​I have been fortunate enough—even blessed, you might say—to travel to many South American nations over the years.
One trip that sticks out in my memory is a visit to Peru. There, I was able to take a breath-taking helicopter ride over the Inca citadel known as Machu Picchu. It was amazing. With its magnificent stone walls and steps, even as reclaimed by nature is it was, it was almost as though I could sense the ancient people still milling around the fortress and its outcroppings.
While there, I stayed in the town of Aguas Calientes, whose official name Machupicchu Pueblo is actually taken the ancient site. Aguas Calientes is Spanish for “hot waters”, so it should come as no surprise that the town is known for its natural hot springs, and a host of other amazing attractions.
The hotel I was staying at had mostly American guests. It was almost as though I’d never left home. That wasn’t what I wanted, though. I wanted to experience real Peruvian life. So, I ventured out to a local market, and got the chance to mingle with the people.
I met a professor from Lima, the capital and largest city in Peru, who shared with me a lot of new information. He told me Peru has a whopping 3,800 varieties of potatoes! I met other local people, too, and we chatted about so many things, I can’t remember it all. We joked, we laughed, we discussed food, family, and culture. I even learnt a bit of Quechua, an indigenous language. This is an experience I will take with me for the rest of my life.
Beyond everything else, I was and am glad that I was able to communicate with them not in my own native language, but in theirs, in Spanish; not through an interpreter, but with my own mouth.
Nelson Mandela once said, “If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.”
It may not be easy to learn a foreign language. You have to break habits that have been part of you since before you were able to walk, and form new brand new ones. The rewards are well worth it, though. There is nothing like being able to step outside of your own narrow perspective and into someone else’s.
If you are considering learning another language, I encourage you to do so. If you are currently learning, I urge you to keep on that path. Once you’ve had that first completely foreign language conversation, you will be glad you did.

​Working out has been a part of my life for a long time.
More than twenty years ago, I was a competitive bodybuilder and weightlifter. Nowadays, I still hit the gym and run five miles, both five days a week. I also play billiards, and do some golfing, inspired by my wife, who is passionate about golf.
Keeping this routine has been a major source of fulfilment in my life. I would encourage anyone to be active, and see just how much of a tremendous addition it is to your life.
The fact is, though, getting and staying active isn’t easy for everyone. It can be daunting, and it can be hard to set aside the time amidst the many responsibilities and demands of life. For this reason, I want to share two workout tips that will hopefully be of use to you, and inspire you in your own workout journey.
Keep it interesting. Personally, I find treadmills and ellipticals boring and monotonous. I keep looking at the timer, and counting down the seconds. I much prefer running outdoors, breathing in the fresh lake air with music in my ears. I also love swimming in the ocean.
So, my advice to you is to find exercises that you enjoy. They will motivate you to keep going, especially when you start seeing the positive impact they have on your life. That doesn’t mean you should never do any workout that is hard or unenjoyable, but that you should punctuate your workout routine with fun ones. Diversity is also key, and not only helps you not get bored, but prevents your body from getting too used to exercises.
Take it easy. A lot of people jump headfirst into difficult exercises, wanting results as fast as possible. You’re only sabotaging yourself if you do this, though.
Do warmups and stretches every time, or you may damage your muscles. As tempting as it is to lift heavy or try the more advanced versions of a new exercise, you’re more than likely not there yet. Stick to the basics at first, and lift light. That way, you master the form so that when you do get stronger and are able to do more and lift heavier, you are maximising your gains.
No matter what, find a way to keep motivated, and keep your goals in mind. You will be glad you did.