Last Blog of 2016!

What a crazy year it's been! We've all experienced trials and tribulation: death, new career paths, layoff's, hiring, firing, accidents, surgeries, breakup's, breakdowns, loss of friendships, political bickering, world disharmony, climate change, cold arctic blasts, and a litany of items I haven't listed here.


But here's the cool part--we're still above ground. We're breathing air, we're enjoying the day, and we're approaching the holidays. Yeah, I know it can be a struggle for some, but let's do what we can to make the holidays nice for as many people as possible!


I want to personally wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, as well as thanking each and everyone who has taken the time to read my blogs, purchase and read my books, signed up for my newsletter, or those who simply follow me on social media (God Bless you for that:)).


My wish for everyone is peace, prosperity, and an abundance of love now and forever.  Enjoy yourself, be careful out there, and always live your adventure.


Peace.

Cool it with the racist crap, man!

Every day...every single day...I hop on my computer to see what the world is thinking and doing. Inevitably, all the discussion goes back to race. Do I believe there is a large swath of people who believe folks of a particular skin tone are somehow more intellectually superior to others? Of course those people exist. Let's not sugar coat the discussion, but let's also be honest with one another, okay?

First, the recent election was not a moratorium on minorities in the United States. If you believe that to be the case, you are either a.) stupid (and that has nothing to do with your skin color, or b.) you've bought into the lies perpetuated by a media intent on ratings, rather than truth.

I'm not kidding when I say this: I am sick and tired of hearing people on the right talk about how a certain congressman is intent on overtaking a section of the country for black people. I grow weary of the Mexican take-over of the central southern portion of the country, and I can't take anymore of an unnamed president-elect having views that set racial progression back thirty years.

For a moment, can we all put on our big boy and girl panties and talk like adults? I work with a large, diverse team of folks on a daily basis. Everyone here loves one another, we get our job done, and we go home to our families. I suspect most of us are in the same boat.

So, this begs the question: Why are so many insistent upon racial politics and polarization? I'll tell you why--if they (the elite) can divide us, they can rule us (we plebes). If we shrug off the emotional nonsense and not get caught up in the deluge of racial injustice hyperbole, then we can certainly overcome them (the elite).

Don't get me wrong: I think there are factions, albeit small ones, that want nothing more than chaos and instability, but the vast majority of us (the plebes) just do our thing and go on about our business. Personally, I think we should give every media outlet in the world the collective middle finger then go fishing or bowling.  That'll fix 'em.......

My Fascination with Sports

I spent some time dwelling on my fascination with sports, specifically my favorite sports team(s) that I won't mention here because some will take issue (Roll Tide Roll). It's true that I get caught up in the moment, the hype leading to each game, prior to the season, and sit riveted to the television during games over which I have zero control.



Those last four words of my previous sentence are what drew me into this thought provoking quagmire. No level of superstition, pre-game ritual, attire, or food eaten prior to, or during, the game will change its outcome. Despite my heartfelt prayers, I doubt God has the time or inclination to interfere in the outcome of a game. Naturally, none of this prevents me from exercising my right to conduct each of the aforementioned, but the reality is it's for naught.



My allegiances notwithstanding, why, I wonder, do I get caught up in the emotion of the game? The obvious answer, and one sans analysis, is I grew up with it, played the game(s), and understand them. Why is then that so many who may not have grown up playing sports feel energized while watching them?


The answer to this question, insofar as a group of fans is concerned, is most likely a complex one. People enjoy camaraderie, togetherness, the mass thrill of victory, and the comfort large groups provide in the face of defeat. On a deeper, more personal level, however, I am most fond of four aspects of team sports (individual sports like wrestling, MMA, gymnastics, etc. follow similar levels of respect in my mind, but those are not the focus of this article):

• The acute mental faculties of the players--I.E. their never say die attitude, their willingness to buy into a coach's system, and their game acumen.
• The incredible conditioning they put themselves through to be the best of the best.
• Their unwavering support for their teammates.
• The strategy and chess-like application a coaching staff will put in place in order to be victorious.

For a player to be mentally prepared for the physicality of any sport, he/she must move pain to a different compartment in their brain. I'm not talking about ignoring pain, I mean a honed athlete can compartmentalize pain temporarily, moving it from their mind and locking it in a safe spot until needed, post-game.

The victorious team will have jumped headlong into a coach's system without question. He/she will focus on how to improve their game, be responsible for his/her assignments on the field or court, and will study game strategy and playbooks until they become a part of him/her.

