Dr. John Edwin DeVore

AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL

O beautiful for heroes proved

In liberating strife,

Who more than their country loved,

And mercy more than life!

America! America!

May God thy gold refine,

Till all success be nobleness,

And every gain divine!

—Katherine Lee Bates & Samuel A. Ward, America the Beautiful

 Where has America the Beautiful gone! Daily, we are witness to absolute, chaotic disaster! And more will unfold as campaigns unfold and as each self-serving TWEET is offered. “Nobody likes me!” It is embarrassing and disgusting!! Some words that capture the unrest: pay-offs, shootings, demonstrations, not objective, untrusted, self-serving, party sorted, low functioning, sociopaths, racism, white supremacy, deconstruction, and protection by political party sorted, power worldview associates of the Federal government institution and country. We must do better and begin the long trek to re-evolve America the Beautiful.

O beautiful for spacious skies,

For amber waves of grain,

For purple mountain majesties

Above the fruited plain!

America! America!

God shed his grace on thee,

And crown thy good with brotherhood,

From sea to shining sea!

—Katherine Lee Bates & Samuel A. Ward, America the Beautiful

Some food for thought to help re-route the ship: Rachel Kleinfield and Aaron Sobel (USA Today, Friday, July 24, 2020, page7A) offer, “7 ways to reduce political polarization: Destroying the other side cannot be our goal.”

1. Call out your own party: speak truth to power and challenge your own tribe.
2. Avoid bad jokes: words matter, and they can perpetuate existing violence and cultivate preexisting grievances.
3. Make social media kinder: remove hateful messages, reduce the spread of hateful memes, and avoid prejudiced or polarizing speech.
4. Downplay the fringes and highlight the median: provide information that overturns party sorted beliefs and that reduces polarization. There may be less disagreement on policy issues than thought.
5. Emphasize disagreement within parties: most policy issues have a range of opinions within a party.
6. Help others imagine empathy: stories that encourage others to take the perspective of the other party can reduce prejudice.
7. Avoid repeating misinformation, even to debunk it: repetition leads the brain to think things are true; and there is a tendency to seek information that agrees with how one believes.

Partisanship is shaking the mighty pillars of our democracy; and destroying the other party is not a reasonable objective. The chaos, confusion, and disaster we see unfolding daily is about destroying the other group of human beings, the other tribe. As The Honorable John Lewis offered, get in “Good Trouble” and become a master of uniting. Whether Democrat or Republican America The Beautiful is the goal!!! Let us evolve together, not apart. Some folks wonder what happened; some folks watch what is happening; and some folks make things happen. Make things happen!!

O beautiful for patriot dream

That sees beyond the years; Thine alabaster cities gleam,

Undimmed by human tears!

America! America!

God shed his grace on thee,

And crown thy good with brotherhood,

From sea to shining sea!

—Katherine Lee Bates & Samuel A. Ward, America the Beautiful

It is difficult to accept and quite frustrating to put arms around the idea that Donald J. Trump is Commander-in-Chief of disinformation, denial, disaster, distraction, and lies. Jessica Guynn, USA Today, Wednesday, October 7, 2020, page 5B, quotes Graham Brookie, Director of the Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab, “There is no doubt that Donald Trump is the largest spreader of specific and important types of misinformation today.” Guynn continues, “In the critical last weeks of the election, social media companies are facing a tsunami of conspiracy theories, hoaxes and fake claims on everything from COVID-19 to voting.” With 210,000 plus COVID-19 deaths, 7 million cases of COVID-19 and one in five businesses closed at the forefront of election decisions, Bob Woodward’s Rage (September 2020, Simon & Schuster) shines bright light on the dereliction of leadership and management duty by Donald Trump and Mike Pence, leader, White House Coronavirus Task Force.

Yes! Bob Woodward is correct: COVID-19 is a global enemy; and we need to be partners in a global war. The strategic objective: To defeat the virus to save human lives. Donald Trump and Mike Pence (two peas in a pod) are symbols of failure, incompetence, and dereliction of duty. In Rage (298-308) Woodward chats with Trump about full mobilization, strategies, and tactics to facilitate defeating the virus:

Strategies

• Early discovery.
• Early response plan and response: leadership and management of virus task forces.
• Early testing.
• Early quarantine.
• Early treatment.

Tactics

1. Wear a mask.
2. Social distance.
3. Testing and contact tracing.
4. Personal protective equipment: purchasing, inventory management and distribution.
5. Identify essential workers.
6. Unemployment benefits and cash payments.
7. Small business loans.
8. Shelter-in-place.
9. Food supply processes.
10. International coordination and networking.
11. Air travel control.
12. Vaccines
13. Intelligence: CIA, FBI, NSA, State Department, Senate, House of Representatives.
14. Sustainable income streams for Americans.

Did the job get done? Will the job get done in the future? Do your own assessment! Two principles of war are objective, direct all efforts toward a decisive, obtainable goal; and simplicity, prepare uncomplicated plans and concise orders to insure thorough understanding and execution. A well-trained combat leader never sends soldiers into combat absent reliable information about the friendly forces, the enemy forces, proper training and orientation, decent combat gear, weapons and ammunition, the mission, mode of operations, communications network and command and control processes. The task is no different for Americans in a global pandemic: Americans need reliable information about the virus; knowledge of health care facilities and developments; training and education for individuals, families, schools, nursing homes, and businesses; personal protective equipment and testing processes; mission statement to defeat the virus; communications processes; and who is making the decisions, Federal, State, and local, critical to life and safety of all Americans. Quite simply, it is necessary to understand the issues; have determined, quality leadership; comprehensive strategy; and close cooperation across public and private sectors to defend against threats and enemies. Folks, we can do much, much better. Vote for leaders! The need is for a President and Vice President who are honest, have integrity and morality; lead through earned power; are compassionate and genuinely help others; who can unify global partners and defeat enemies; and who can bring sanity to the Office of the President and Office of the Vice President. VOTE!

During Corporate America years at Coors a lasting experience was the opportunity to work with Hyler Bracey, President, the Atlanta Consulting Group. The Coors family had hired Hyler and his associates to facilitate transition of Adolph Coors Company from several dependent, vertically organized companies into two independent companies, Coors Brewing Company and Graphic Packaging Company.

At the age of 28, Hyler was in a stock car racing accident and burned over 60% of his body. His face was severely disfigured, and his fingers were like burned twigs in a bonfire. However, his character, personality and mentality, manifested through his blue eyes and subconscious mind, were magnetizing and drew you to his heart. Hyler modeled that scars offer a story of the past and do not dictate where one intends to go. He walked the talk of one of the key concepts he and his associates shared with the Coors leadership team: life happens because of me and not to me, or the concept of 100% responsibility.

Daily we are witnesses to scurrying about to avoid being identified as the culprit—pandemic deaths, deepened racism and absolute, chaotic, government disaster. In our culture there is intense desire to be off the hook; and clever and devious actions taken to get off the hook are known as cover your posterior. Quite simply, desired results do not equal excuses coupled with no desired results; and blaming, justifying, spinning, lying and choosing not to accept responsibility when something goes wrong is a negative life and leadership strategy. Being right is a booby prize! The real prize is the desired result which has not been realized. Blaming and justifying put us at the mercy of other people and events and do not make things happen. A better strategy is not to give away power and influence by blaming and justifying. Take charge: 100% responsibility, I am 100% responsible and others are 0% responsible.

