FIT@50: Forgot The Powder
FIT@50: Forgot the Powder This week was what we like to refer to as Crazy Week. Not because life got out of […]
FIT@50: What’s Life Over 50 Like?
If you ever want to experience the confidence shattering sensation of having every single thing you say and do examined under a critical microscope and launched back at you with a poo-poo shooter, then give law enforcement a try for a day.
FIT@50: Did You See That?
As a group of what looked like super model mixed company passed us, I peeked down at my supermarket flip flops. I laughed at the bottle opener built into the sole.
FIT@50: Two Pounds
FIT@50: Two Pounds This week I was watching the boys out back as they discovered a pile of Leah’s padded dumbbells. They […]
FIT@50: Let Your Light Shine
Does that mean I failed? Not unless I try deceiving the people who trust me with their stories of the ups and downs of reclaiming their health.
FIT@50: An Odd Space For A Kettlebell
It’s an odd shackle when the devil tells you that there’s still too much work left to be done at the desk, and I shouldn’t leave Leah to go exercise.
FIT@50: The Devil’s Whisper
I heard the whisper, “Look how weak you’ve become over the years.”
FIT@50: Let’s Do This
I promise, this isn’t a “gym rat” adventure. But I did return to that place I once loved. Except it was different because someone had made what used to be light weights, feel heavy and immovable.
FIT@50Week 94: Approaching the New Year Happily
FIT@50Week 94: Approaching the New Year Happily
FIT@50 – Week 93: It Feels Good
How do you encourage your kids to lean on the truth?
FIT@50 / Week 92: Ugly’s Last Stand
FIT@50 / Week 91: I See You
FIT@50 / Week 91: I See You Our kids are well, kids. They rattle on when they should just hush and shut […]
FIT@50 / Week 89: Thanks, Thanksgiving
FIT@50 / Week 89: Thanks, Thanksgiving Earlier this week I’d posted a question about fried or baked. I received plenty of comments […]
FIT@50 / Week 82: Custom(er) Service
FIT@50 / Week 82 Custom(er) Service While this week’s FIT@50 arrived a day late, it was also the article’s motivation. Max and […]
FIT@50 / Week 81 – The Tie
FIT@50 / week 81 The Tie: This is my first season of Texas high school football. I’ve not been to a […]
FIT@50 / Week 80: Being Human
This week’s FIT@50 is probably best spent just being human. I’ve come to understand that it’s okay to just be human.
FIT@50 / Week 79 – Tough Guy, Soft Words
FIT@50 / week 79 Tough Guy, Soft Words: This week has been a trial. Liliana Hart and I received the phone call every child dreads. My dad had suffered two strokes and a heart attack. He was in the hospital and I should head home immediately. Problem was, we’re 8 hours away. I drove with the burden of racing life’s clock ticking against me. To tell you I didn’t keep it a bit over the posted speed limit would be to not […]
FIT@50 / week 77
https://s3.amazonaws.com/videos.silverhartwriters.com/FIT%4050+%3A+week+77.mp4 FIT@50 / week 77 It Just Is: Ever notice when you’re questioning one of the kids about something, they stick to one reply, “It just is,” like a politician testifying before Congress. Chat with the youngster long enough and you’ll find yourself under a barrage of questions. To which you’ll default, “It just is.” This week has been extra busy and stressful in the household. Leah has a huge book deadline, kids are in full school swing, I had a flight, […]
FIT@50 / week 76
FIT@50 / week 76 Not There: I’m prompting Max to prep for bed. While it takes a little longer, he eventually gets there. I finally warned him with a stern wag of my finger to wrap up the tub time. I came back in his bathroom after sorting his school clothes and he had a head of hair slathered with Old Spice body wash. I grunted, “No. Not there.” He proudly continued to rub it over his head. It never registered with […]
FIT@50 / week 75
FIT@50 / week 75 Just Look Up: I was back in the pool this week. It was incredible, and although the skills had diminished over a few years, I was still able to comfortably crank out laps. Except for when I crashed into Liliana Hart because she decided to stop and fix her hair in the middle of a lane. Though I think it was on purpose for both of us. I’m going to do a short-course triathlon later this year with […]
FIT@50 / week 74
FIT@50 / week 74 Let Your Word Be Your Bond Liliana Hart posted something this week that really hit home. I like to share lessons learned from boyhood. My dad wasn’t a talkative man, but when he did, his words were considered carefully and held the weight with which delivered. It’s an embedded core value. I had a practice with every command position I held, including Chief of Police. I made two promises to everyone I supervised. First, I’d never curse them. […]
FIT@50 / week 73
FIT@50 / week 73 Kinda Weird: We came back to Louisiana for a few days while the kids were tucked away at […]
FIT@50 / week 72
FIT@50 / week 72 Release, Relief, Renew: Talk about a week for the books. This has been one emotional roller coaster for […]
FIT@50 / week 70
FIT@50 / week 70 White Flag: The white flag is usually associated with surrender. I’m not about to wave that sucker. This week my flag has been the Irish’s color of kelly green. Though it’s a bit exhausting. I’ve had a great time chronicling Liliana Hart and my adventures across Europe – If you’ve just awaken, check hashtag #EuroDash16 I’m going to minimize this post because I have to wear a shirt and regular pants for tonight’s event, and someone has to […]
FIT@50 / week 69
FIT@50 / week 69 Price of Pizza: This week while in Paris, Liliana Hart and I took off on the city in a series of pedicab driven adventures. To say the experience was anything less than epic would be an understatement. But at what price? I’m always talking with her and our kids about situational awareness. The boys think it’s funny, while the girls think I’m trying to make the junior high boys afraid of them (maybe both.) After […]
FIT@50 / week 68
mostly listen to little voices laughing, and reading to each other, or one would wander off into the dark imagining he was Ironman, while they watched lightening bugs spark throughout the wooded backyard.
