daily), and flossing 40 times or more (once daily).  A
  - Killed it.  I dropped a lot of sugar out my diet by switching my breakfast granola bars from Chewy brand to healthier protein bars from Nature Valley, Fiber One, and Power Bar for lifting days.  Not a goal, but a noteworthy change.
• LIFE: Build WIS +3 and CHA +3 by completing one Toastmaster Speech for the Spring Contest Season (practice on 2/25 and contest on 3/8), completing two Successful Club or Better Speaker Series Speeches to earn my Advance Communicator Silver in Toastmasters, and completing three lessons from the IJRS Personal 101 and Spirituality 101 Manuals in Jedi Training.  A
  - I went well beyond the Toastmaster goals with 3 speeches, 1000 hours, and 8 roles (more meetings and coaching a club helps).  I finished 2nd in the contest and am competing at the Division level tonight!  The Jedi Training ended up on the back burner, but I knocked them out in time.  The Spirituality course is actually a lot easier and shorter than other courses I've taken.  I might just knock the whole thing out next challenge as the instructor is slow to respond when my assignments are so intermittent. 

 

 

 

END OF CHALLENGE PROGRESS 2014-04-07

• FITNESS
  • Barbells
    • Deadlift = 190 lbs, 60 reps
    • Back Squat = 210 lbs, 60 reps
    • Bench Press = 200 lbs, 60 reps
    • Overhead Press = 100 lbs, 60 reps
    • Standing Curl = 70 lbs, 30 reps
  • Dumbells
    • Bench Press = 50 lbs, 65 reps
    • Fly = 50 lbs, 62 reps
    • Overhead Press = 50 lbs, 10 reps
    • Standing Curl = 40 lbs, 30 reps
    • Row = 55 lbs, 70 reps
    • Side Raise = 35 lbs, 65 reps
    • Hammer Curl = 30 lbs, 30 reps
    • Hammer Ext = 30 lbs, 30 reps
    • Goblet Squat = 85 lbs, 60 reps
    • Tricep Ext = 75 lbs, 65 reps
  • Bodyweight Exercises
    • Leg Press = 1150 lbs, 110 reps
    • Leg Ext = 170 lbs, 55 reps
    • Box Jump = 26 in, 20 reps
    • Burpee = 0 lbs, 110 reps
    • Mount Climbers = 0 lbs, 270 reps
    • HS PU = 0 lbs, 65 reps
    • Pull Up = 0 lbs, 60 reps
    • Chin Up = 0 lbs, 68 reps
    • Hammer Pull Up = 0 lbs, 60 reps
    • Dip = 0 lbs, 110 reps
    • Dive Bomber = 0 lbs, 60 reps
    • Push Up = 0 lbs, 360 reps
  • Abdominal Exercises
    • Crunch = 0 lbs, 800 reps
    • Bicycle Crunch = 0 lbs, 800 reps
    • Leg Lift = 0 lbs, 210 reps
    • Side Leg Lift = 0 lbs, 400 reps
    • Oblique Twist = 0 lbs, 600 reps
    • Side Bend = 0 lbs, 600 reps
    • Side Raise = 0 lbs, 520 reps
    • Rollout Wheel = 0 lbs, 300 reps
  • Cardio
    • Sprinting Distance = 302.361600093369 meters, 2 reps
    • Shuttle Run = 0 sec, 8 reps
    • Jogging Distance = 14.8 miles, 7 reps
    • HIIT = 40 min, 5 reps
    • Sports Training = 430 min, 14
    • Hike = 9 miles, 3 reps
    • Bike = 6.4 miles, 3 reps
    • Rowing = 10590 meters, 6 reps
• DIET
  • Diet
    • Skin and Lip Care = 43 qty
    • Dr Pepper = 304 fl oz
    • Healthy Meals = 20 qty
    • Floss = 41 qty
    • Brush Teeth = 80 qty
• LIFE
  • Family
  • NF Community
    • Challenge Thread = 6 qty
    • Battle Log = 43 qty
    • Epic Quest = 3 qty
  • Toastmasters
    • Manual Lessons = 3 qty
    • Officer Duties = 1080 min
    • Module Series = 2 qty
    • Meeting Roles = 8 qty
    • Table Topics = 4 qty
  • Jedi
    • IJRS Personal 101 = 1 qty
    • IJRS Spirituality 101 = 2 qty
    • Jedi Reading = 555 min
  • Geocaching

[JediNickD]

Level 15 Stats: STR 39.0 | DEX 40.25 | STA 39.5 | CON 40.0 | WIS 45.0 | CHA 40.0

 

Amazing that in two years since joining Toastmasters, my Charisma has caught up or surpassed my physical skills, which actually feels right.  Yesterday, I did not hesitate to lead a conference call at work and lead a mentoring session for new Toastmasters.  Today, I compete at the Division level for the International Speech Contest, something I would have never dreamed I could do two years ago. 

 

I have definitely advanced my communication and leadership skills much further than my bench press, dead lift, or mile time.  That will reflect in my next challenge.