Imagine the power in this country where everyone is assuming 100% responsibility for its success. Imagine how refreshing it would be for the President, Senators and Representatives to be examining what they did and what they could do rather than expending energy and plotting how to get off the hook. Perhaps the greatest value of the 100%-0% concept is that it focuses energy on creating desired results rather than finding ways of avoiding responsibility. Because it encourages folks to develop new options to produce desired results, it is a deeply empowering concept.

Thank you Hyler for pointing the way to 100% responsibility, a leader’s tool to make things happen and generate positive differences in every area of American lives. The negative option is wasting time and money blaming, defending, justifying, spinning, meeting, lying, cheating, making excuses and not getting the job done for Americans.

After a round of golf Sunday, Woody and Birdy Ball, golfer’s partners during the learning-reading journey through Golf as Guru: Mind”full”ness, Awareness and Self-Restraint, were enjoying 19^th hole eats and drinks on the patio of the community golf club. The conversation evolved to a discussion of a vision for the club’s brand, strategies, and integral brand attributes. Interesting outcome…

BRAND

A “crown jewel” with magnetic and addictive brand attributes, i.e. the experience of every golfer, every time, is attractive, alluring, and inspires a “must have again” occasion.

STRATEGIES

• Grounds, facilities, and equipment are immaculate.
• Leadership, management, and staff are courteous, efficient, and effective.
• Marketing and sales are targeted and enable optimum rounds of golf and golf cart rental.
• Net income sustains the club and maintains the club asset base.

INTEGRAL BRAND ATTRIBUTES (See Integral Life Practice, Wilber et al, 2008, Boston, MA: Integral, page 301)

Individual Interior

• Comfortable with complexity
• Flexible and adaptive thinking
• Strong desire to learn and grow
• Open to change
• No need for status or displays of power
• Long term vision
• Recognizes complex patterns and interconnections
• Sense if integrity, self-responsibility, and accountability
• Values multiple intelligences

Individual Exterior

• Efficient behaviors
• Acts spontaneously and appropriately
• Adaptive to life conditions
• Balanced decision making
• Follows through on promises
• Pragmatic—does what works
• Obtains information needed for success
• Quickly learns necessary
• Takes advantages of biggest opportunities
• Leverages strengths, manages around weaknesses

Collective Interior

• High trust, low fear culture
• Strategic collaboration
• Clear channels of communication
• Coaching and mentoring practiced
• Open questioning
• Ability to relate to multiple constituencies
• Adapts communication to audience
• Learning organization
• Leaders develop others

Collective Exterior

• Values process efficiency
• Small, flexible work teams
• Adaptive systems
• Appropriate technology
• Sustainable resource consumption
• Recognition of multiple social contexts—legal, political, ecological, economic, etc.
• Success defined by the triple bottom line—profit, people, planet

Birdy remarks, “Wow! That vision is a big bite to swallow. All we need now is a realistic assessment of current reality; and then we can put together yearly goals, objectives, and action plans to move us closer to the vision.” Woody comments, “Well said! I am tired. Let’s go home!”

As the run-up to the November 2020 election unfolds; and as we witness the dark divide becoming wider, deeper, and darker, contrasting the two candidates for President is interesting. It appears the critical decision is to vote for the candidate who can best move us closer to a created VISION-ALTERNATE REALITY for America: See 9-15-2020 BLOG.

How one chooses to “show-up” in the world can be critiqued by researching, examining, and witnessing talents, skills, and experiences; making observations; and scrutinizing character, personality, mentality, and interests. Let us take-a-look at President Donald J. Trump. (Resources list available with email to JohnDeVore@aol.com)

Talents, Skills, and Experiences 

• A track record of business and government failures and absolute chaotic disasters: most consequential president in history; puppet of Vladimir Putin; foreign policy bullying, badgering, and destroying; has abandoned allies; personal business endeavors with several bankruptcies; North Korean nuclear weapons stockpile has doubled; pandemic management and leadership is non-existent-dereliction of duty, passed buck off to governors who became blame targets; enlisted foreign interference in elections (Russia and China); several obstruction of justice charges; numerous lawsuits; impeachment proceedings; accepts payoffs for positions; and has numerous Trump party cronies—Lindsay Graham, Mitch McConnell, Steve Bannon, Roger Stone, Michael Flynn, Michael Cohen, Carter Page, George Papadopoulos, et al—who are lost souls in search of a tribe and chief. No decisions made based on strategy, makes decisions on how he feels at the time; can handle small projects and sign executive orders; not able to lead projects large in scope; selection of judges and environmental deregulations may be legacy; immigration policy is inhumane. As Bernie Sanders has eloquently noted, “Nero fiddled while Rome burned. Trump golfs.”

Observations

Donald J. Trump is a genius at networking and using the media to recruit, retain, and fire, at will, addicted surrogates, circles of friends, admirers, celebrity hangers-on, and wannabes who savor and long for safety and security sought by bonding together and identifying with a tribe in order to persevere and protect against outsiders. Allegiance and admiration are given to the chief and clan. Mystical signs, conspiracy, and desires of powerful spirit beings must be followed for the continued safety and well-being of the tribe. Three years of behaviors reveal the following:

• Does not understand duty, honor, and country.
• A cheat, a liar, a fraud, a bully, a predator, a con man.
• Racist, incendiary, toxic, casts hate, disruptive, name caller, and divisive; unfit for political office.
• Repeatedly has disparaged the intelligence of service members: Americans who die in war are “losers” and “suckers.”
• Tax cuts were a corporate “boondoggle.”
• Vision for country is merely to fix what his administration has undermined, agitated, deconstructed, or destroyed during the last four years. Examples: intelligence, FBI, CIA, U.S. Postal Service, voting integrity, CDC, etc.
• Stokes fear, celebrity, and brand building; and show-photo opportunity is the foundation for his rhetoric.
• Staff selection of addicted surrogates has been a disaster and revolving door; and demands loyalty even if unethical.
• Surrounded by fixers and “yes men;” encourages rivalries and thrives on personal attacks.
• Protected by political party sorted, partisan, power worldview associates of the Federal government institution he and his cronies have chosen to deconstruct and destroy.
• Conspiracist (example QAnon) and guilty of political cowardice, blaming, passing the buck, and dereliction of duty; shirks constitutionally mandated duty and rewards misconduct.
• Sexist, multiple lawsuits, and misconduct.
• Racist: a person who shows or feels discrimination or prejudice against people of other races, or who believes that a particular race is superior to another.
• Dishonest, arrogant, and narcissist; uses position and financial power for personal gain.
• Creates martyr, irrelevance, and distractions; misleads, boasts, is egotistical, blamelessness of self, never wrong, and anxious to criticize.
• People mistakes and poor interpersonal relations skills.
• Lies, denies, blames, and spins; egotistical and self-serving; unqualified for the position and has not grown into the job because he cannot.

Character, Personality, Mentality, and Interests.