FIT@50 / week 67
FIT@50 / week 67 Just Do It: I can tell you that the last place you would have found me on a Thursday night is the opera house. Yet, guess where I spent Thursday night? Yep, downtown Dallas at an opera house. Liliana Hart and I do lots of things for and because of each other. We’re a team, and it’s what we do. But when it comes to finding something that five very different kids agree on, she and […]
FIT@50 / week 66
FIT@50 / week 66 True Power: “When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace.” – Jimi Hendrix This week I received two notices about Chief of Police positions in Louisiana. My immediate thoughts were “No thanks.” It was about this time last year that I’d announced my August 28th retirement date. I would’ve never in a million years thought retirement from the only job I’d known would’ve been a reality. To be honest, […]
FIT@50 / week 65
FIT@50 / week 65 It’s Because: Guys, this week has been so incredible. It was actually after 11:00pm before Liliana Hart reminded me it was Friday and that I’d forgotten to post my FIT@50. That’s just how amazing this week has been. This was our first family vacation since Disney last Christmas. We swam, BBQ’d, go-carts, arcades, stayed up watching movies, and ate bacon late at night (don’t ask). It was also our anniversary (I remembered) Memories from my childhood were so […]
FIT@50 / week 64
FIT@50 / week 64 3 Seconds: A few years back I wanted to compete in a triathlon. There was only one problem. I was a 260 lbs powerlifter and had no clue how to swim. I walked until I could jog and jogged until I could run. I bought a cheap bike until I could sustain the mileage and then I bought a less cheap bike. I taught myself to swim, but nearly drown in my first race under the white caps. […]
FIT@50 / week 63
FIT@50 / week 63 Retired Watch: I’ve worn this watch for many years. It’s probably not worked more often than it has. Yet, I wear it without fail. Why? It’s what I’ve tried explaining to Liliana Hart for years. This watch has been with me through the best and worst times in my life. While strapped around my wrist, it has hugged my sons, been complimented by a United States Attorney, swam miles in pools and open water, endured years of graduate school, survived […]
FIT@50 / week 62
It’s also that humanity that has stirred my emotions all week. I still miss each of my 7 friends who died in the line of duty. Actually, I grieve for the 20,789 names of American law enforcement officers senselessly killed while doing only what we all swore to do – Serve and Protect.
FIT@50 / week 60
I’m a Mondaholic. With great intentions to start everything from being more productive in my work, to going to bed at a normal hour, it all was set to start on the next Monday.
FIT@50 / week 45
FIT@50 / week 45 Red Soles & Big Smiles: Yes, my wife, Liliana Hart has an affinity for those snappy shoes with the iconic red soles, but it wasn’t a purchase that brought about smiles. It’s my role as a support team member that had me grinning like I’d just busted a drug dealer. Being FIT means being able and prepared to adjust to life’s challenges or demands. I’d served in a command capacity since 1992 when I supervised my […]
FIT@50 / week 25
FIT@50 / week 25 The Ghost On Saturday I drove around the city in my POV (personally owned vehicle), sorry cop talk. I noticed drivers without seatbelts, easing through stop signs, and generally just motoring about their business. On the previous Friday, I’d been in my police cruiser. It had a wholly different effect. People immediately put on their seatbelts, they completely stopped at signs and they glance or nodded as they motored about their business. I thought on that Saturday, “I’m […]
FIT@50 / week 24
I witnessed hardened men – modern day warriors, sling their machine guns to carry children, pets or the elderly.
FIT@50 / week 23
FIT@50 / week 23 Less than half: Becoming fit often requires sacrifice. Be it food, ice cream, cake (yes, I went there), and often the bed. Hold on, this ain’t frisky talk. It’s about years focused on accumulation. Once I got fit, gathering meant less. The bed is a regular reminder. My kiddo still comes to sleep in the big bed on occasion. After five minutes, he has twisted and twirled and torqued until I’m on the very edge. Sleep may go […]
FIT@50 / week 22: Unmasked
expectation of going home and pretending like nothing special or horrific happened.
