Relaxing is voluntarily giving up control, letting go, surrendering tension. Deep relaxation involves a measure of trust. We must let go of tension and trust we will be all right.

To begin we put ourself into a corpse pose, laying flat on our back, legs fully extended with feet about 12 inches apart. Arms out stretched, palms up, with hands about a foot away from body. Eyes closed. Now do long, slow breathing. With every exhalation we let the body settle deeper into the ground, as though the force of gravity is increasing.

Next we begin systematic attention to our  body beginning with our feet. We concentrate on our feet while we let go of all tension there. We continue do this in a piecemeal way as we move up the body. At every part of our body we take as much attention as we need to release tension at that area.

After we have systematically gone through our entire body we let our breath become as soft and gentle as possible. We let our attention rest on our breath in a feather-light manner. We do not intensely concentrate. We just pay attention in the easiest possible way.

Christopher Kilham, The Five Tibetans (edited by PAT)

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Mistakes are often explained by not paying attention-especially in familiar situations. We misread a situation because we skim it rather then appreciate it.  We assume a familiar situation will be a repeat performance. But there are no repeat performances as every situation is unique.

The phrase “pay attention” reminds us attention demands  an active, energetic response to the persons, places, and things that make the situation. It is impossible to be attentive and passive at the same time. When we look we need to see. When we hear we need to listen. To be attentive is to focus on details. Little things are not to be ignored. It is the little things that lead to big things.

D. Q. McInerny, Being Logical (2004)(edited by P.A. T.)

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A judgment (“He is a great lawyer,” Paris is the best city,” Pebble Beach is the best golf course”) is a conclusion, evaluating a number of previously perceived facts. Judgments in everyday thought induce temporary blindness. To illustrate if a discussion starts with a judgment statement the speaker must make all later statements consistent with the initial judgment statement. The result is that many individual aspects or facts of the concept are lost. Premature judgment prevents us from seeing what is directly in front us. To speak or write accurately it is best to keep judgments out of our mind and let our vision of individulal aspects of the person, place, or thing emerge.

S. I. and Alan Hayakawa, Language IN Thought AND Action

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Our nation’s most significant holiday is the Fourth of July. This is when we celebrate our independence as citizens of the United States.  To me John Phillip Sousa’s Stars and Stripes Forever musically memorializes the emotional pride in being an American citizen.

This Fourth of July Kristina and I are going to Seattle Center to watch a Naturalization Ceremony where 500 immigrants will become United States Citizens. We will then participate in a voter registration event where we will register the new citizens as voters.

These new citizens have made a conscious choice to study for and pass the test to become a United States Citizen. These new citizens will promptly enroll and become registered voters. These new citizens will participate in the next election at both the federal and state level. These new citizens will respond to a jury summons and participate as a juror in a civil or criminal trial. These new citizens have a fresh appreciation of The United States Constitution, and the individual rights that guarantee our freedom.

On this Fourth of July I am reflecting on our Constitution, on our freedom, and on how as a trial lawyer I have a role in protecting the rights of individuals who have been harmed. I look forward to seeing the American citizens serving as jurors in my next jury trial.

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On the morning of the first day of the 1939 World Series, Eddie Joost, Paul Derringer, and Bucky Walters of the Cincinnati Reds were getting out of their taxi in front of Yankee Stadium when a Packard pulled to a stop 50 feet in front of them. They watched the driver get out and fall to the pavement. The driver then grabbed the Packard door and struggled to pull himself up. As the three went to help they realized it was Lou Gehrig.

Joost recalled we asked if he needed help. Gehrig greeted us and said “I’ll make it.” Joost recalls Gehrig “wasn’t embarrassed at all.” As they walked into the stadium together Joost looked down and noticed Gehrig was shuffling his feet like an old man.

After playing 2130 consecutive games for the Yankees Lou Gehrig (The Iron Horse) retired eight games into the 1939 baseball season. Mr. Gehrig was forced to retire- he had Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). ALS robbed Mr. Gehrig of his physical ability. He went from being the Iron Horse, to a shell of his physical self, and to death within two years.

May was ALS Awareness Month. May has come and gone, but ALS is still with us. Take some time to become aware of ALS. Take some time to consider the unfortunate who have ALS. Take a step to make a difference to defeat ALS.

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Today Rory Mcilroy won the 2011 US Open. He won the toughest test in golf, a major championship, shooting the lowest score in US Open History. And he won because he lost the Masters this year. He went into the final round of the Masters with a four stroke lead, shot an 80 and finished tied for 15th.

But he learned from his defeat. He reflected on his collapse. He dedicated himself to more practice. And he believed in himself.  Defeat made him strong. Defeat allowed him to understand the pressure of winning. Defeat gave him the foundation for victory.

Life is a series of victories and defeats. All winners have been losers. Winners learn from defeat. Winners recognize how defeat occurs. Winners continue to move forward without fear of defeat.

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Sometimes a similie is the best way to describe as in a “Super Star is like Roberto Clemente.” As a baseball player Mr. Clemente was a five tool player. He hit for average, he hit for power, he had a golden glove, a rocket arm and he ran the bases at lightening speed with graceful finesse.

Bur Mr. Clemente is a Super Star because of what he did off the field. He paved the way for Latin American baseball players. He never forgot his Latin American roots returning to his home country-Puerto Rico-in the off season to play baseball, coach baseball and give baseball equipment.

He was a loving husband and father. He was kind and considerate to “little people” who could do nothing for him. He died in a plane crash where he was flying to Nicaragua to deliver supplies to earthquake victims. Supplies he had personally purchased in an airplane he had personally chartered.

When we define Super Star let us ask:

Great at what he/she does professionally?

Dedicated to family and friends?

Cares about little people?

Remains true to his/her roots?

Gives back with time and money?

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Early in his career Hall of Fame Pitcher Sandy Koufax was wild and erratic. He had a blazing fast ball but was unable to consistently locate it. This changed at the end of the 1960 baseball season when an old baseball scout had Koufax simulate a throw to a spot on a wall. As Koufax started his windup the old scout said: ” Sandy you can’t even see that spot. You’re taking your whole body back and your head is going above the spot. Why not try taking your hands back and keep your head level [in a controlled windup], and take something off the ball and let ’em hit it.”

Koufax took the old scout’s advice. In his next game catcher Norm Sherry told Koufax “[Y]ou just threw harder trying not to then when you did trying to.” Jane Leavy, Sandy Koufax A Lefty’s Legacy, (2002). For Koufax less is more changed his baseball career-he went from a wild hard thrower to a great control pitcher.

Less is more worked for Koufax and it will work for us. The key is to go with the natural flow rather then swim up stream. When we stay focused, trust our natural ability, and operate within our comfort zone we stress less and accomplish more.

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My  second year college student son asked me yesterday what I believe is the meaning of life. He said Nilihism teaches life is without objective meaning, purpose or intrinsic value. Although he is not accepting the nihilistic conclusion on the meaning of life, he doubts people who say they have the answer for instance a religious fundamentalist.

On reflecting on the meaning of life I think the answer is life has the meaning we give it. In that the meaning of life is what we choose to have the meaning be. I do think there is no right or wrong choice so long as we live our life being true to our heart, and we leave the world a better place.

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