• Low-functioning: includes persons who “… do not exhibit polished and polite behaviors as a mask for their manipulations…may lack the education or interpersonal skills to control and deceive. Instead they might use threats, coercion, or intimidation to achieve their desired outcome.” (Source: Dr. Timothy J. Legg, “What Is a High-Functioning Sociopath?”, 5-28-2019, https://www.healthline.com, 1-3.)
• Narcissistic sociopath: one form of antisocial personality disorder and is the result of environmental factors such as a child or teen’s upbringing in a negative household that resulted in physical abuse, emotional abuse, or childhood trauma. (Sources: Mary L. Trump, Too Much and Never Enough, 2020, Simon & Schuster; https://psychcentral.com, Dr. John M. Grohol, “Differences Between a Psychopath vs Sociopath,” 5-20-2020, 1-5; Dr. Tarra Bates-Duford, “Psychopath vs Sociopath: 16 Key Differences,” 9-7-2018, 1-3; https://www.health.com, Rosie McCall, “9 Ways to Spot a Sociopath,” 10-4-2019, 1-7.
• Gangster, corrupt, and behaves as if above the law.
• A stale breath of death, hate, narcissism, chaos, fear, conspiracy, norm erosion, “dark,” institutional deconstruction, and neo-facism.

Partisan politics is a dangerous duel of limited and partial truths; and binds party sorted folks to fixed, literal or otherwise limiting beliefs and frames of minds. Political party sorted, addicted, cultic surrogates make obvious excuses for candidates and excuse the inexcusable with respect to morality, judgment, intent, behavior, actions, ethics and laws. W. Edwards Deming remarked, “If a person is not performing as expected, it is probably because they are miscast for the job.” Michael Cohen offers, “No one ever tells Trump the truth about his behavior and beliefs, or the consequences of his conduct and ignorance and arrogance, in business or in his personal life and now in politics. Trump is the boy in the bubble, impervious to the thoughts and feelings or others, entirely and utterly focused on his own desires and ambitions.” Next BLOG: a peek at Joe Biden.

As the run-up to the November 2020 election unfolds; and as we witness the dark divide becoming wider, deeper, and darker, a merging of the Democratic and Republican convention planks into a common vision—an alternate reality—and contrasting the two candidates for President bears fruit. It appears the critical decision is to select the candidate who can best move us closer to the vision. Let us start with the merged vision; and in subsequent BLOGs, candidate profiles will be offered peeking at talents, skills, and experiences; observations; and character, personality, mentality, and interests.

VISION

Strategies

• Limited government for citizens.
• Fiscal responsibility; economic stability and equity; and long-term financial security.
• Public safety for all Americans, respect for law and order, and no one is above the law.
• Top ten healthcare system, including mental healthcare and long-term care.
• Programs, processes, and coalitions to dismantle systemic racism.
• Business ethical and moral issues: Federal intervention after two written Federal warnings.
• Avoid war with strong military and space forces and dialogue.
• Professional State Department and alliances; and stand up to dictators.
• Helping others: churches, individuals, groups, institutions, and the government.
• Judges: uphold the Constitution and guiding principles; and satisfy evolving cultural needs.
• Marriage or children: citizen’s choices, current need, and level of culture’s evolution.
• Respect for science.

Core Values and Guiding Principles

The Constitution is sacredly obligatory upon all. Our core values are truth to power, honesty, integrity, hope, love, and morality; and we put quality in all we are and all we do. We do not lie, cheat, or steal, nor tolerate those amongst us who do; and we respect law and order. We are committed to “walk the talk,” to action, and to the concept of 100% responsibility. We are objective, not self-serving, and make decisions in the best interests of The United States of America.

Leaders: have a track record of success and are trusted; have a history of compassion, loving-kindness, and building coalitions; understand that great leaders have been good followers and that leadership is an influence relationship that energizes earned power and willingness to achieve mutually defined goals; are master of the self, mind”full”ness, awareness, and integral life practice and model the way as persons, in relationships, socially, institutionally, and by helping others; have high standards with respect to morals, ethics, guiding principles, and core values that are plainly manifested in candidate’s personality, character, mentality, and magnetism; have learned self-restraint and 100% responsibility; are visibly committed to health, wellness, and well-being personally and for all Americans; are well-qualified, listen, inspire hope, have faith, are empathetic, and who know where the country is and what it needs; will be surrounded by exceptionally well-qualified associates; will diligently work to create and maintain a compelling worldview vision and action strategies and plans for the country; and will lead the development of policies and programs to evolve this country for all Americans.

Policies and Programs

• Leadership, management, and control of pandemics through the Centers for Disease Control coupled with state public health entities and active support and interface with the World Health Organization.
• Voting integrity with a viable and well led United States Postal Service.
• An economy for working, middle-class families that is teeming with jobs, union solidarity, small businesses, agriculture programs and processes, essential childcare, corporate sanity, sound trade relationships, and social security system.
• A globally envied education system: facilities, teachers, curriculum, and schools of choice.
• Racial and social justice, diversity, and anti-racism policies and programs that evolve dismantling the conscious and unconscious pillars of racism in the country: prison reform; human dignity and respect, all colors, all genders, all religions-integral spirituality. Civil rights are a must.
• Communities are safe and teeming with peaceful activities, including protests; citizens and police are mutually respected, masters of the Self, and model the way as persons, in relationships, socially, institutionally, and by helping others. Violence on streets is not tolerated and is dealt with sanely.
• Global climate change and environment
• Affordable healthcare and viable public health outreach (integral physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health, wellness, and well-being) coupled with honored per-existing conditions, decreasing drug prices, and necessary integral psychological health processes, including resolution of opioid addiction. Top ten measureable dimensions: history, coverage, financing, payment, delivery of care, prescription drug regulation, human resources, and future challenges. Considerations: consumer friendliness, choices for providers, innovation, generosity of coverage, and equality of care.
• Leading-edge military and space force, visits to military deployment areas, exceptional veteran and veteran spouse-family-children benefits, outreach, integral psychological health, and combat veteran re-entry-transition program.
• Intelligence and technology
• National security and foreign policy with inspired State Department and allies: underwater, space, and military; and coalition building facilitated by trust, respect, and mutual goals.
• An infrastructure re-building program: maintenance, re-building, and evolution.
• Sensible gun laws.
• Immigration reform and sanity.
• Programs for the empowerment, advancement, and placement of women.
• Abortion legislation recognizes women’s rights to choose.
• Tax equity and sanity; and long-term care and financial security programs for seniors.
• Freedom of religion and spiritual path.
• Media are objective, tell the truth, and are respected.

Wow! That is a bunch of stuff to get done. Future BLOGs will begin to explore the candidates for President with a view toward facilitating the selection of the candidate most qualified to get the job done for all Americans.

As the run-up to the November 2020 election unfolds; and as we witness the dark divide becoming wider, deeper, and darker, a merging of the Democratic and Republican convention planks into a common vision—an alternate reality—and contrasting the two candidates for President bears fruit. It appears the critical decision is to select the candidate who can best move us closer to the vision. Let us start with the merged vision; and in subsequent BLOGs, candidate profiles will be offered peeking at talents, skills, and experiences; observations; and character, personality, mentality, and interests.