FIT@50 / week 20
FIT@50 / week 20 Sweet surprise: Last Sunday was 7 weeks married. We’ve known each other for a while now, but we always talk about the kids. Blended families are not to be left to an assumption they’ll just work out. They take effort, patience and understanding. There’s a fine line to balance in these relationships. Sun Tzu said that the leader who is complimented for his pleasant personality in his first year of command, is mocked because of it every year […]
FIT@50 \ week 19
FIT@50 \ week 19 Sidelined Growing up playing every sport imaginable, the idea of being sidelined was inconceivable. As I’ve grown more “fit”, the idea of shining light on others while supporting from the bench is amazing. I considered what a difference a week makes. We were in NYC for a thriller writers’ conference dominated by a different crowd – okay, it’s still very much a boys club. Liliana Hart stood aside as authors introduced themselves to discuss crime and mystery […]
FIT@50 \ week 18
FIT@50 \ week 18 Broken: Don’t Do It “They broke me.” Those words were hard to hear. “I know. It’s what they do,” was all I could say. The somber, wooden expression in my friend’s face showed what two decades of service could do to even the most dedicated. Some professions require a certain adherence to its culture, although not part of the official policy. Mavericks, self-starters and long-haired freaky people need not apply. Unfortunately, the conflict between old school tradition and […]
Fit@50 / week 17
Fit@50 / week 17 The more things change: The last time I was in NYC was the early 1990’s working a wiretap for the DEA. My partner and I came up to join with the NYPD & DEA’s New York field office to track down criminals operating across country. WOW, that was a long time ago, but coming back this week also included lots of concentration on crime and dastardly villains. I’m presenting and attending International Thriller Writers Organization’s ThrillerFest while on […]
FIT@50 \ week 16
Unplugged & Replugged: Last week was an amazing experience. I spent the weekend with my wife,Liliana Hart on a Trek Travels cycling trip through northern California. The grapes were the only things online out there. No cell or internet service, and the wifi was spotty to say the least. So what did I do with my cell phone? Used it as a camera to capture pics of the beauty of our country and the fun with new friends. I’d unplugged. And it […]
FIT@50 \ week 14
FIT@50 \ week 14 Balance Thursday night at a family birthday supper my niece said how odd it looked to see a wedding ring on my hand. I said it throws me off balance. Then I thought about what I said. There’s a weight associated with this ring. It’s called balance. To shift from decades of doing what I wanted, when I wanted to coordinating daily calendars for meeting the needs of the family took balance. Shifting gears from an “I want” […]
FIT@50 \ week 13
FIT@50 \ week 13 Sacrifice: Putting Others First WOW, what a week of being FIT@50. I got married—how cool is that. Liliana Hart and I had planned the wedding months in advance, but even before that, we had options to throw any size event, anywhere we wanted. The choice was simple – lets do this for our families. Putting others first was the right decision. Our kids come after God, so to make sure not only the young, but the not so […]
FIT@50 / week 12
I have no agenda, or master plan—I just enjoy people.
FIT@50 \ week 10
FIT@50 \ week 10 Tough Decisions: Right Reasons Friday is the kiddo’s last day of school. He’s happy. I’m happy. It’s been a banner year, but it didn’t come without challenged emotions–mine. The end of every school year includes an evaluation called IEP – individualized education program. It outlines his performance as compared to an expectation of established goals. At the end of last school year, we all sat in those small desks and chairs to form an odd semi-circle of uncomfortable […]
God covers all the bases.
God covers all the bases. Holding Max while he sleeps, I miss my mom more than ever. Always wishing that he could’ve known his “Nonny,” breaks my heart. For most of his young life I seldom mentioned my mom—speaking her name remains painful. As he matured I began to talk about “Nonny” and show him pictures. She was a God-loving, gentle soul. They would have loved each other. After 20 years unmarried, I finally began to pray for a wife because God […]
FIT@50 \ week 9
FIT@50 \ week 9 Signs and wonders: As I’ve matured, leaning on faith has become something on which I focus. Wishing I could say it came easy wouldn’t be the truth. I think it’s a by-product of occupational conditioning. Cops assume everything someone says is naturally not the truth until proven otherwise. Skepticism requires a difficult deprogramming process, but is necessary for learning to trust others. The bible talks about reliance upon signs and wonders versus leaning on faith. As I’ve learned […]
FIT@50 \ week 8
FIT@50 \ week 8 Teamwork: I’ve been a part of teams my entire life – from sports to SWAT. Victory by each definition was the ultimate goal, and I trained to achieve them like my life depended on it. In some cases it actually did. This past weekend, Liliana Hart and I joined our most favorite team to challenge ourselves and each other in an adventure run. Team Us enjoyed the planning, and kidding about how we’d perform. We even had fun […]