WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE TRY TO CHANGE SOMEBODY
One of the most common questions I get in my coaching practice goes something like this:
“My (husband, wife, son, daughter, friend, neighbor, etc.) has this behavior, or belief, or way of doing things… How can I get them to change it?”
Now, if it’s a very specific behavior, and changing it would make a big difference in your relationship, it’s always worth just simply asking, for example, “When you talk with your mouth full it really bothers me, could you please do your best to not talk while you’re chewing?”
But often what we want the other person to change is much bigger and more abstract than that.
Of course, we’ve all felt this at some time or other – “If only this person we care about would just stop being so negative, or change this one belief… then they’d be so much better off.” (It’s always something that seems so obvious and simple to us.)
The big problem with this is that it’s hard enough to change a big habit or belief within ourselves, when we want to. Trying to get somebody else to change a habit or belief, that maybe they don’t want to change, is really a long-shot.
I’ve been working with people to – in part – help them change their beliefs and habits for over 40 years. But it’s not easy. It takes time and energy – and often a good deal of courage – to face our troubling behaviors, and the fears that sometimes accompany them.
THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH? NITRIC OXIDE – A “MIRACLE MOLECULE”
[As you know, Durk and Sandy have passed on. Durk as “Skye” was beloved on TTP. We are preserving his and Sandy’s legacy through these “Live Long and Prosper” TTP columns. —Greg and Michelle Pryor of Life Priority]
After I retired from a 16-yr career in pro baseball at age 37, it seemed like the aging process started to speed up.
During my career, I was paid to stay in shape to perform on the field and it was a great way to make a living.
I was able to stay younger physically and mentally. But when I turned 40, reality set in
and the aging process became a big concern.
In 1991, at age 42, I was fortunate to attend an anti-aging seminar in Dallas. The scientists who spoke at the convention, Durk Pearson and Sandy Shaw, wrote a NY Times best-seller specifically for doctors entitled, Life Extension, A Practical Scientific Approach.
At the seminar, Durk and Sandy explained how the use of certain nutrients in adequate amounts could slow up aging. One of the nutrients that they discussed was L-arginine (arginine).
THE SANDS OF THE TAKLA MAKAN
When Marco Polo crossed the Tien Shan mountains and reached the Silk Road oasis of Kashgar in 1273, he faced an enormous desert of endless dunes called the Takla Makan, meaning “You go in, you don’t come out.”
To avoid this fate, the Silk Road at Kashgar splits in two – above to the north of the dreaded sand sea via the oases of Aksu and Turfan, and underneath to the south via the oases of Yarkand, Khotan, Charchan and Charklik. The two routes came together beyond Lop Nor, the eastern extension of the Takla Makan, at the oasis of Dunhuang.
His father Niccolo and uncle Maffeo had earlier taken the northern route to first meet Mongol Emperor Kublai Khan, but now with Marco they took the southern route. They traveled in caravans of two-humped Bactrian camels, often crossing dunes on the edge – just like the photo you see. In 2008, I retraced Polo’s route along the southern route – part of it by motorized hang glider. He would be fascinated, I’m sure, to see what a camel caravan looks like from the air! (Glimpses of Our Breathtaking World #13 photo ©Jack Wheeler)
ARREST ALL THEIR DEUCES
We continue our examination of how to cope with civil disorder that might arise from the Donald, Elon, Kash, and Pam taking a carpet beater to the arse of the Federal Deep State.
There is no doubt that they are having an effect and that for the Left, this is going to be a very, very long four years.
We’ve looked at the dark side of riots and protests and how to cope with them— or at least try to—from the perspective of the civilian underdog.
Some may have regarded the tone as overly pessimistic, and for the record I am willing to be proven wrong if the Left and globalists do indeed collapse like a deflated balloon in the face of our efforts without any of the violence that I think might be coming.
But in this article, we are going to examine what a response could be with the stars lining up in earthshattering fashion—if it does play out like I think it might.
First, the elected officials will have huevos and stand up against the rioters.
Two, the local prosecutors and police will too.
And three—with the Federal government under new management and with more and more of the bad actors both administrative and commissioned being made to walk the plank, the intriguing possibility that the Federal government might be part of the solution and not the problem this time.
So here we go…..
ROBED RADICALS
When he took office two months ago, President Trump broke the shackles on our Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials.
He ordered a major nationwide crackdown on illegal immigration, beginning with violent gang members who have been terrorizing American citizens coast to coast.
To expedite the process of removing these vicious gang members, President Trump declared two of the worst illegal alien gangs, Tren de Aragua (TdA) and MS-13, to be terrorist organizations. He then invoked the Alien Enemies Act, which authorizes the president to remove foreign nationals.
More than 260 illegal alien gang members were loaded onto airplanes and deported over the weekend. But some leftists evidently want these violent gang members to stay in the country.
The left went to a well-known leftist judge and he did not disappoint them. He actually ordered President Trump to turn the planes around and bring these thugs back to America. This is part of the ongoing effort to cripple Trump’s presidency.