VISION

Strategies

• Limited government for citizens.
• Fiscal responsibility; economic stability and equity; and long-term financial security.
• Public safety for all Americans, respect for law and order, and no one is above the law.
• Top ten healthcare system, including mental healthcare and long-term care.
• Programs, processes, and coalitions to dismantle systemic racism.
• Business ethical and moral issues: Federal intervention after two written Federal warnings.
• Avoid war with strong military and space forces and dialogue.
• Professional State Department and alliances; and stand up to dictators.
• Helping others: churches, individuals, groups, institutions, and the government.
• Judges: uphold the Constitution and guiding principles; and satisfy evolving cultural needs.
• Marriage or children: citizen’s choices, current need, and level of culture’s evolution.

Core Values and Guiding Principles

The Constitution is sacredly obligatory upon all. Our core values are truth to power, honesty, integrity, hope, love, and morality; and we put quality in all we are and all we do. We do not lie, cheat, or steal, nor tolerate those amongst us who do; and we respect law and order. We are committed to “walk the talk,” to action, and to the concept of 100% responsibility. We are objective, not self-serving, and make decisions in the best interests of The United States of America.

Leaders: have a track record of success and are trusted; have a history of compassion, loving-kindness, and building coalitions; understand that great leaders have been good followers and that leadership is an influence relationship that energizes earned power and willingness to achieve mutually defined goals; are master of the self, mind”full”ness, awareness, and integral life practice and model the way as persons, in relationships, socially, institutionally, and by helping others; have high standards with respect to morals, ethics, guiding principles, and core values that are plainly manifested in candidate’s personality, character, mentality, and magnetism; have learned self-restraint and 100% responsibility; are visibly committed to health, wellness, and well-being personally and for all Americans; are well-qualified, listen, inspire hope, have faith, are empathetic, and who know where the country is and what it needs; will be surrounded by exceptionally well-qualified associates; will diligently work to create and maintain a compelling worldview vision and action strategies and plans for the country; and will lead the development of policies and programs to evolve this country for all Americans.

Policies and Programs

• Leadership, management, and control of pandemics through the Centers for Disease Control coupled with state public health entities and active support and interface with the World Health Organization.
• Voting integrity with a viable and well led United States Postal Service.
• An economy for working, middle-class families that is teeming with jobs, union solidarity, small businesses, agriculture programs and processes, essential childcare, corporate sanity, sound trade relationships, and social security system.
• A globally envied education system: facilities, teachers, curriculum, and schools of choice.
• Racial and social justice, diversity, and anti-racism policies and programs that evolve dismantling the conscious and unconscious pillars of racism in the country: prison reform; human dignity and respect, all colors, all genders, all religions-integral spirituality. Civil rights are a must.
• Communities are safe and teeming with peaceful activities, including protests; citizens and police are mutually respected, masters of the Self, and model the way as persons, in relationships, socially, institutionally, and by helping others. Violence on streets is not tolerated and is dealt with sanely.
• Global climate change and environment
• Affordable healthcare and viable public health outreach (integral physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health, wellness, and well-being) coupled with honored per-existing conditions, decreasing drug prices, and necessary integral psychological health processes, including resolution of opioid addiction. Top ten measureable dimensions: history, coverage, financing, payment, delivery of care, prescription drug regulation, human resources, and future challenges. Considerations: consumer friendliness, choices for providers, innovation, generosity of coverage, and equality of care.
• Leading-edge military and space force, visits to military deployment areas, exceptional veteran and veteran spouse-family-children benefits, outreach, integral psychological health, and combat veteran re-entry-transition program.
• Intelligence and technology
• National security and foreign policy with inspired State Department and allies: underwater, space, and military; and coalition building facilitated by trust, respect, and mutual goals.
• An infrastructure re-building program: maintenance, re-building, and evolution.
• Sensible gun laws.
• Immigration reform and sanity.
• Programs for the empowerment, advancement, and placement of women.
• Abortion legislation recognizes women’s rights to choose.
• Tax equity and sanity; and long-term care and financial security programs for seniors.
• Freedom of religion and spiritual path.
• Media are objective, tell the truth, and are respected.

Wow! That is a bunch of stuff to get done. Future BLOGs will begin to explore the candidates for President with a view toward facilitating the selection of the candidate most qualified to get the job done for all Americans.

A discovery has been that simplicity in golf can be uncovered on the other side of its human created complexity. Could it be as simple as one through eight? Let us take a look.

• Integral life practice: exercise the physical body, the subtle body (felt energies), and the causal body (resting). [Wilber, et al, 2008, Boston, MA: Integral]
  1. Mind”full”ness: learn to work with all three minds (conscious, subconscious, and super-conscious-spiritual-peak performance).
  2. Mindfulness-concentration and awareness meditation: paying attention, in the present moment, nonjudgementally. Offers one-pointed grounding and inspiration for ritual; and visibility of how one chooses to show-up via the personality, character, and mentality.
  3. Nurture self-restraint, a learned skill: the alternative response to two shots in a nearby pond and insanity.
• Pre-shot routines.
• Immaculate set-up: grip, aim, stance, posture, ball position, sense weight balance desired (irons, scoring wedges, pitching wedges: front leg; driver balanced), and turn neck-chin to trailing shoulder. Maintain width of arc.
• Rituals to create personal teepee where, on every shot, the programmed subconscious is trusted: go to the breath; ground-center, elevate: two-three quick, deep breaths; and pull the trigger. Maintain width of arc.

• Takeaway: stable swing center, forward press to target synchronous with connected-whole body (arms, torso, and hips as one unit) and shoulder tilt, coiling against a stable right side with no hip sway away from target; and no hurry to transition point. Goal: optimum length of arc and maintain width of arc through entire swing.
• Forward swing: stable swing center, shoulder tilt straightening right arm and flattening left wrist to square the clubface. Goal: maintain width of arc.
• Solid impact of club with ball:
  1. Head behind ball.
  2. Knees and elbows toward each other.
  3. Right heel off ground.
  4. Right shoulder below left-shoulder tilt 36D, water draining from right ear.
  5. Left leg is resistance.
  6. Left foot on outside edge.
  7. Right knee is bending toward the left knee.
• Have a good coach.

Gosh! Woody Ball, Golf as Guru: Mind”full”ness, Awareness and Self-Restraint, would offer, “Golf is not very simple!!! However, golf can be “bestest” and “funest” ever.” And the patient’s patient search for simple continues. And then, Birdy Ball exclaims, “John, you forgot all the technical junk, the logistical factors, ball flight laws, swing principles, and green reading. And most important of all, the 19^th tee.”

As the run-up to the November 2020 election unfolds; and as we witness the dark divide becoming wider, deeper, and darker, a merging of the Democratic and Republican convention planks into a common vision—an alternate reality—and contrasting the two candidates for President bears fruit. It appears the critical decision is to select the candidate who can best move us closer to the vision. Let us start with the merged vision; and in subsequent BLOGs, candidate profiles will be offered peeking at talents, skills, and experiences; observations; and character, personality, mentality, and interests.

