They Won't Bite

One fine September morning (sort of like the one we had
today, but 23 years ago) I was enjoying a walk up "the Hill"
at Georgia Tech.

Even though I was dreading my next class, I was thinking
about some band "shenanigans" we had pulled a few days
earlier. I don't remember now if it was kidnapping the Band
Captain, or having the freshmen steal Ronald McDonald (he
marched with us at the Virginia game), but it was really
funny, whatever it was.

As the crowds filed past me, I suddenly realized that
everyone was smiling at me. Guys and girls. It took me by
surprise, because this had never happened before. Was my
fly open? Was my hair standing up? (not likely, since I had
a ROTC buzz cut). Was it my magnetic personality? ...or was
it...

...my winning smile?

I thought I was just walking up the Hill, looking at whoever
was walking past, trying not to get run over. But then I
realized that when I was looking at them with a grin
plastered across my face (such as it is), I was engaging the
passers-by. Connecting.

Dale Carnegie says that the expression you wear on your face
is far more important than the clothes you wear on your
back.

You must have a good time meeting people if you expect them
to have a good time meeting you.

But meeting new people can be scary. And fear paralyzes you
(and your face). I know you were told to "never talk to
strangers", but those days are over now. If you let fear
get the best of you in one area, it can take hold in other
areas, too. And make you less effective and/or successful.

The key is staying relaxed. And the Q-Link can help.
http://www.drvinceonline.com/qlink.htm

The Q-Link helps you block out physical, mental and
emotional stress from all directions. It helps you stay
calm, mentally clear and focused. Which makes it easier for
you to relax, enjoy social situations (new or familiar)--and
smile.

People love it when you speak first, breaking that 'awkward
silence'. It relaxes them. So go ahead, just say,
"Hi"...they'll love you for it.

And a smile won't hurt either.

Live like you Mean it...

Dr. Vince :-)

P.S. Ronald made it back home safe and sound. No marketing
icons were harmed in the making of that half-time show.

Hermits are People, too

The Social spoke on the Wheel of Life can be tricky.
But it's a crucial part of a growing, balanced, enthusiastic
life.

John Bradshaw says that the "primal scene" is a face. What
you see when you're first born, first learning to focus, is
a face...your parents and family looking at you, engaging
you.

Faces connect us to our original power. Our continued
growth depends on seeing others' faces. You don't
necessarily need too many. Just get out, interact and enjoy
the energy.

Even if you're a "private" person (my uncle is a
self-professed hermit), you can still enjoy being with
others. You grow as a person when you interact with other
people. You can learn a lot, if you're willing to listen
(and I don't just mean gossip).

Yes, avoid negative people that bring you down, or whine,
criticize and complain. But if you tend to avoid people
altogether, or meeting new people, it can hold you back.
Personally, professionally, spiritually. Be open (even if
just a little) to new areas of growth in your life.

Here are some things to consider as you plan your Social
goals:

Public
Clubs and organizations
Public speaking
Mastermind groups
Community/Political involvement

Private
Friendships
Entertaining/hospitality
Relationships
Social skills
Listening

Whether you're working on your social/speaking skills, or
you're trying to deepen some existing relationships...

...the Q-Link will help you relax, focus and pay attention.
All very important in new or familiar social settings. And
the Q-Link is supremely important for reducing the stress
created from new situations...introducing yourself, public
speaking, leading a meeting, going to a new school, church,
job, etc.

You can get yours here:
http://www.drvinceonline.com/qlink.htm


Live like you Mean it...

Dr. Vince

P.S. If you wear your Q-Link outside your shirt, it's a
great icebreaker.

P.P.S. In case you missed it, the price has come down
almost 25%...and there are additional family and employer
discounts. It's a great time to start something...

Popeye must be Spinning in his Grave

E. coli in spinach. Just what we needed. It's hard enough
to get people to eat it anyway, and now this.

Interestingly enough, ten or fifteen years ago this wouldn't
have been a problem. It couldn't have been.

You see, E.coli bacteria lives in a cow's digestive system,
kind of like L.acidophilus (probiotic found in yogurt, etc.)
lives in ours. In fact there are some strains of 'good'
E.coli that live in our digestive systems, too.

In the good old days, cows ate grass, and their digestive
tracts were more alkaline. E. coli thrived in an alkaline
environment.

