The fall season is upon us here in Austin. There are fewer hours of sunlight now, so my runs seem to take me into darkness more regularly. Cooler temperatures are slowly, and thankfully, making an appearance. This is always a great time of year in Austin.
This year, the fall season finds us in the midst of, yes, another presidential campaign. If you can’t find rhubarb in all of these events and activities, then lo and behold, there will always be some to be found in the run up to a November election. With that in mind, I bring you a lively Episode 051.
There are now 38 days until the US Presidential election. Oh, and 87 shopping days until Christmas. I suspect that most people have a far greater affinity to the latter than the former.
But with that said, it is critical that we all get out and vote on November 6. The democratic process is only as good as the votes of the constituents. Though there are times when we all feel like we are just a small speck in the political machine, “we the people” are still responsible for putting our representatives into Congress.
This episode of the Rhubarb Report has a few thoughts on the political realm that we will be immersed in over the next 38 days.
Bob Dylan got me thinking today. His lyrics have a way of doing that to me. Much like any good book of poetry, you can listen to the words, or read them on the page, and there will always be some new meaning or insights to be found.
I have always been fascinated and inspired by the power and beauty of the singer-songwriter. First of all, it is quite an undertaking to peel away layers of your own soul and reflect upon the raw emotions that lie under the surface. That is tough enough. Putting them into rhyme and verse is yet another compelling task. But beyond all of that, there is a real vulnerability in baring your soul to the world – one person, one guitar, one song – raw and uncensored. Powerful stuff – even when there is a full band behind the lyrical musings.
We The People.
These are the epochal first three words of the US Constitution – a work of not only political significance but also containing tremendous individual and global significance.
With that said, there is a lot of talk amongst the political parties – both conservative and liberal, right and left – about the Constitution these days. There seems to have been a barrage of hyperbole in this election cycle about how the government or any given political party is straying further and further away from the Constitution, and how we as a country might remedy that ill.
Claims like that certainly shouldn’t be taken lightly on any day. But today – Constitution Day - it becomes more readily apparent. No, it is not just another Hallmark Day. Today is a day to reflect on the US Constitution, its significance, and how we should not let politicians play frivolously with its wording and intent.
The dog days of summer are over, and September is now well and truly upon us. With that comes some new beginnings – school, college football, and cooler weather in Austin – maybe. With it also comes new endings - the Republican and Democratic National Conventions are now just a thing of the past – fortunately.
I suspect we can all take a deep sigh of relief for both.
This episode of the Rhubarb Report brings a mix of beginnings and endings from sport and politics.
We are all faced with an age-old dilemma – getting lost in the distractions of life. It can feel like time is slipping between our fingers, and it can be incredibly challenging to simply remain “present” and be “in the moment”.
There are also some things that have the incredible ability to bring us back to that sweet spot in time, bring us back to the here and now, bring us back to the purity of the moment.
For me, this always happens when I pick up my guitar. There is something magical that happens when my fingers glide around those six strings.
It never ceases to amaze me. I go away for a brief vacation, and what happens? All kinds of crazy stuff takes place the world over.
Who was I to think that anyone would listen to my requests? I thought I had made it perfectly clear to the powers-that-be that everything was supposed to remain calm until I returned to Austin. But, no, that was not the case.
It would be asking a lot for the world to ease up on it’s global rhubarb production. With that said, I bring you a plethora of fine rhubarb - welcome to episode 48.
Up to 60% of runners will sustain an injury within any given year. Poor running mechanics, in conjunction with poor, ineffective and outdated training methods, can pose a significant injury risk. "RunSmart" was written to address these issues in the running community.
"Running Injuries: Etiology And Recovery- Based Treatment" (co-author Bridget Clark, PT) appears in the third edition and fourth editions of "Clinical Orthopaedic Rehabilitation: A Team Approach" by Charles Giangarra, MD and Robert C. Manske, PT.
Allan Besselink, PT, DPT, Ph.D., Dip.MDT has a unique voice in the world of sports, education, and health care. Read more about Allan here.
Top 5 finalist in three categories: "Best Overall Blog", "Best PT Blog" and "Best Advocacy Blog".
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