VISION

Strategies

• Limited government for citizens.
• Fiscal responsibility; economic stability and equity; and long-term financial security.
• Public safety for all Americans, respect for law and order, and no one is above the law.
• Top ten healthcare system, including mental healthcare and long-term care.
• Programs to dismantle systemic racism.
• Business ethical issues: Federal intervention after two written Federal warnings.
• Avoid war with strong military and space forces.
• Professional State Department and alliances; and stand up to dictators.
• Helping others: Churches, individuals, groups, and the government.
• Judges: uphold the Constitution and guiding principles; and satisfy evolving cultural needs.
• Marriage or children: Citizen’s choices, current need, and level of culture’s evolution.

Core Values and Guiding Principles

The Constitution is sacredly obligatory upon all. Our core values are truth to power, honesty, integrity, hope, love, and morality; and we put quality in all we are and all we do. We do not lie, cheat, or steal, nor tolerate those amongst us who do; and we respect law and order. We are committed to “walk the talk,” to action, and to the concept of 100% responsibility. We are objective, not self-serving, and make decisions in the best interests of The United States of America.

Leaders

Have a track record of success and are trusted; have a history of compassion, loving-kindness, and building coalitions; understand that great leaders have been good followers and that leadership is an influence relationship that energizes earned power and willingness to achieve mutually defined goals; are master of the self, mind”full”ness, awareness, and integral life practice and model the way as persons, in relationships, socially, institutionally, and by helping others; have high standards with respect to morals, ethics, guiding principles, and core values that are plainly manifested in candidate’s personality, character, mentality, and magnetism; have learned self-restraint and 100% responsibility; are visibly committed to health, wellness, and well-being personally and for all Americans; are well-qualified, listen, inspire hope, have faith, are empathetic, and who know where the country is and what it needs; will be surrounded by exceptionally well-qualified associates; will diligently work to create and maintain a compelling worldview vision and action strategies and plans for the country; and will lead the development of policies and programs to evolve this country for all Americans.

Policies and Programs

• Leadership, management, and control of pandemics through the Centers for Disease Control coupled with state public health entities and active support and interface with the World Health Organization.
• Voting integrity with a viable and well led United States Postal Service.
• An economy for working, middle-class families that is teeming with jobs, union solidarity, small businesses, agriculture programs and processes, essential childcare, corporate sanity, sound trade relationships, and social security system.
• A globally envied education system: facilities, teachers, curriculum, and schools of choice.
• Racial and social justice, diversity, and anti-racism policies and programs that evolve dismantling the conscious and unconscious pillars of racism in the country: prison reform; human dignity and respect, all colors, all genders, all religions-integral spirituality. Civil rights are a must.
• Communities are safe and teeming with peaceful activities, including protests; citizens and police are mutually respected, masters of the Self, and model the way as persons, in relationships, socially, institutionally, and by helping others. Violence on streets is not tolerated and is dealt with sanely.
• Global climate change and environment
• Affordable healthcare and viable public health outreach (integral physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health, wellness, and well-being) coupled with honored per-existing conditions, decreasing drug prices, and necessary integral psychological health processes, including resolution of opioid addiction. Top ten measureable dimensions: history, coverage, financing, payment, delivery of care, prescription drug regulation, human resources, and future challenges. Considerations: consumer friendliness, choices for providers, innovation, generosity of coverage, and equality of care.
• Leading-edge military and space force, visits to military deployment areas, exceptional veteran and veteran spouse-family-children benefits, outreach, integral psychological health, and combat veteran re-entry-transition program.
• Intelligence and technology
• National security and foreign policy with inspired State Department and allies: underwater, space, and military; and coalition building facilitated by trust, respect, and mutual goals.
• An infrastructure re-building program: maintenance, re-building, and evolution.
• Sensible gun laws.
• Immigration reform and sanity.
• Programs for the empowerment, advancement, and placement of women.
• Abortion legislation recognizes women’s rights to choose.
• Tax equity and sanity; and long-term care and financial security programs for seniors.
• Freedom of religion and spiritual path.
• Media are objective, tell the truth, and are respected.

Wow! That is a bunch of stuff to get done. Next week we will begin to explore the candidates for President with a view toward facilitating the selection of the candidate most qualified to get the job done for all Americans.

Slow play is a challenge and an opportunity in golf. A slow player can ruin the day for players behind him-her; and in the interest of other golfers, players need to make a commitment to play at a reasonable pace. As an added variable in the pace-of-play equation, the number one revenue producer on golf courses is greens fees. Course management has an obligation to their respective boards or management teams to fill as many tee times with foursomes as are available. From this perspective, pace-of-play becomes a total team effort between golfers and course management. Some pace-of-play concepts to learn and practice are as follows:

PLAY “READY GOLF”

• When ready to make a shot, and it is safe, shoot.

COURTESY

• Watch the shots of playing partners to facilitate locating golf balls for next shots.

ON THE TEE

1. To facilitate ball identification, let other players know the name of the ball and the ball’s markings you are playing.
2. Be ready to play when the fairway or green is clear.
3. Choose the set of tees that fits your game.
4. Shorter hitters should hit first.
5. Carry an extra ball in your pocket.
6. If it appears that your original ball may be difficult to find, it is a good idea to play a provisional ball.

IN THE FAIRWAY-ROUGH

1. Hit when ready and safe.
2. Drop your cart partner off for their shot and drive to yours.
3. If another player is walking to their ball and you are ahead of them, make your shot.
4. Take multiple clubs to your ball and hit without delay.
5. Before reaching the green and having double par, pick up, place ball on the green and putt to hole out.

ON-THE-GREEN

1. Before going to the green with your putter, golf cars, pull carts and golf clubs need to be parked or placed between the green on which you are going to putt and the next teeing ground.
2. First person on the green is in charge of tending the flag and watching for and retrieving clubs left on the green when leaving the green. When putting is complete, be ready to pick up and replace the flag. To prevent lost golf clubs, a good practice is to place the short game clubs you have used on the green between the flag and your golf car, golf cart or golf bag.
3. Study and line up your putt while others are putting.
4. When practical, continue putting until holed out.
5. If a partner has a sand shot, be prepared to help with raking.
6. Leave the green immediately after holing out and proceed to the next tee.
7. Bag your clubs and complete your scorecard at the next teeing ground.

ON PAR 3 GREENS

• Upon reaching the green, if the group behind you is waiting on the tee to hit, stand in a safe area and have the group hit.

WATER BALLS

• If your ball goes into a water hazard and is accessible, take the time to retrieve only your ball.

LOST BALL

• Limit search for lost balls to three minutes. If pressed for time and the next hole is open, wave the group behind through.

Be your own best pace-of-play coach by identifying the ways you can pick up the pace-of-play. Rules of Golf, Rule 5.6b, tells us, “When it is the player’s turn to play:

• It is recommended that the player make the stroke in no more than 40 seconds after he or she is (or should be) able to play without interference or distraction, and
• The player should usually be able to play more quickly than that and is encouraged to do so.”

As P.G. Wodehouse offers, “To find a man’s true character (personality, mentality and magnetism), play golf with him.”

Go to www.usga.com to learn about USGA pace-of-play programs, insights and suggestions.