So, if some bad E. Coli accidentally got onto or into our
food, it was not a problem. Our stomach acid would kill it
before it could cause any trouble. One of nature's built-in
protections.

Well, like the old commercial said, "It's not nice to fool
Mother Nature."

To raise more beef, and make it fatter faster, smart ol' us
decided to start feeding cows grain instead of grass. Two
big problems with that.

One is, grains are terribly high in Omega-6 fatty acids.
Too many Omega-6s make our bodies inflamed. So grain-fed
meat causes more inflammation, which leads to the chronic
degenerative problems like osteoporosis, heart disease,
Alzheimer's, diabetes, cancer, obesity, etc.

The other problem is that grains are acidic. Being
force-fed all those grains made Bessie's digestive system
adapt. It had to change from a nice, soothing, alkaline
grass-fed system to a more acidic grain-fed system. It
caused all kinds of problems with the cows (bloating,
infections, etc.), which has also caused the need for added
antibiotics, hormones, etc.

But the kicker is that since grains are acidic, and Bessie's
system has adapted to being acidic, guess who else now likes
to live in acid?

You guessed it--E. coli.

So now, instead of our stomach acid killing any bad E. coli
in our meat or vegetables, we make it feel right at home.

While there's not much you can do about how farmers raise
their cows, there is something you can do to balance all
those Omega-6s.

Eat more Omega-3s. Like the ones found in fresh fruits and
vegetables and fish oil. (You notice I didn't say 'fatty
fish'. They feed those guys grains, too...and animal parts,
and feces...but I digress.)

The Pharmaceutical-grade fish oil I offer contains purified
long-chain Omega-3s, the ones your body loves. Without all
the contaminants and poisons (like mercury) that concern
folks about eating too much fish. And since it's
concentrated, you don't have to take too many capsules.
Four to six each day is a whopping dose of anti-inflammatory
Omega-3s.

And since it's purified, there's hardly any taste. I would
say no taste at all, which is my experience, but I have had
two people who weren't able to take it because they were
sensitive to fish to begin with. But it's not at all like
those Brand X bargain brands that you can smell while
they're sitting on the shelf.

So, skip the spinach for the next few weeks, and stock up on
the Concentrated Omega-3 Pharmaceutical Grade Fish Oil

Live like you Mean it...

Dr. Vince

P.S. "Save the Date" for October 11 at 8pm. I'm having a
tele-seminar that deals with these and other
important issues about what to eat, and how to reclaim your
ideal body. It's not the same old tired 'eat a balanced
diet', that has put so many of us into plus sizes and
serious health problems. And not so much "what" to eat, but
"how" to do it, quick and easy, in today's fast-paced world.
It'll be especially important to know this info with the
holidays coming up. I'll have more info soon, so save this
hour--it'll change your life.

Who's Planning your Life?

Stop me if you've heard this one:

On their deathbed, no one ever says, 'I wish I'd spent more
time at the office.'

You've probably heard that more than once. But are you
doing anything about it?

There's a Catch-22 in the Career and Family relationship. We
work to support our family (necessities, lifestyle,
education, "everything we didn't have"). But work can
undermine our family (stress, irritability, financial
conflict, intrude on our 'together' time).

But only if you let it.

When you make your Wheel of Life goals, look at Work and
Family together. Choose goals in each spoke that will
enhance and support each other, rather than detract from it.

The key to success is deciding, planning and acting. If you
don't choose the life you want, you'll be living by
'default'.

Like Jim Rohn says:

"If you don't design your own life plan, chances are you'll
fall into someone else's plan.

And guess what they may have planned for you? Not much."

How you feel about the things on this list? Where is your
room for improvement?

Career
External
Retirement plan
Insurance/Benefits
Time commitments
Vacation
Lifestyle provided

Self-Improvement
Educational opportunities
Business skills
Potential growth--"20 years from now"

Internal
Sense of fulfillment
Challenge
Camaraderie
Satisfaction
Helping others

Family

loving relationships
parenting skills
listening skills
clarify expectations
discipline
values/morals

planning time together
coordinate schedules
mutual goals
education

fun time together
activities
vacations
reunions

being together
sense of fulfillment
challenge
camaraderie
satisfaction
helping others


The dark side of the Work/Family relationship is that they
can be two big sources of stress. That's why I offer family
and employer discounts on the Q-Link.