Thankfully, the judge’s order was issued too late, and these animals are locked up in a maximum-security prison in El Salvador.
Who is this crazy judge? He is Judge James Boasberg, currently serving on the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. He is an Obama appointee. And the judge has a history.
THE ETOSHA PAN
No, this isn’t the Serengeti. The Etosha Pan is a huge 2,000 square mile salt pan in northern Namibia that has an amazing abundance of African wildlife that flourishes in a desert – lots of elephants as you see, giant eland, huge oryx, kudu with the males sporting their glorious spiral horns, wildebeest, zebra, all kinds of antelope, plus lions and leopards galore hunting them.
They all thrive on the available river and springs water amidst the surrounding mopane balsam woodlands. It’s one of Africa’s least known yet most astounding wildlife spectacles. Come during the dry winter months of July-September when the animals gather around the waterholes. You’ll never forget it. (Glimpses of Our Breathtaking World #291, photo ©Jack Wheeler)
BE STUNNED BY IMMIGRATION NUMBERS, NOT TRUMP’S ENFORCEMENT
“All we really needed was a new president,” Donald Trump wryly noted in his recent address to Congress.
He was talking about closing the border, which he and his team have achieved immense success in doing in short order.
With the faucet turned off, so to speak, now the administration must turn its attention to mopping up the floor.
And oh, what a mess it is.
Yes, America is a welcoming place for immigrants, or at least that’s often citizens’ intent.
Yes, many immigrants come here to work hard and build a better life for themselves and their families.
Yes, the legal process is onerous, arguably prompting millions to circumvent it without further law-breaking intent.
We are, however, a nation of laws.
Enforcing those laws may sometimes be unpleasant, not least because of the number of people involved.
Let’s examine some numbers on that latter front.
THE BIRD THAT CAN KILL A LION
Yes, an ostrich. Ostriches are the world’s largest, heaviest, and fastest running birds on earth today. A full-grown adult male can weigh over 300 pounds, and it’s kick is so strong it can kill a lion. A pride of lions led by lionesses, or a coalition of adult males, can become skilled at taking down young ostriches, but they know to stay away from the adult big boys, for they are truly lethal. This fellow is still growing so he has to be careful on the plains of the Ngorongoro Crater Floor. (Glimpses of Our Breathtaking World #290, photo ©Jack Wheeler)
BEYOND THE PALE
[This Monday’s Archive is TTP’s celebration of St. Patrick’s Day with its “nutshell history” of Ireland, first written in 2006. Happy St. Patrick’s Day to all TTPers!]
Ronald Reagan’s origins are even more humble than Abraham Lincoln’s log cabin.
His great-grandfather, Michael O’Regan, was born in a hut of mud and slats in farmland called Doolis near the village of Ballyporeen, County Tipperary, in 1829.
In June 1984, Ronald Reagan came to Ballyporeen as President of the United States. In his speech to the townspeople in the village square, he said, “I can’t think of a place on the planet I would rather claim as my roots more than Ballyporeen, County Tipperary.”
A friend of mine was there as a member of Reagan’s staff. After the speech, the President commented to him, “I really am proud to be from here.” With a wink, he explained: “You see, I’m from Beyond the Pale.”
HALF-FULL REPORT 03/14/25
Tariffs, Markets, and Traditions
I'm thrilled to share that St. Patrick's Day is just around the corner on Monday, March 17th. It's a day when my family, like so many others, absolutely loves getting together with our extended clan. We go the extra mile (quite literally) to join in the fun at various events, parades, and convention-style gatherings. And let me tell you, these get-togethers are more than just a good time. They're a powerful display of the Irish diaspora's political clout. Our leaders definitely take notice when hundreds thousands take to the streets in all types of cities, representing all walks of life.
President Trump recently posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, about communication with Russian President Putin. Diplomats apparently had a productive chat and there might be a chance to pause the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. But, there are thousands of Ukrainian troops currently in a tight spot in Kursk, surrounded by Russian forces. Trump urged Putin to spare their lives to avoid a horrific massacre.
A recent ruling by a federal judge has reinstated a member of the board overseeing personnel disputes for federal workers. The judge ruled that President Donald Trump did not have the authority to remove her without proper justification. This situation highlights a constitutional conflict between the branches of government, as Trump claims the power to hire and fire all members of the executive branch. Congress places limits on the removal of leaders of independent agencies like the Merit Systems Protection Board.
As of publishing time, we have a 25% tariff on goods from Mexico and Canada scheduled to launch next month, except for Canadian energy which has a 10% tariff. These apply to finished products in the automotive, manufacturing, and retail sectors, but not to higher order goods that aren't sold directly to consumers.
The stock market experienced another turbulent day due to new tariff threats and mixed inflation news. The S&P 500 fell by 1.4%, entering its first correction since October 2023, which is a drop of over 10% from its record high on February 19. The NASDAQ Composite went down by nearly 2%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average decreased by 1.3%.
It was a tough week. Next week will surely be better.