Conditioning is tantamount to experiential achievement on the field. Without fail, what a player does in practice is what he/she will do on the field. Game time is fun, but practice and training make the athlete!

These teammates will stand by each other no matter what. Support and encouragement are a small part of what teammates do,  but it shouldn't be underestimated. When someone screws up, blows a play, or gets on the coach's bad side, his/her teammates are there to pick him/her up and push them back on the right track.

The strategy a coach employs is critical to victory. How a team adapts and overcomes on the "field of battle" is shaped by the head coach and refined by the coaching staff.

All of these things combined is what draws me to the television or to a live game. The constant push for perfection by a team without consideration for their opponent is the most enviable outcome they can desire.

Relax!

The craziest, nastiest, most disgusting election in American history is over and we the people can get back to getting along now.  I ain't kiddin' either.  It's time for people to drop the hateful rhetoric, the "I know more about how this country works than you do" nonsense, and simply be neighbors and human beings again.

No one cares about your protests and riots, and I don't know a single soul who was moved by a remark you made on social media about a supporter of a particular candidate being a moron.  Our friends and family are a mixed bag of liberals and conservatives and everything in between.  Relax folks!  We're Americans--we don't take anything seriously (except sports).

I am a politically conservative guy and have angered a number of people on the left over the years regarding their position/s in politics, but I like to think I have evolved somewhat in tone.  Diligently (at least I hope so), I work to refrain from personal attacks; there is simply no need for it and I am asking you all to try to do the same.  It's okay to talk politics, but stay on point and leave the emotion out of it.  Can't we all just get along?

There are many friends of mine who have varying political positions, and I am good with it.  We form these over time based upon personal experiences, profession, the people we choose to hang out with, our own national and global perspectives.  This doesn't make us bad people, it makes us thinkers. 

So, let's tone it down a bit, please.  We can disagree and still love one another.  This isn't a difficult thing to accomplish--just take a deep breath and think before you respond.  In fact, it's perfectly acceptable to not fall into their trap by electing to forgo political interaction.  Chances are you will forget about their post or discussion within moments and you can remain friends.  If you must chime in, keep it civil. 

2017--An Ambitious Schedule

     We all have plans, yes? We consider time spent with family, particular holidays, vacations, etc., but I want to take this a step further. When I was younger, I would often listen to my dad talk about wanting to own his own business. God knows he had the head for it, but he did not necessarily have the financial means to pull it off.


     Being blessed and fortunate with some monetary means is a good thing, but being surrounded by positive, influential people is as equally important when considering a business start up. Having good, experienced people to call on for advice is priceless, so for those whose knowledge I shall leverage over the coming months, thanks in advance!  :)


     On top of wanting to kick start a small business, I want to involve myself more so in the broader Okinawan/Japanese martial arts communities. It has been a considerable time since I have felt compelled to go out and train with knowledgeable people. Last year was a wonderful start, and this coming year promises to bring more openness and sharing!


     All of this is wonderful stuff, but Cathy and I are also planning trips abroad. We hope to go and see places together that we have not seen before (and maybe one or two places we have seen but would like to see again). Seeing things beyond your immediate surroundings is essential for cognitive growth and appreciation for what you have! (Note: When I travel, I try to avoid as many of the touristy spots as possible; I am much more interested in seeing how people in different regions of the world actually live. I recommend this to everyone who wants to travel--get outside your comfort zone.)
     Now, I realize that Cathy and I are blessed to be able to travel and do things many cannot. With that, I would say even if you feel trapped in your own neighborhood, try escaping it in order to see what lies beyond. America is the grandest of countries, with a landscape unsurpassed by any other nation, and a cultural diversity that is wholly and completely unparalleled.
     I have written extensively about various areas around our grand country that I love and adore. Feel free to reach out with questions about a specific region and I'll give you my most honest answer, should you feel the need to travel there.
     Back to 2017: I am planning to have at least two non-fiction book projects completed and published, and a third close behind. In addition to these three print projects, I am working on a Bill Evers e-book--a prequel of sorts to the first two. With these works completed, I will work with and schedule meet/greet book signings for those wanting to purchase books, and for whatever reason, have them signed by the author.

     As I said earlier, I plan on venturing out more (again) to train with fellow martial artists of the Okinawan/Japanese traditions. It was with great pleasure that I participated in several such events in 2016, and I fully intend on doing so for as long as I am capable.

     With all this stuff packed into a mere 365 days, I also plan on spending as much time as possible with family and friends. Ultimately, this is the most important aspect in life and living. 