The bright side is that they both share some common goals,
which makes them fertile fields for personal growth. Put
some thought into your Family and Career goals this
weekend, and keep designing your own life plan.

Live like you Mean it...

Dr. Vince

P.S. Since Q-Link has become so popular (especially among
golfers), they're making more of them, which means they're
cheaper to make. So, the price has come down. No more
excuses. If you haven't looked in a while, now's the time.
http://www.drvinceonline.com/qlink.htm

Share the love...

What's your Catch-22?

Catch-22 is a popular phrase, but do you know what it
means?

The real Catch-22 is a novel written by Joseph Heller in
1955 (read by Dr. Vince in 2001).

The Catch was this: to get a psychological discharge from
the Army, you had to fill out a certain form. But the Army
figured that if you were sane enough to fill out the form,
you couldn't really need a psychological discharge.

That was the Catch.

The Catch-22 of the Wheel of Life comes in the "Mental"
spoke. Goal-setting is primarily a mental activity. I
believe it's also a very spiritual activity, but it takes
lots of mental energy. Thinking about your life, what you
want, what you don't want. Thinking, writing, reviewing,
planning, etc. Mental energy.

But if our mental skills aren't as sharp as they should be,
sometimes it's hard to think up, plan and execute goals to
improve our mental skills.

Your very own Catch-22.

How do you get past it? Sidestep it. Set some 'physical'
goals to make your brain stronger. Then your mental work
will be a heck of a lot easier.

For instance, your brain prefers the long-chain Omega-3
fatty acid called DHA, which is abundant in fish oil. All
that thinking uses it up quickly. So one way to help keep
your mind sharp to reach your goals--and to keep it
developing for all the other things it does--is to
give it a regular supply of fish oil.

Also, CoQ10 has been shown to help slow the degeneration
that leads to Alzheimer's. Good for the brain.

And Magnesium relieves mental stress by keeping your Mind
and Body relaxed.

These nutrients are crucial for proper brain function. But
especially for enhanced brain function and higher-
level creative thinking. Like the kind you're doing with
your 30-60-90 goals.

That's why they're all part of the Core Four. They're a great way
to boost your productivity, creativity--your Life--to a new
level.

Once you get your brain in gear, here are some ideas to
explore while setting your "Mental" goals.

Learning
Formal education
Continuing education
Important books
CD courses
New Skills
Mentors/teachers/coaches

Growth
Journal
Creative activities
Hobbies
Music
Significant ideas
Puzzles

Relaxation
smell the Flowers
watch the Sunsets
quiet time


I'm off for a little quiet time right now myself (had my
Core 4 at lunch)...

Live like you Mean it...

Dr. Vince

P.S. If all this talk about goals and deadlines (or the
goals and deadlines you already have) is stressing you out,
you really need to get a Q-Link. Better sleep,
mental clarity and a sense of calmness are just a few of the
benefits.

Find out more here: http://www.drvinceonline.com/qlink.htm

Can you Outrun a Badger?

Most people's #1 reason to stay healthy is "their
family". The 'family' and 'physical' spokes of the Wheel
of Life are closely related. But, as with many other
worthwhile goals, the spirit is willing but the flesh is
often weak.

My friend Tim Kauppinen is an expert track and field coach.
He lives in Madison, too (Wisconsin, home of the U of W
Badgers).

The years had been a little unkind to "Coach K". His
waistline was spreading, and his flesh was definitely weak.

He was concerned, since both of his grandparents and his
aunt died in their early fifties from heart disease. His dad
had had a total of 10 heart bypasses and his cousin suffered
a massive heart attack in his 40's.

Tim was closing in on the big 4-0 himself, and didn't want
to leave his lovely wife and five lovely kids without him.
So he coached himself, and got back into shape by running.

Lots of people think of running or jogging when they think
about getting back into shape. But they dread it. The
most common complaint I hear about running, or the most
common excuse for someone not running is that it's "boring"
and it takes too long.

Or they put in the miles, but don't get the results.

The biggest mistake most people make with their running
workouts is that they run too long and too slow.

