Category Archives: Life

Speak Life

I had an epiphany the other day. What if everything we said today became true? That’s pretty daunting. How about everything we have every said and will ever say for the rest of our lives?

There are many Scriptural passages about resisting the urge to speak evil, and instead, speaking life. We need to speak life. We can lift people up with our words, or we can tear them down. What will you choose?

What is the Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything?

The other day, I was talking with one of my friends when his Mom called him. But before he left me to my mental solitude, he asked me a deep question which I wasn’t really prepared to answer: “What is the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything.” I was like, “Whoa…” (but I didn’t tell him that, lol).

In this post I will touch on the history of this question, offer my opinions on it, and leave you to decide your answer.

Before you continue, please take a brief moment to reflect and consider what you currently believe to be the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything.

So from where did this deep question originate?

Douglas Noel Adams wrote the science fiction novel, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, and published it on October 12, 1979. It was very popular and sold 250, 000 copies in the first three months.1 It was in the book that the famous question was introduced. Here is how Wikipedia says that the question is introduced:

“In…the first novel, a group of hyper-intelligent pan-dimensional beings demand to learn the Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, The Universe, and Everything from the supercomputer Deep Thought, specially built for this purpose. It takes Deep Thought ​7 12 million years to compute and check the answer, which turns out to be 42. Deep Thought points out that the answer seems meaningless because the beings who instructed it never knew what the question was.”

Here is what the book adds to the question:

“There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another theory mentioned, which states that this has already happened.”

Thus, the question and the answer may never be known together. You may have the answer, or you may have the question. If you discover them both, then the universe disappears.

Here is something crazy to consider: If people find the answer, then all that is involved and contained in the question (life, the universe, and everything) disappears. This would indicate that the answer to the question might, in fact, be the question itself. 🤨

I find this interesting because it makes no sense. 42 makes no sense and there is a reason it makes no sense. People have tried to theorize on why the number 42 was chosen…and theorize they have! People have come up with the craziest of explanations. Here is one of them:

“…When using base 13; 613 × 913 is actually 4213 (as (4 × 13) + 2 = 54, i.e. 54 in decimal is equal to 42 expressed in base-13).”2

This “answer” is almost as shocking as the unexpected question! Just for the record, the author admits to having randomly picked the number. It holds no significance.

To get really picky, “everything” includes life and the universe. Thus, the question is rather redundant and could instead be phrased, “What is the answer to everything” which just intensifies the ridiculousness of the question.

Finally, the so called “question” makes no sense because the “question” is not even technically a question! It is like saying, “What is the answer to your bed?” and then expecting people to be able to find an answer to a question that doesn’t exist.

So what is the answer to the “Ultimate question of life, the Universe, and Everything?” You could argue that the answer is 42, the question itself, or even nothing. But what if one was to slightly rephrase the question so that it said, “What is the purpose of life, the universe and everything?” Now you open a whole new kettle of fish.

My friend said that the answer to this question was choice. What choice? He didn’t mention. But to each of us the answer to this question will differ.

In the New England Primer, there are catechism questions; one of which is, “What is the chief end of man?” I memorized this question and its answer in my early childhood. The answer: “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” To me, this is the purpose of life, the universe, and everything.

Sources:

  1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hitchhiker%27s_Guide_to_the_Galaxy_(novel)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phrases_from_The_Hitchhiker%27s_Guide_to_the_Galaxy

Core Workout: Intense 9 minute Equipment Free Routine — FitnessIQ

If you are looking to train your core, you are in for some good news. There are hundreds of exercises to choose from and many require no equipment. Training your core is important because it helps improve your balance and stability. Additionally, having a well developed core will reduce your risk of injuries. Finally, developing…

Core Workout: Intense 9 minute Equipment Free Routine — FitnessIQ

Chloe Ting Workout Update (2 Week Shred)

So for those of you have read my last post on my new workout routine, I was recently informed that the video listed in that post was part of a group/series of exercises/workout videos for the challenge.

Those of you who complained about how easy it was, you will be relieved to know that there is more you can benefit from.

But, on the other side, there are those who are having trouble with this exercise; but that’s okay. Go at your own pace and…

REST!

So at this link, Chloe actually has workout days 5 and 9 as complete rest days. That means that those who are on the same schedule as I am will be taking today off. Now, you may have already done your exercise, that’s okay. Take tomorrow off. You can move your days; they aren’t stationary. If you decide to do the rest of the exercises Chloe lists, you are also allowed to switch those days around too (for myself, I am taking Saturday off instead of the alternative days because I believe it’s important to rest on that day). The important thing is to rest.

Why?

Resting gives your body time to restore itself and also to build muscle.

Here is what Sciencenorway.no says,

“When you are moving…your brain sends electrical signals to the muscles you use to perform the movement. These signals go from the brain, through the spinal cord and to the muscles. When the signals reach the muscles, the signals spread to all the muscle fibres connected to this nerve. The electrical signals cause calcium ions to flow into the muscle cells from cavities where the ions stay at rest. These ions bind to specific proteins and start a muscle contraction. This allows the muscle to create power…After the exertion, the ions flow back to where they came from and the same process can start again, allowing you to repeat the same movement again and again…(until your muscles fatigue)…in this case, the muscle no longer releases enough ions to achieve the power you want in a contraction. And thus, the muscle fails to do what the brain says.”

This is why it is important to rest. Resting allows your body to restore the hormones and nutrients needed to create muscle. It is vital.

But! (there is always a “but”)

You don’t have to do nothing. Doing “nothing” (which is philosophically impossible) doesn’t necessarily benefit you. This is why athletes change there routines up. The exercises listed are mostly focused on one’s abs and arms; so, change it up. Go for a run or bike ride; you can still burn calories and you will work a different muscle group (your legs).

My Workout Routine | Hold Me Accountable

For several years now, I’ve been a bit of a work-out buff. When considering where my enthusiasm for it came from, I considered it likely to have originated from the fact that, as far as I can remember, I’ve always been bigger and healthier than the typical guy my age (I was taller, stronger, faster, ate more healthily, and got sick less often as a result). I wanted to keep it that way.

But my attention was particularly devoted to my arms; not to the fitness of my whole body (as it should be). This year, I was introduced to a workout routine by Chloe Ting (a YouTuber) that specialized on the core. It is a two-week workout done in 10-minute daily periods. She claimed that you could get abs in two weeks. Of course, I thought, “2 weeks? 10 minutes a day?! Then I get abs! How hard can it be?” I decided to give it a shot.

I failed.

I am a strong dude, but the workout was pretty intense and sometimes it was inconvenient. I got to day four before it started getting irregular and eventually stopped. 

That is one of the reasons I am making this post. I want to be held accountable to more people as I do this exercise. Plus, it would be cool if you all joined me as I did it.

There is one thing I want to point out: Chloe wears really immodest clothing (by my standards) in this video. My solution was to write down the exercises and glance at the form to understand how to perform it. For those interested, here is the video:

Just wanted to share that with you. 😀

If you do decide to join me, please let me know! I am officially starting today, 11/29/20, and will continue to at least 12/12/2020.