You Are What You Eat

You Are What You Eat

                Nutrition has to be one of the most important things us humans have control over for our own wellbeing. In our recent years we have had an expanding knowledge of how nutrition works and choices of good and bad of what we put in our bodies. When I was in grade school, fast food or food from companies specializing in food made for mass consumption with processed aspects was a part of my daily life. My family seen fast food as a treat, “Oh you had a good day in school? We should go to McDonalds to celebrate.” would be the normal occasion but we did not know the repercussions of what we were eating. As I grew up into middle school and beyond, my father would work late and I would stay up because I knew he was going to bring food home and I would be able to spend time with him. I would call my Dad around two in the morning and ask “Would you stop by Taco Bell or pick up Robertos?” and he would always act like he didn’t want to but he always showed up with something. It was the norm and after a while we started noticing what it was doing to us. My family would have no energy, we all were always busy but when we did have time we would stay home, we would watch copious amounts of television and continue our contributions to fast food chains. I always considered myself healthy because I was an athlete who participated in all kinds of sports like baseball, swim, football, soccer and basketball but I paid no attention to nutrition and I would soon find out this was one of the most important things to an athlete and to everyone.

                In early parts of my high school journey my family went through tough times with health related deaths and this began my fascination with nutrition and knowledge about staying healthy. I took a nutrition class in school, made the gym a regular part of my schedule and started tackling my family’s habits with fast food. We traded the drive thru at McDonalds for the vegetable section at Whole Foods and we took the extra time to prepare our meals with nutrition as the main goal and taste as the secondary. I was driven by eating what would make me a better athlete and what would keep my family healthy, happy and energetic. I even started giving my family diet plans and personal training lessons on the side which is what paved the way for me studying kinesiology in college. I once wrote a paper about how the lack of nutritional knowledge and how we feed our children who trust us can almost be a form of child abuse because children rely on us to feed them what they need to succeed and grow to their full potential and by that they are the victims. I considered myself hardcore into nutrition and tried all the diets like paleo, vegan and an all fish and vegetable diet. After a while my intense attitude about eating the right foods calmed down a little bit and I considered fast food in moderation is okay for everyone but we still must take what we eat seriously. I currently log all the food I eat and count the carbs, fat and protein in what I am eating and yes I am that person who goes into a fast food restaurant and asks for the nutritional menu. I always say you are what you eat and if you have plan or have a destination in life where you want to be you must adjust every aspect of your walk.

Israel trip the journey

The Journey to Israel

As humans we are naturally adventurous, we feel the need to explore and see new places. As a senior in high school, I felt as I was invincible with just about to finish a chapter of my life in school, having a future in front of me and having all my friends. As the end of the school year approached, thus came the senior trip to Israel followed. The whole class had been preparing all year except for me because I thought it would be too expensive or why would I even want to go. I grew up in a Christian school and at this time and I had a relationship with God but I was a teen and I definitely could have been closer to Him. So the trip was coming and ultimately I would to go because all my friends were going. But little did I know the hoops I would have to jump to get there and my enlightenment I would go through on my journey through the old land.

            As the trip was coming, about a week and a half, I had two things to do and they weren’t going to be easy. I had to find a way to get nine hundred dollars and find a way to get my passport in time. I looked into small loans, family members and even tried to fund raise but to no avail. I almost gave up but an old teacher over heard that I needed help and generously donated the money. I was so grateful for this act of kindness and was ready to find a way to get my passport. At this point I only had four days before the trip and the only way I could get in time was to fly to Los Angeles and pick it up at the Federal building. I had no money and no ticket so I hit another road block, but thankfully we had just met a woman who works with airlines and I received a free ticket. I missed school and flew out there and slept in the airport alone and picked it up and as had it in my hand I knew it was time for an adventure.

            All the students entered the International airport and right when I entered the doors we were flooded with friends, family and I just found out that my ex-girlfriend would be on the trip so I knew that would be something. Filled with excitement about the trip with my friends, the last thing on my mind was getting a refresher in my faith and building a stronger relationship with God especially with my ex around. After a fourteen hour flight, we made it to Tel Aviv, Israel and we are exhausted but right when went outside we were hit with this crisp almost perfect air that felt a lot like California beach air but cleaner and it was definitely a pick up. We got on a bus headed towards Jerusalem and our hotel. After a much needed jet lagged filled night of rest we headed into the old city and started walking among the very same streets that Jesus Christ. We had a sermon on the top of the Mount of Olives, walked on the temple mount and floated on the Dead Sea and having all my friends around joking and in another country it was a great time. This place was magical, it was something held outside of time and it felt like we walking in a history book. As a class were all enjoying this trip, but there was tension with my ex and I because I was palling around with a good friend who happened to be a girl. One night when we got to the Sea of Galilee, we had a huge fight about our past which almost made me regret on going on this trip in the first place. That very next day I was in a terrible mood and wasn’t talking to anybody. As a class we took a boat ride on the sea on a replica old boat from one hundred A.D. When we were on the boat my pastor reminded us of the story of how Jesus walked on water here and brought the fisherman under his wing, of how they dropped everything and believed in Him. As he told this story I was filled with something strange, like I had forgotten about everything going at home, what happened in the past and the drama on the trip. It had to be the combination of the golden sun on the waves almost waving as they passed, the smell of the sea rejuvenating every breath and the feel of the old wooden boat floating over the waves and the mist brushing upon the boat. I felt as if God was giving me a restful mind and reminding me that this trip wasn’t just fun but a lesson that anything is possible on how I got here and that if I let Him calm me down and don’t worry or put things off then I can do anything. I learned that I shouldn’t just try to hand out with friend but really open up my heart to Him and not let things get me down because life is stressful if you make it stressful.