But Coach K did a special kind of running workout. One that
helped him drop seven pounds in two weeks, made his back and
legs flexible and pain-free, and made him feel young and
strong like he was in high school. All in less than
15-minutes a day.

Now that sounds more like it.

How'd he do it? He kept his workouts interesting, shorter
and effective, with high-intensity interval training.
What we used to call "wind sprints".

Short, intense bursts burn much more fat, jumpstart your
metabolism, restore your energy and vitality, and make you
much stronger than long, slow distance.

(As always, be careful. If you're not used to running,
you'll have to start slowly, and just run 'fast-er' before
you start running fast. But by increasing your intensity
you'll increase your results fast-er, too.)

Here's a classic workout for the track. Jog, run or sprint
the straight-away and walk the curves. You'll get twice the
workout (or more) per mile than you will straight jogging.

But Coach K puts his own unique twist on sprinting--he runs
uphill. Even a small hill ramps up the intensity and gives
you amazing results beyond what you'd ever expect. And hill
sprints can give you a full-body workout-in less than 15
minutes!

Like I said, Coach K is the expert, so you should learn the
rest from him. He's taken his years of training and
coaching experience (and what he's learned from his recent
makeover) and distilled it into the "Uphill Fitness
Training" Course. You can check it out here:
http://www.drvinceonline.com/uphill_fitness.htm

Uphill Fitness Training also includes core/abs, flexibility,
dynamic warm-ups and a stair workout for all fitness levels.
This course is amazing. And even if you only do 20% of what
he shows you, you'll be in the best shape of your life.

Your family will thank you (and just think of what you can
do with all the time you'll save).

Live like you Mean it,

Dr. Vince

P.S. Time can't be your excuse any more. Uphill Fitness
Training cuts your workout time in half and doubles your
results. Get yours today.
http://www.drvinceonline.com/uphill_fitness.htm

High School Energy and High School Muscles

A few years ago we were taking a family walk around the
block. Actually, Grace was riding her bike. She got pooped
out at the last hill and said, "I can't ride any further."
She'd been asking for some ice cream all day, and
since it was Sunday (our treat day), I said, "OK, if you can
pedal up the hill, you can have some ice cream."

"I've got bike power!" and off she went. Even faster than
she'd ridden around the block. Grinning the whole way.

When we caught up to her, I said, "I didn't do that reward
you for riding your bike. We were going to have some ice
cream anyway. I did it to show you that you can do whatever
you decide you want to do. Even if you're tired, you can
find the energy--if you really want it. Your "can" or your
"can't" is all in your Mind. So, from now on, whenever you
feel discouraged or weak or tired, just remember 'Bike
Power'."

Getting started with your physical training is a lot like
that. You're looking at a steep hill, thinking, "I'm tired.
I can't."

So I'm here to tell you: "Bike Power".

Actually, riding a bike is a good way to get back in the
swing of exercise. It reminds you of being young, when you
rode your bike everywhere, and even reminds you of the
success of learning to ride one in the first place.

My friend Randy is a big biker. He told me that he really
notices an energy boost from taking CoQ10 before his long
rides (http://www.drvinceonline.com/coq10.htm) I guess it's
his own form of "Bike Power". More energy is a big deal,
and that's reason enough to start taking CoQ10.

But the bigger deal is that CoQ10 also rebuild your muscles
with a "younger" profile. It gives you back those high
school muscles and high school energy (or if you're like me,
the muscles and energy I should've had in high school).

Younger muscles are stronger, more shapely and repair
themselves quicker. If you're into fitness or strength at
all--or just want to turn the calendar back a few
years--this is your best reason for taking CoQ10 and the
rest of the Core 4.

But CoQ10 is also a powerful anti-oxidant, minimizes
free-radical damage, has heart-protecting power and
anti-inflammatory effects. That's why I offer it (and take
it) part of the Core 4. You can learn more at
http://www.drvinceonline.com/core4.htm

Get your physical program rolling with some wheels...bike,
scooter, skates, rollerblades. Be careful, though, your
balance may not be what it used to.

But it's just like riding a bike.

(For those of you into running, I've got a great tip for you
Monday, stay tuned.)

Live like you Mean it...

Dr. Vince

P.S. Speaking of wheels, I hope you're still working on
your "Wheel of Life" goals list. If you missed it, you can
catch up in the archives

We're taking a little extra time with the "Physical" spoke,
because it's usually the hardest one to get unstuck
(remember the Fat Frogs?)

