Got Endorphins?

I’ve been thinking about this for the past week. Last weekend I had some fairly strenuous exercise. Now, don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t running a 20K or playing basketball all afternoon. I’m referring to the 6 mile hike Sandi and I took, followed by cutting and loading a pickup load of wood by myself. Yes, I worked up a sweat. Yes, I was tired. But the odd thing was that I haven’t felt that invigorated in a long time. No legal or illegal drugs, no alcohol. Maybe it was a sense of dementia setting in; after all, I did go skinny-dipping on the way home too.

No, I think it was the endorphin production that my body was experiencing. Now, I’ve heard peripherally about endorphins, but don’t know a whole lot about the subject. I can look back and see where I have experienced feelings of euphoria and yet calmness. Whenever I go for a hike in the woods, it is for the most part, as Sandi would term it, “like the Bataan Death March.” Which I must disagree too, but I do enjoy just going, and do push myself, but it’s all in the name of enjoyment. And, to a degree that I don’t understand, almost a crazed addiction. I crave that feeling. I want to see, to experience, to be part of the natural world. Getting out in the woods affords me an opportunity to a small degree, the ability to “scratch that itch.”
The release of endorphins lowers the blood pressure, a major indicator in heart disease, and has even been implicated in the fight against cancer. Also, endorphins are best known to those who exercise a lot, and give rise to what is known as the 'runner's high.’ The release of endorphins also has been found to lower blood pressure, a major cause of heart disease. Evidently, they’re released whenever there is a certain amount of pain involved. Maybe though that is the key; to encourage the release of endorphins while staying just outside of the pain or injury range. Whenever I lift weights I have this same good feeling, because whenever I’m done, I feel great. Weightlifting’s purpose is to microscopically tear muscle tissue to grow back as increased muscle mass.
I found that Endorphins are a class of neurotransmitters produced by the body and used internally as a pain killer. This class of compounds are similar in their action as opiates, attaching to some of the same receptors in the brain. Now, I haven’t taken opium, but I have to believe that there are similar reactions to endorphins and opium. They are a strong analgesic, and thus are the bodies own built in pain-killer, and, the best thing, give a pervasive sense of happiness.
I guess the good news is that while I can’t experience a sense of euphoria from exercise all the time, chilies can also release these compounds without too much strain or stress on the bod. I know, I know, too much thinking.

Reflecting is great.

As a teacher there are always meetings that teachers have to go to as Continuing Education and / or training for specific programs that will so be implemented. Today I had to attend training for a Mentor Teacher position where I will be giving support for a new Beginning Teacher at Joe Hamilton.

The trainer asked an interesting question that made me stop and think for a minute. We were talking about if we can remember a situation in which we were to have been observed by a principal early in our teaching career, because the trainer wanted us to recall the fear and anticipation of the observation process. Typically, the principals observe teachers to watch their effectiveness in the classroom to see if they will be hired back the following year, and, yes, you can imagine the nervousness that this process brings about.

Generally what happens is that at the meeting after the observation there is a one-on-one meeting with the principal and they try to couch the bad things they see with a few positive comments. At the end of the meeting the only thing I wanted to ask the principal after his review, was, “Do you know if that job at McDonalds is still available?” The entire process is meant for the teacher to be reflective in their teaching, but all too often you don’t really walk away with a lot of confidence, because it seems like we always remember all the negative things and not the positive things.

When the trainer asked us if we remembered anything good about the process, no hands went up, which told me that quite a few people had a bad experience. I immediately raised my hand with my response. Everyone was surprised that something good came of my meeting and not theirs.

“Yes, mine was great. It was canceled.”

A fleeting experience

Pictures, memories, imagery of anything is never as good for me as the real thing. That is why I must always remind myself to 'carpe diem.'
Last night was a prime example. The pictures do not do the experience justice. I always love it when I'm able to just be there, and many times I don't realize how special it was until the experience is over. I find that I love to out on the water paddling the kayak. There is such a sense of peace, power, and my sense of 'smallness' in the universe. For now, for me, 'carpe weekend.'

Last day of freedom...

The last day before school.