Slow play is a challenge and an opportunity in golf. A slow player can ruin the day for players behind him-her; and in the interest of other golfers, players need to make a commitment to play at a reasonable pace. As an added variable in the pace-of-play equation, the number one revenue producer on golf courses is greens fees. Course management has an obligation to their respective boards or management teams to fill as many tee times with foursomes as are available. From this perspective, pace-of-play becomes a total team effort between golfers and course management. Some pace-of-play concepts to learn and practice are as follows:

PLAY “READY GOLF”

• When ready to make a shot, and it is safe, shoot.

COURTESY

• Watch the shots of playing partners to facilitate locating golf balls for next shots.

ON THE TEE

1. To facilitate ball identification, let other players know the name of the ball and the ball’s markings you are playing.
2. Be ready to play when the fairway or green is clear.
3. Choose the set of tees that fits your game.
4. Shorter hitters should hit first.
5. Carry an extra ball in your pocket.
6. If it appears that your original ball may be difficult to find, it is a good idea to play a provisional ball.

IN THE FAIRWAY-ROUGH

1. Hit when ready and safe.
2. Drop your cart partner off for their shot and drive to yours.
3. If another player is walking to their ball and you are ahead of them, make your shot.
4. Take multiple clubs to your ball and hit without delay.
5. Before reaching the green and having double par, pick up, place ball on the green and putt to hole out.

ON-THE-GREEN

1. Before going to the green with your putter, golf cars, pull carts and golf clubs need to be parked or placed between the green on which you are going to putt and the next teeing ground.
2. First person on the green is in charge of tending the flag and watching for and retrieving clubs left on the green when leaving the green. When putting is complete, be ready to pick up and replace the flag. To prevent lost golf clubs, a good practice is to place the short game clubs you have used on the green between the flag and your golf car, golf cart or golf bag.
3. Study and line up your putt while others are putting.
4. When practical, continue putting until holed out.
5. If a partner has a sand shot, be prepared to help with raking.
6. Leave the green immediately after holing out and proceed to the next tee.
7. Bag your clubs and complete your scorecard at the next teeing ground.

ON PAR 3 GREENS

• Upon reaching the green, if the group behind you is waiting on the tee to hit, stand in a safe area and have the group hit.

WATER BALLS

• If your ball goes into a water hazard and is accessible, take the time to retrieve only your ball.

LOST BALL

• Limit search for lost balls to three minutes. If pressed for time and the next hole is open, wave the group behind through.

Be your own best pace-of-play coach by identifying the ways you can pick up the pace-of-play. Rules of Golf, Rule 5.6b, tells us, “When it is the player’s turn to play:

• It is recommended that the player make the stroke in no more than 40 seconds after he or she is (or should be) able to play without interference or distraction, and
• The player should usually be able to play more quickly than that and is encouraged to do so.”

As P.G. Wodehouse offers, “To find a man’s true character (personality, mentality and magnetism), play golf with him.”

Go to www.usga.com to learn about USGA pace-of-play programs, insights and suggestions.

Overwhelming is the evidence that perception management campaigns have been unleashed to dismantle international democracies and associated governmental institutions. The headlines offer a peek at some of the strategies: directed mass and social media efforts to discredit and dismantle; deliberate, vindictive attacks of mass media; election interference; politically inspired chaos, violence, distractions and divisiveness; loss of truth to power; deception, fake news and lies; emergence of fringe political organizations; and undermining international coalitions. An analytical glance establishes the least common denominator to be nothing more than a manifestation of our individual and collective human condition. Consequently, we need to have leaders who are students of the human condition and leadership and who have a track record of leadership successes with measureable accountabilities.

LEADERSHIP: Leadership is an earned, trust based, influence relationship between the respective leader, other leaders and followers who intend ethical changes that mirror common purpose. Good leaders are humble and simple; and have tasted freedom, authentic joy and wholeness, yet have experienced that the human condition demands growing awareness and personal development coupled with a felt need to help others. Some key accountabilities for leaders are as follows:

• ETHICS, MORALS, VALUES and PRINCIPLES: The art of being a good person, practicing goodness in everyday life, making good moral judgments; and it includes all ways of being truthful, authentic, caring and courageous that constitutes integrity: coupling intentions, promises and commitments with actions and behavior. Ethical persons “walk the talk” and model the way as persons; in relationships; and when skillfully helping and supporting others. Good leaders provide clarity about institutional values and beliefs and behave consistently with these values and beliefs.
• Values: Trust and trusted; integrity; direct; open; honest; caring; compassionate; moral; joy; hope; peace-of-mind
• Principles: Does not lie, cheat or steal, nor tolerate those who do. Objective, not self-serving and acts in the best interests of the people and organization being served. Committed to the concept of 100% responsibility: life happens because of me and not to me. Does not blame others, learns from one’s own experiences in an intentional and self-directed manner and applies that learning to new challenges. Sets a good example for physical health, emotional balance, mental clarity, spiritual awakening, ethical behavior and integration of hidden, denied and repressed reflections manifested in the world.
• STRATEGIC VISION: Creates and communicates vision, strategies and direction for the organization and persons led. Articulates a worldview for the Nation and the globe.
• MISSION-PURPOSE-RESULTS DRIVEN: Peace-of-mind with purpose and connections built on a foundation of compassion. Has a bias for action, for trying new things and for getting things done. Aggressively pursues objectives and sets high standards for self and others. Takes calculated risks and makes personal sacrifices in order to get things done.
• FINANCIAL SAVY: Plans, communicates, monitors and controls, establishes risks, solves problems and makes sound decisions concerning economic and financial performance.
• STAFFING and STAFF DEVELOPMENT: Attracts and selects people with innate talents and learned skills. Assesses the short and long-term needs of the institution and develops plans to improve the overall structure and talent and skills strength of the institution.
• QUALITY RELATIONSHIPS and INFLUENCE: Develops, uses and sustains strong, cooperative relationships with persons. Uses effective listening and interpersonal skills to achieve mutual trust and respect. Accomplishes tasks and objectives by resolving conflicts and influencing the actions of others. Is seen as a change agent; and makes a difference when involved.
• COMMUNICATIONS and TECHNOLOGY MASTER: Simply keeps persons informed and creates communication forums and diverse coalitions to give and receive information and ethically manage perceptions. The spectrum of communication expertise: intrapersonal, interpersonal, person-to-persons, mass media, social media and associated technologies that exploit communication needs and strategies.
• BUSINESS and POLITICAL SAVY: Has a worldview perspective, is aware and understands the implications of changes in the globe. Has “street smarts,” sizes-up situations quickly, is practical, knows the right things to do and when to do them.
• TEAM LEADERSHIP: Achieves results by motivating and inspiring a winning team. Builds commitment to common goals by communicating a sense of mission and by energizing the team. Creates an environment where differences are valued, where systems work equally well for all and wherein persons can retain their uniqueness and contribute at their full potential.
• EXECUTIVE MATURITY: Acts appropriately in business, social and political situations. Displays control in complex, ambiguous or stressful situations. Identifies with persons, shares their values and beliefs and is comfortable with them. Works toward mutually carved-out, worldview goals.
• HUMAN NEEDS SATISFACTION: Is “in-tune” with mental and emotional needs of others, cares about people and puts action plans in-place to create an environment to improve the quality of life and personal productivity that is beneficial for persons. Links recognition to accomplishment and shows appreciation and expresses pride in the team’s accomplishments.
• HANDLING COMPLEXITY: Analyzes and solves complex problems. Deals effectively with large amounts of data, changing conditions, incomplete data or uncertainty. Understands how seemingly unrelated issues interact and affect one another. Gets to the essence of complex issues quickly, generates a variety of alternative courses of action and makes effective decisions.
• IDEA LEADERSHIP: Implements breakthrough and innovative ideas, programs and processes that make a genuine difference.