Why Frogs are Fat

Here's a riddle for you:

Five frogs are sitting on a log. Three decide to jump off.
How many are left?

Five. They decided to jump, but never jumped.

Unfortunately, many folks I work with are "deciding frogs".
They know they need to improve their physical condition, but
never jump. Their intentions never turn into action.

Ironically, most people put-off exercising because they want
to do a great workout. They keep looking
and searching and planning and scheduling and ordering
videos and google-ing...but never do anything.

It's really just procrastinating, camouflaged as 'deciding'.

A wise teacher once told me, "Anything worth doing, is worth
doing poorly...until you can learn to do it well."

So, don't worry about the finding the 'best' exercise
program. Just get started. There are more than enough ways
to exercise (using just your body and gravity) to keep you
busy for years to come.

And if you haven't been active for a while, then by all
means - start SLOWLY.

Exercising slowly helps prevent injuries. Nothing is more
frustrating than trying to 'jump off the log' if your knee
is swollen (trust me). Exercising slowly also helps you pay
attention, engages all the smaller stabilizing muscles,
highlights your weak spots, and strengthens your Mind-Body
connection.

Here are a few ways to activate your body slowly:

Go for a walk after supper. Not a pep-step, just a walk.
Focus on your breath, relax and enjoy the walk. Work your
way up to 20 - 30 minutes at a moderate pace. You can
pep-step in a few weeks. If you've been inactive for more
than six months, this is a good place to start 'til your
body gets used to moving again.

Do some light stretching to help loosen the joints and relax
the muscles. Breathe.

Try some yoga, Pilates, balance ball or other bodyweight
exercises. These help integrate the parts of your body,
rather than isolating them (like traditional weight
training). Don't be fooled. They're not as easy as they
look (trust me). Definitely start with the Beginner tapes.
And if you can get a good instructor, all the better.

You can feed two birds with one feeder by combining
activities from different spokes on the Wheel of Life. For
instance, take a Family Walk (combining the Family and
Physical). Exercise slowly, without noise or music blaring
(helps you concentrate, strengthens the Mental and Physical)

Speaking of birds, six birds are sitting on a feeder. Little
Jimmy shoots one with his BB gun. How many are left?

None. The rest got scared and flew away.

Live like you mean it,

Dr. Vince

P.S. Bonus Tip: When you aim and fire at one goal sitting
on the feeder, that energy and motion tends to bring the
rest of your goals along with it.

P.P.S. I know some old guys up at the Fitness Center who
workout just so they can eat whatever they want. Not an
ideal strategy, but at least they're making a plan and
taking action. A better plan might be to eat better to
maximize your workouts and your health. Either way, Fish
Oil is chock full of heart/brain/bone/joint-supporting
Omega-3s, which can cover over a multitude of nutritional
sins. Turn your physical conditioning (and your metabolism)
up a notch at http://www.drvinceonline.com/fishoil.htm

Only 104 Days Left

Yes, there are only 104 days left until Christmas. But it
could just as easily be 104 days left until you lose 15
pounds. Or run a 5K race. Or set up an IRA. Or read that
book you've been staring at for the past 9 months.

Giving yourself a deadline activates your subconscious Mind
and gives it something to work toward.

You'll see this in action with "last-minute" birthday or
Christmas gifts. Even though they may procrastinate 364
days, a person will still make the time to get a
gift--because they have a deadline.

You've got at least 30 days to Halloween, 60 to
Thanksgiving, and 90 to Christmas. Using holidays as
deadlines makes it even easier, because the milestone's
bigger, more visible. Everyone talks about it, the stores
decorate for it, you've got constant visual/auditory
re-Mind-ers. Every day counts down: "Are you going to be
ready?"

Now's the time to make your own "Christmas" List. Decide
what kind of "treat" you want for Halloween. Or what you'll
be glad you've done by Thanksgiving.

Setting goals sounds easy. It must be harder than it
looks, because only 3% of people actually have any goals,
and fewer than that actually write them down or do anything
about them.

Why? Because there are too many other 'urgent' things
crowding our mind and thoughts. Too many time-wasters.

But since you're an 'Enthusiast', I know you want the Best
for yourself and are willing to do something about it.