            As we were finishing up our trip at the Garden tomb, I was reminded of the year I had in school where I put friends before school and it made it a lot tougher. I put friends and baseball above everything else even God and that’s not how it should be. If I set my priorities and if I prepare for things then they won’t end up chaotic in the end. I got to see beautiful things that I only read about in history books and experience a new culture.  Three years later and I still want to go back see it over again but I still keep with me what I learned and God is in my heart always. Sometimes we all need an adventure to remind us of what we love and need to learn.

Colby's idea of Marriage and the Journey to find the One

Colby’s idea of Marriage and Finding the “One”

            I have always been skeptical on the idea of marriage; don’t get me wrong I’ve always wanted to find the woman of my dreams but the idea of marriage as a government recognized institution is something that doesn’t sit well. I grew up in a divorced household which may result in my biased mentality but I believe that marriage is almost irrelevant nowadays other than the tax breaks and shared insurance. As I read this chapter on marriage it only reassured my ideas on marriage about divorce and a huge commitment like that must be really considered for the long run. I can see why cohabitants rather than marriage is on the rise because people don’t like the commitment but want to live together and begin to know each other. The idea of having children has always been in my future and I do believe marriage as a stable ground to raise children. I wouldn’t want a broken house raise children in, but a wife of my children to be there and to work as a team. I believe marriage in America, of course it is still relative, is an option rather than a goal especially in this day of age. In one of the essays they provide evidence that us as humans have no biological evidence that we should be monogamous but that is only a social thing.                                                                                                   I disagree because as humans we are filled with emotions and depend on one another for stability. If we go throughout our lives going on to different people rather than beginning a live long journey with someone than you won’t be as emotionally open because as humans we are naturally selfish and jealous of what we had. I do believe in the idea of short term marriages if that is what you want and don’t want to fully commit. Takes a long time before you actually know someone and that can key into a short term marriage especially if you need the benefits that come with marriage.  I would take time to know that person and contemplate a long lasting relationship with that person and ultimately if I would want to start a family with that person before I decided to marry them and if I do take that leap of faith than I am fully committed because if something is broken you fix it. For children being in a broken household is a battleground of emotions and not fully comprehending what is happening. I do believe that marriage is having a crisis in America because people are getting married to young, commitment is a tough subject for people and people are getting married because their heart says to. My parents got divorced when I was 2 after knowing each other for 3 years and when I was 12 they decided to get back together because they had me and they realized that love, stability and trust are what makes a marriage work. Relying on that other person, working together through emotions and tough times and having a common goal is what makes marriage so great. I do believe in marriage and I know once I find a girl who will be my partner in crime and she relies on me as much as I know I will her I know it will happen. 

Colby Wayne Sibley; He who has no name

Colby Wayne Sibley Name Meaning

                Everyone’s name has certain meaning, it’s their self-identity, and how the world knows them and what they were given at birth. When I was born in Las Vegas to mother Brandie Bushell and father Eldon Sibley I’m unsure why they chose Colby as my first name. I understand why my middle name Wayne was chosen because both my Grandfather’s first names were Wayne, but Colby in my opinion is a rare name. I asked them about it and at first they were going to name me Eldon Sibley but my father declined and he once heard Colby and it was close to his middle name which was Craig. I can’t find any correlation with my heritage and my name because I am German, Irish and somewhat Native American.  So they agreed on Colby Wayne Sibley and this began the tale of yours truly.

                As I grew up I never minded my name at all, everyone I knew had traditional names like John, Jordan and Michael but Colby was different. I rarely met another Colby and usually when I did they were female. Colby is originally English but derived from Old Norse which means a dark farm. Wayne, which I enjoyed John Wayne movies, is Old English and means wagon driver. Sibley is a little older from Latin and Greek which was used for pagan prophets who would falsely claim the coming of Christ. I rarely got nicknames and usually they would shorter version like Colb or Sib throughout baseball. My family or more importantly my parents would use Colby Wayne but when they would use that name I definitely knew I was in trouble. I do feel like my name, being rare as it is, has somewhat of an advantage in certain areas over other names. For example during highschool and somewhat of college, my teachers rarely had problems associating my name with my face and I would get somewhat called on more than others.  Jumping onto Sibley because Wayne is rarely ever used, my father grew up in Las Vegas and as well as my older brother and they were very well known in the valley for their achievements in baseball, the world of baseball is a small one, so when people would see the last name Sibley they would associate and ultimately say oh your JC’s little brother. This helped me out moving up in baseball.

                I don’t think I would ever change my name. I feel it’s my identity; it’s me in my good days and in my bad ones. My parents gave me this name because when they put their eyes on me the first time I was Colby Wayne Sibley. I enjoy the rarity of it and I’m proud to own up to this name. I do believe that your name can have certain advantages in our society and I feel mine is easy to remember. I’m unsure what names I’ll choose for my children but I know I will decide on some I feel are memorable, rare and ones they will like to live with.