Peace and love to you all!

    

    

    

A Call for Help

The title of this blog may be a little misleading--just a little, but not wholly so. We hear and read a lot about supporting local businesses, rather than the large corporate entities that overshadow acres of concrete and blacktop parking lots. There are people out there, me in fact, trying to make a go of a passion, attempting to bring something good and nice into your life. For that, we ask little.


Whether a person is an artist painting on large canvasses, a musician standing on stage singing and playing, or a writer putting his/her soul into a manuscript he/she hopes to one day see published, without those who enjoy such things there is little reason to create.


I been working on three separate writing projects--each, I believe, has something for a lot of people. That said (or written in this case), writers/authors will never be successful without readers, and more importantly repeat, loyal readers.


I have been so fortunate to have a loyal following, and have received considerable praise for my Bill Evers novels. In no possible way will I ever be able to express my sincerest appreciation to you all!


So, here's your call to action, dear reader--when you read a book, go to Amazon and Goodreads in order to write a product review. Notice I did not say "if you enjoy a book," because honest reviews are tantamount in allowing other readers to know about books you did or did not enjoy. Be descriptive in your opinion of the story or read so others can make decisions whether or not to spend money on the book.  Don't concern yourself with your command of the English language when you write a review--we (the authors) simply want to understand whether you enjoyed the book or not, and what we can do to improve upon our own writing style to better the next story.


I cannot stress how crucial writing reviews is for authors, nor can I downplay the importance of word of mouth and how telling others you know who love good books about one you recently read. This is how the small time author competes with the big boys and girls! 


Please, take a couple of moments and review those books; you now have an idea about how much the author appreciates it!


~HU


www.howardupton.com

Obi the Uber Driver

Cathy turned me on to Uber over the past few months. Admittedly, at first the notion of riding in someone's car to an airport not driving a yellow cab with the funny little light on the roof was a little unnerving. I'm not really sure how to explain it other than to say I am a creature of habit and am accustomed to hopping in a taxi to my final destination.


After a long week in Toronto, Canada, I was looking forward to getting to my apartment, re-packing my backpack and driving the two hours to Green Acres--a.k.a. our Alabama house. Despite the wonderful folks in Ontario and the laughs many of us shared while there, to sleep in my own bed after a week away was something I longed for, and wanted to do as quickly as possible.


I ordered up an Uber on my new-fangled Uber app I downloaded a couple weeks prior. Notification was given that my driver, Obi, would pick me up in his black Hyundai four door car. He threw my bag in the trunk and I plopped my pack next to it, jumped into his Hyundai then clicked my seatbelt (safety first!).


Obi asked me about my flight and where I was returning from; the usual idle chit-chat between two strangers attempting to pass time until they part. I told him I had been in Toronto and was happy to be back in the United States as he nodded his head in the affirmative.


"Yes, there's no place like the U.S. It is the best country in the world."


His accent was smooth and fluid, not quite Caribbean, not entirely British, and certainly not French. His remarks made my ears perk up so I asked where he was from originally. "Nigeria," he replied.


I told him about my fascination with the African continent and how I wanted to spend a lot of time there. Obi explained how much the people of Nigeria loved visitors and how they open their homes to foreigners.


Our discussion drifted to how he came to America; he won a government sanctioned lottery that allows fifty thousand aliens to acquire green cards and work toward citizenship. The amazing thing? There were millions of applications and Obi was one of the chosen few--a golden ticket winner!


I asked him about Nigeria and he told me about the beauty of its people and the staggering corruption of the government. "We have oil and other resources, but the president and politicians keep da' money for themselves. They do not care about the people. In America, the government cares about its citizens, and that is why I am here.


"There is so much in America. We have all da' resources and the opportunity to succeed if you work hard. I just bought my own car and I work hard to send my mom and siblings a little money so they can eat.


"In Nigeria, the children are lucky to get one meal a day. They work all day instead of going to school, and that is sad because there are so many very smart people there."


Naturally, our conversation drifted to politics, but my mind was on what he told me about his home country. He asked who I was supporting for president and was quick to point out how adept the U.S. government was and how the American people took care of one another.

As he spoke, I continued to think about his mom, brothers, and sisters Obi left behind in Nigeria. I wondered how much food they had each day and whether or not he was able to send enough money to give them a second meal each day.

When our conversation (and ride) ended, I was so happy to have met such a gracious man. Some day I hope to run into him again, but in the meantime I allow my mind to drift to Africa...