That's why I'm going to jumpstart your brain and help you
set some goals. Here are seven major areas of your life
that are ripe with opportunities for growth and success:

Physical
Mental
Spiritual
Financial
Family
Career
Social

Think of each area as a spoke on the "Wheel of Life".

One way to get started is to think of one thing in each
spoke/area that needs attention, and set a 30, 60 or 90-day
goal for it.

Another way is to get seven sheets of paper and write one
spoke/area on the top of each. Then take a different sheet
each day and write down things in that area you want to
improve, goals you want to reach. Write down as many as
possible. Don't edit yourself. Don't stop writing 'til the
page is full.

Then look back over the sheet and pick one or two of the
ones you want the most--and go.

Here's are some brain ticklers for the first one...

PHYSICAL:

Physical condition
exercise, activities, recreation, sports
posture, appearance, image, hygiene

Lifestyle
weight, diet, nutrition
sleep and rest patterns
energy level

Preventive maintenance
Chiropractic, dental checkups, other health care
Massage


Have fun. More to follow this week...

Dr. Vince

PS For help with "energy level" and "nutrition", be sure to
check out http://www.drvinceonline.com. The Core Four are a
great start to better nutrition, and the Q-Link and CoQ10
will give you energy to burn.

Staying Awake

September 11, 2006

Five years ago today, our staff meeting was interrupted by a
phone call from Dr. Elise's husband. We were almost
finished anyway, so it was a good time to take a break.

"Oh, my God. A plane just flew into the World Trade
Center."

I remember thinking it was odd, because I was picturing a
little plane flying into a little office building. And I
wondered why Mark had even called. I figured it was because
Dr. Elise is from New York, and the WTC was in New York
(at least I thought it was, but being a native Southerner, I
wasn't really sure).

In the car ride home, I heard the wake-up call on the radio.

That day we were reminded not to take our life for granted.
Today's a good day to remember that, too.

Sometimes we forget. In the hustle, bustle and the
"urgent", we can forget what's really important. Or
sometimes we get so distracted by our lives that we lose
focus on our Life.

Like "Leonard" said, in the movie "Awakenings":

"Remind them how good it is.

People have forgotten what life is all about...what it is to
be alive.

They need to be reminded of what they have and
what they can lose.

What I feel is the gift of life, the joy of life, the
freedom of life, the wonderment of life."


So, today, remember Life...those that were lost, those that
were given...and the one you still have left to live.

Dr. Vince

Blast from the Past

Talking about school and music the past few weeks reminded
me of a short paper I wrote at Georgia Tech. The assignment
was to tell our fellow freshmen about something fun to do
around campus--but it had to be something they wouldn't
normally do.

I picked something that many of you don't normally do
either. But I hope you'll start soon: Listening
to Classical music.

I wrote about how music affects your emotions. Back then I
only knew that music could make you feel different. Now
I've learned more about the relationship between vibrations
and health, and how the higher frequencies found in
classical music can help balance and harmonize your own
internal rhythms--the vibration of every cell in your body.

You don't have to be a music nerd to get started. Start with
something familiar, like Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Ark
or Titanic soundtrack. Or get a "Best of Classical"
compilation CD. You may be surprised at how many songs you
recognize.

Use the time to and from work to discharge the static and
stress from your mind, and raise your vibration to a more
creative and productive state.

So, I dug around and found that paper. I must admit, since
it was one of my first attempts at "real" writing (what
about high school? Don't ask.) I feel a little funny sharing
it with you, but I have to listen to my own advice on this one:

"The effect of the performance depends on the willingness of
each group to be candid with each other, offering their true
feelings."

Thanks for Listening,

Dr. V


Why do we cheer for Rocky? Why do we "white-knuckle" our chairs just before Jaws attacks? Why do we get a head-to-toe chill when Indiana Jones finds the location of the Well of Souls? Simple. It's the music. Music has always been the most emotional, popular, and powerful way for man to communicate. Filmmakers use music to produce a desired reaction, because they know that music has the power to create emotions within us. The most powerful movie
soundtracks are done neither by rock, jazz, new wave, nor country groups. Symphony Orchestras are responsible for the majority of the tears jerked and the cheers cheered.