Individuals matter, leaders matter and leadership matters. If democracy is to prevail, we must select good leaders and hold them accountable for high quality leadership!! The evolution imperative of wholeness and inspired, growing awareness of the human condition, coupled with helping others, can change the daily headlines from an underlying sense of fear and domination to love and freedom. Yes! Leaders can be selected and held accountable to create a vibrant civil society where people continue to be free, to live as they choose, to speak their minds, to organize peacefully and to have a say in how they are governed.

Meditation can accelerate and nurture the development of some of the inner-mental skill necessities for transcendent-zone experiences in golf. A brief story…

In 2001, sparked by a stagnant bowling average, a trek to learn to meditate was launched at Naropa University. As relevant literature had revealed, a desired result was to begin to experience the connection between the body and the mind through the breath. By early 2004, the bowling passion had expired and as a three-year Tibetan Buddhist trained, novice meditation practitioner, the search was expanded to discover a connection between meditation and golf. At the time golf had been a part of my life for 60-plus years; and son, Doug, and wife, Cindy, wanted to learn to play golf. I was up for the challenge and opportunity; and was to discover that the game of golf could be a genuine classroom of self-awareness for a willing and open student.

The treasure hunt produced gold in 2017, and although the journey to understand and experience the meditation-golf link continues to blossom, the connection is quite simple. Meditation can quicken the process of learning:

• to quiet the mind;
• to focus attention;
• to expand awareness;
• to visualize and create multi-dimensional images;
• to increase the likelihood for zone-peak-paranormal-mystical experience to emerge;
• to heighten concentration;
• to deepen center for a more effective level of physical and mental functioning;
• to facilitate harmony with surroundings;
• to enable relaxation;
• to create, at will, a peaceful state of nothingness-quiet obliviousness-offering increased confidence and insight;
• et al.

If you are up for the challenge and opportunity, recommend that a first step be to find a meditation coach who understands your purpose and individual uniqueness with respect to contemplative practice; and with whom you have good chemistry. In future blogs, the intent is to discuss the above mentioned experiences with respect to golf.

It was February 1973. The new boss and I were walking in the Coors Container Company aluminum can manufacturing plant. As this good Army soldier had been instructed when walking with a superior, I was walking one step to the left and one step to the rear. Above the noise in the can plant, the boss adamantly motioned with his left hand and arm and beckoned, “Come-up here and walk beside me; and next week start a program to manage your stress!” This relaxation journey, intended to quiet the busy, perfectionist mind, remains a work-in-progress! The purpose of this blog is to share a recent “ah-ha” moment about this golfer’s pursuit of tools to manage the distraction and interference of the “inner roommate” on and off the golf course.

As a self-proclaimed student of the genius of Fred Shoemaker’s work (Extraordinary Golf: The Art of the Possible and Extraordinary Putting: Transforming the Whole Game), a cherished comment he makes, “If the point of golf is only about being good at golf, then much of the value that the game can provide gets missed.” (Extraordinary Putting, 37). Perhaps his “dose of therapy” will shed some light on why I forgot my pants.

Shoemaker offers a really nice formula for distraction, or interference: SELF + INTERFERENCE =

DIFFERENCE (Extraordinary Putting, 44). Having experienced that playing golf offers oodles of distraction, chaos and messages, recent efforts have been to “think” in the THINK BOX (Nilsson & Marriot, Every Shot Must Have a Purpose, 28-32) and “play” in the PLAY BOX (Ibid), with particular intent in the PLAY BOX to set up, go to the breath to quiet the mind, connect with the target, focus on the ball and on an out-breath “pull the trigger.” This has been a tough assignment because mental distraction-interference has consistently invaded my PLAY BOX; and seventy years of playing this fantastic game is offering that continued practice will reduce the distracting, “inner roommate,” swing thought chatter.

How does the “DIFFERENCE” show up? It manifests as thoughts, behavior and speech. The best witness when John’s “DIFFERENCE” is present is my wife. She comments, “Not a fun partner, judgmental, stressed, impatient, intolerant, Grumpy Old Cat…” And there is more! Shoemaker remarks, “Just two shots from insanity.”

Yes, I did forget my pants. It was a cold, 10 degree, December day in Colorado. My wife, our son, his wife and their kids were climbing into the car for a short ride to the bus stop for travel to the Christmas Parade of Lights in Denver. Before getting into the car, the temperature offered that long underwear would really feel warm and cozy during the Parade. I returned to the house, slipped the pants off, pulled-on the long underwear and returned to the car, discovering that my pants were missing. Interference had invaded and grandpa offered everyone a great big laugh…Ho, Ho, Ho. Yes, golf has a great deal more to offer than tips and the score: “A future where golfers experience that hitting a piece of rubber with a stick in a big park has added great richness to human life.” (Extraordinary Putting, 171) If allowed to invade, interference can certainly ruin an intended beautiful golf shot, lead to forgotten pants and provide good laughs for family. Life and golf are real gifts!

For several years, the plethora of literature about the damaging effects of statins on the human cellular system has generated a lingering desire to abandon what today is 30 plus years taking prescribed statin drugs…Mevacor, Zocor, Crestor and Lipitor…for control of inherited high cholesterol. Just yesterday, it felt really good to deliver a “statins be-gone” game plan to a personal physician. For the first time in 30 years I am looking forward to feeling what normal really feels like!

Dr. Berry,
During the visit on January 8, 2016 to discuss blood analysis, my desire is to have a discussion about three items: 1) LDL-C goals; 2) three diets [low-fat; low-carb; and balanced carb-fat-protein]; and 3) natural alternatives to statins. My primary resource has been: Natural Alternatives to Lipitor, Zocor & Other Statin Drugs (2006), Jay S. Cohen, MD, Square One Publishers.
Request that my January 2016 blood analysis order include, however, not be limited to:
-Cholesterol levels
-C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
-Triglyceride
-Homocysteine
LDL-C GOALS
-Step 1: less than 130
-Step 2: less than 100
9-11-15 Blood Profile
-Cholesterol 229
-Triglyceride 112
-Cholesterol/HDL Ratio 4.2
-HDL Cholesterol 55
-Non-HDL Cholesterol 174
-LDL Cholesterol 152
-CRP Unknown
-Homocysteine Unknown
ONE YEAR GAME PLAN
9-19-15: Started 40 mg atorvastatin (Lipitor)
10-31-15: To 20 mg atorvastatin (negative side effects: depression, low energy level, joint pain,
muscle pain, vertigo)
11-17-15: Started per day CoQ10 (200 mg); calcium citrate (630 mg); selenium (200 mcg);
magnesium malate (425 mg); malic acid (2.5 gm)
11-21-15: To 10 mg atorvastatin (negative side effects: same as noted above)
December 2015: Started Red Yeast Rice Plus CoQ10, Garlic, Grape Seed, Milk Thistle (2x per day: 600
mg, 30 mg, 50 mg, 50 mg, 30 mg)