Orchestras are the source of a great deal of the music we hear today, but it is disguised so well that people who hear it do not realize that they are being "cultured". Two popular Bugs Bunny cartoons are based on operas. Walter Murphy's "A Fifth of Beethoven" is a popular disco tune. "Hooked on Classics," by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, is one of the best selling albums in the country. Despite the popularity of "altered" classical music, many still reject the pure art form. Most people feel that attending a symphony concert would turn out to be a bad experience. They don't understand that music does not intrude, it only enriches.

The only way to have an enriching musical experience is to approach it with an open mind. Music is notorious for making folks do strange things. While under its influence, people have been known to pat their feet, laugh, cry, or even begin conducting themselves. Performers emote through what they play, and that emotion sneaks into us as we listen. As the emotional charges accumulate, they must find an exit from our body. Our outward reactions are transferred back to the performers, thus creating an endless flow of emotion. The audience is just as necessary as the performers, because they rely on each other for support. The effect of the performance depends on the willingness of each group to be candid with each other, offering their true feelings.

A visit to the symphony can be one of the most memorable events of your life. The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra is an outstanding organization that is nationally recognized for its excellence. The conductor, Robert Shaw, is one of the best conductors in the Southeast. Atlantans are lucky to have such easy access to this premiere organization. The Symphony Hall is located at the corner of Peachtree and 15th Street, which is only a few blocks away from the coliseum. The student price is only $4.00, the price of many a C-grade movie.

When you go to the symphony, prepare to enjoy it. Forget anything negative you have heard about it, open your mind, and become a part of what is going on around you. The key to enjoying the symphony is to not just listen superficially, but open up and experience it.


P.S. If you want to know more about the true power of music
to make you healthy, happy and successful, scoot on over to
http://www.drvinceonline.com/secretpower.htm

P.P.S. I got an "A"

the Amazing Kid in the Shades

Got this note back from someone who watched the drum corps
show last night:

"Thanks, Vince. I watched and was pleased and amazed! What
humans can achieve always amazes me when sustained
dedication is involved."

I agree. And the most amazing thing to me from last night
was not the Godfather: Part Blue, Faust nor the Green
Machine (although they were pretty amazing).

It was a human interest story about kid named Matt
Bowers.

It started out pretty routine. In high school, Matt saw
some guys drumming and decided he wanted to play drums.

That summer, he saw the incredible drum lines at a drum
corps show and decided he wanted to march drum corps, too.

So, what makes this story so "interesting"? Well, because
Matt has macular degeneration, and is mostly blind. He can
barely see to march or play.

"It's like flashing and moving lights, random sorts of
patterns..."

He wasn't sure if he could pull it off, but he stayed
focused on his goal.

"Since I can't read music on the page, I figured I'd better
get pretty good at memorizing music real fast."

And he did. He marched with Spirit, and this year with the
defending World-champion Cadets.

Most of the other kids who were interviewed during the
show said, "This is the hardest thing I've ever done in my
life." Matt did, too. So I guess that made it doubly hard
for him.

How was he able to do it? How could he march and play in an
elite, World-champion drum and bugle corps with
virtually no sight?

"It didn't stop me, because I didn't want to let it stop me."

What do you want? What's stopping you?

Dr. V

P.S. Two of the bonus CDs in the "Secret Power of Words and
Music" set are designed to propel you toward your goal. "The
Power of Concentration" focuses your Mind. And the
"Surprise" CD helps you see yourself as a 'being of
Limitless Possiblities.'

Just like Matt Bowers.

Don't let anything stop you. Get the complete set at
drvinceonline.com/secretpower

Music to your Ears

Tomorrow night is the replay of the Drum Corps International
Finals competition, held a few weeks ago in Madison
(Wisconsin, that is). The "Summer Music Games".

It's on Tuesday from 8-10 pm on ESPN 2. (My old corps,
Spirit, is on first, so I'll be tuning in early)

These kids have practiced all year long--weekly thru the
winter and spring, with weekend camps once a month. In
June they start rehearsing every day. Then a three-week
tour in July and a three-week tour in August.

Now that's commitment to a goal.

When I marched in 1980, most corps played popular,
recognizable songs (such as Georgia on My Mind, Danny Boy,
Theme from Ice Castles, even some Kool and the Gang and
Earth, Wind and Fire).

Execpt for one.

Phantom Regiment, from Rockford, IL always played
classical music, and has always been a crowd favorite, and a
judges' favorite, too.

Following their example, many corps are now playing
classical programs. I know what you're thinking:
"Classical? Boring."

But guess what? The shows are still selling out and the
activity is more popular than ever.

Want to know why? I bet you do. I did too.

My friend Tania let me in on the secret. Tania is a
classical composer, and her husband is a Concertmaster
Violinist for Hollywood, so she knows a thing or two about
music. Her specialty is how music affects your mind and
your creative potential.

Specifically, how listening to the right kind of music can
balance your brain, and prevent stress, misery, unhappiness,
ill health, poverty and failure.

And research has found that the "right kind" of music for
health and wellness is "high-frequency classical" music.

So today's tip is to de-stress by listening to some
classical music every day.

To help you get started, Tania has put together a course on
the benefits of music and how to pick the right music (and
it even includes some of her own compositions). It's useful
for the "I can only play the radio" crowd, and musicians of
any skill level.

So if you want to know why you're feeling so good while
you're watching the show tomorrow (8pm on ESPN2),

or if you want to learn the secret to strengthening your
immune system, boosting your creativity and productivity,
de-stressing your body and your Mind, and reaching your
goals,

just by listening to the "right kind" of music, then march
on over to
http://www.drvinceonline.com/secretpower.htm and
check out "The Secret Power of Words and Music".

Enjoy the show.

Dr. Vince

P.S. If you read this far, thanks! Here's another tip:
Labor Day is a good time to review and set some new
goals. Halloween is about eight weeks away (for short-term
goals). Thanksgiving is about 12 weeks (medium), and
Christmas is about 16 (long). These natural endpoints make
it easier to focus (and reach) your goal. So take advantage
of these seasonal mileposts and do a little brainstorming
this week (or resurrect your old goal sheet). "By
Thanksgiving, I want to..." You'll be surprised what you
can do if you put your mind to it.

The Brits are a Few Steps Ahead

The Brits are a few steps ahead of us.

I don't think they'd win in a super-spy contest between James Bond and Jack Bauer.

But in a "paying attention to how our food affects our mood, thoughts and behaviour" contest, we'd definitely come up short.

Several groups in the UK are looking at the relationship between food and brain function. Specifically how it affects behaviour and learning in children. One such group is Food and Behaviour Research (FAB) (they're from Britain, so they spell it funny...kind of like southerners tawlk funny.)

FAB studies the role of nutrition in the prevention and management of:
a. Everyday difficulties in behaviour, learning or mood that can affect children and adults - at home, at school or in the workplace.
b. Developmental conditions - such as ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, and autistic spectrum disorders.
c. Mental health conditions - such as anxiety, depression, bipolar (manic-depressive) disorder and schizophrenia.

They do lots of work with essential fatty acids and how they affect the brain.

FAB has developed sort of an "early warning" list of signs that someone might be lacking in essential fatty acids.

These signs include:

• allergies (eg eczema, asthma, hay fever)
• poor concentration
• memory problems
• depression
• excessive mood swings
• undue anxiety
• difficulty sleeping
• problems with reading (because the letters and words appear to move or blur)

Wow. What struck me about this list was how many of the 'physical' signs were also what I would call 'mental' signs.

It's easy to see from this list that Essential Fatty Acids are really brain food. In fact, the research shows that your brain prefers DHA, the long-chain fatty acid found in fish oil, more than any other fats.

I love my brain (like Woody Allen says, "It's my second favorite organ") it as the best starting point to better health.

Because it's hard to be enthusiastic about school, work, or anything else for that matter, when you have one of those 'physical signs'.

Any one of those problems can zap your energy, keep you distracted, and make it virtually impossible to feel motivated or excited.

Keep you from feeling productive, connected, centered.

Keep you from growing, learning and improving.

Whether in Britain or the good ol' US of A, whether at work, home or at school, your brain will thank you for a big serving of fish oil every day.

That's why I take fish oil and recommend Live like you mean it...

Dr. Vince

PS. You don't have to cross the Atlantic or go fishing to get your fish oil. I've done the hard part for you. The easy part is going to www.drvinceonline.com and get yours.

PSS If you want to learn more about what FAB is doing, you can go to the FAB Research website