January 2016
•Blood analysis and discussion
•Start low-fat diet
May 2016
•Blood analysis and discussion
•Start low-carb diet
September 2016
•Blood analysis and discussion
•Start balanced carb-protein-fat diet
January 2017
•Blood analysis, discussion and next steps
John DeVore

As discussed in Golfer’s Palette: Preparing for Peak Performance, Chapter 3: Body-Mind Mastery, the profit-driven agenda of the healthcare institution is to treat healthcare “effects” with a drugs, repair, replacement or removal strategy. However, our mutual challenge is to accept 100% responsibility for the care and maintenance of personal cellular health and wellness. To that end, it is imperative to not blindly take prescribed drugs until available options have been discussed and explored. In the case of my inherited, high cholesterol, I am not a moderately high risk or high risk cardiac patient…good lifestyle habits, non-smoker and plenty of exercise…and my objectives are to explore three different diets and natural alternatives to statin drugs and their associated impact on my blood analysis. It will then be necessary to decide whether a stain drug is still necessary. It is exciting to look forward to what “normal” will feel like!! Will keep you posted!

RESOURCES
Cohen, J.S., MD (2006). Natural Alternatives to Lipitor, Zocor & Other Statin Drugs, New York, NY: Square One Publishers.
DeVore, J. (2015). Golfer’s Palette: Preparing for Peak Performance. Bloomington, Indiana: Xlibris.
Lipton, B. (2008). The Biology of Belief. New York, NY: Hay House.
Yoseph, H. & Yoseph, J. (2012). How Statin Drugs Really Lower Cholesterol and Kill You One Cell at a Time. jandhyoseph@yahoo.com.
Yoseph, H. & Yoseph, J. (2012). Poisoned: Recovery from Statin “Side Effects.” jandhyoseph@yahoo.com.

Increased awareness, understanding and commitment to the skill of creative visualization have inspired anxiousness to move the new learning to the course. The purpose of this blog is to share some of the learning and practicing experiences with a view toward keeping you posted about results on the field of friendly strife.
What is creative visualization? Visualization, or imagery, is experiencing performance in the mind and is the equivalent of playing movies in your head. As Macy & Wilding-White suggest, this video needs to be vivid, controllable and positive; and it requires engaging the senses to really see, hear, smell, feel and taste the experience. With learning and practice, this mental rehearsal skill has the potential to increase confidence, sharpen concentration, control nerves and strengthen motivation. This technique of using the imagination to create what you want and to create a clear image, idea or feeling of something you wish to manifest can be quite inspiring. As Bubba Watson remarks, “My golf game is all about imagination turned into something real.”
Jack Nicklaus offers in Golf My Way that the number one goal in golf is impact and that “It helps to know where—and how—you want to go before you start going there.” Following Jack’s advice, here is a snapshot of the game plan for a course-ready pre-shot routine and thundering impact scenario that has evolved from the recent study, learning and practice.
PRE-SHOT ROUTINE: standing behind the ball for a final programming of the subconscious before a shot or putt.
The mission is to unleash the artist to create thundering impact of the club face and ball.
Estimate of the shot conditions
•Lie and lie conditions
•Distance
•Conditions of landing area
•Wind
•Pin location
•Danger and penalty possibilities
•Risk and reward percentages
•Type of shot
•Club selection
Be the ball and go from where the ball is to its final resting point (Option: create movie watching the ball)
•Take moment…
-Breathe deep, center, quiet the mind, embrace the beauty of nature and be grateful for playing friends
•Feel impact reaction and hear sound
•Watch launch action
•Follow flight pattern and trajectory
•See landing bounce and roll characteristics
•Pin point final resting point of ball
Be the golfer with a club who makes the perfect swing to create the imagined shot: see the required shot in motion (Option: create movie watching the golfer)
•Set-up: grip is not too tight, not too loose; aim: club face is perpendicular to ball-target line; align body…feet, hips, shoulders; stance: feet comfortable distance apart and provide stability for club being used; posture: proper spine angle; stable right side to support full shoulder turn and shoulder tilt; ball position correct for club being used.
•Take-away
•Complete back swing: good shoulder turn and tilt; left shoulder to chin; club parallel to ball-target line
•Fluid, smooth transition; as back swing is finishing, hips begin transition for forward swing
•Effective release of hands, wrists, forearms and upper arms
•Orgasmic impact
•Finish follow-through: right heel shows
•Practice swing though grass similar to current shot conditions
•Feel whether practice swing will deliver required shot: complete finish and hold finish
•Possible swing thoughts (one maximum, if necessary): stable swing center, stable right-side and lower body; maintain spine angle; feel full-turn of upper body against lower body: good shoulder turn and tilt
Putting specifics for imagination
Touch (What is required to happen: distance and direction)
•Length of putt
•Speed of green’s surface
•Roll: uphill, downhill, flat, combination
•Size of swing (power required)
Feel (How to deliver what is required: stroke)
•Practice swing for desired result
•Feeling of swing
•How far for this swing
•How perfect is this swing
ACTION
Set up, go to the breath, quiet the mind, release felt tension, dance to feel balance and feel rhythm, focus on point of contact of ball with square club face and PULL the TRIGGER to UNLEASH the ARTIST.

Will keep you posted about progress!

Resources
Jack Nicklaus (2005). Golf My Way. New York: NY: Simon & Schuster.
Lynn Marriott & Pia Nilsson (2005). Every Shot Must Have a Purpose. New York, NY: Gotham.
Shakti Gawain (2002). Creative Visualization. Novato, CA: New World Library.
Golf Rules Illustrated (2011). United States Golf Association. Hamlyn.
Erin Macy & Tiffany Wilding-White (2009). Golfing with Your Eyes Closed: Mastering Visualization Techniques for Exceptional Golf. New York: NY: McGraw Hill.
Dave Pelz (2000). Putting Bible: The Complete guide to Mastering the Green. New York, NY: Doubleday.
Dave Pelz (1999). Short Game Bible: Master the Finesse Swing and Lower Your Scores. New York: NY: Aurum.

JOHN EDWIN DEVORE

We can unleash the artist within!

“Upon the fields of friendly strife are sown the seeds that upon other fields, on other days, will bear the fruits of victory.”
– General Douglas MacArthur, in the context of Army Black Knights football.

 “Life is the dancer, and you are the dance.”
– Eckart Tolle

 “To play a wrong note is insignificant. To play without passion is inexcusable.”
-Ludwig Van Beethoven

 “When we are able to deliberately quiet the mind of words and beliefs; and when we are free of words and beliefs, we transition beyond the insatiable ego, reveal the artist within, and experience joy through peace of mind and perfect oneness.”
-John Edwin DeVore

 “We cannot teach people anything; we can only help them discover it within themselves.”
-Galileo Galilei

“You can’t calm the storm, so stop trying. What you can do is calm yourself. The storm will pass.”
-Timber Hawkeye