Building your critical thinking muscle is just as important as adding lean tissue to your physique.
Exactly one year ago today, I set out to write posts about health, fitness and food. You know the story of how we got started. I knew this blog would make me stronger, but I had no idea how. My main intention was drain my brain of ideas on taking better care of ourselves through optimized eating, sleeping and training habits. I hoped that I could potentially inform and contribute by sharing the knowledge I already possessed. I had no idea that 12 months later, I’d be the one acquiring a valuable education.
This platform has been my mentor. It sharpened my thoughts and improved my parenting skills. It has furnished me with leadership armor. The exercise of researching and writing daily has helped me to learn. I’m not alone. From the Warwick Learning and Development Centre:
Through research-based learning students can develop the intellectual skills of critical analysis and also valuable transferable skills such as group work, time- and resource-management and data handling.
Am I a student? Hell yes. We all are. The greatest gift this blog has given me is the realization that quality teachers are perpetually learning as well. I naively assumed I’d be sharing the nutritional and training knowledge I had acquired over the years, clearing my dome and moving on. Instead, I sponged data points left and right, and I now see the monumental value of writing daily.
Critical thinking problems are designed to convert students from passive to active learners who use course concepts to confront problems, gather and analyze data, prepare hypotheses, and formulate arguments. Most writing activities aim to promote the use of active critical thinking strategies on the part of students.
Sure, I’ve learned a ton from my research. However, I may have learned more from our editor and my partner at Kaplifestye, Stephanie. She has brought much more to my critical thinking than value at the margins. By way of example, tonight I sent her this message from Mammoth:
“I want to make soup right now. What’s the easiest with the fewest ingredients?”
Stephanie proceeded to walk me through making beef and vegetable soup for myself and the four savage teenagers sharing a one bedroom condo with me at Canyon Lodge. She taught me immeasurably valuable cooking techniques along the way. Anecdotes like this one are anything but unique. She is an endless reservoir of knowledge. She has become my think partner. She is my student, and she is my teacher.
The final piece of the puzzle, of course, is you. Yesterday, my son Chase asked me, “Dad, if nobody read your blog, would you still write it?” The comment hit home for me. In the moment, we shared a laugh at the idea. Despite the fact that the answer is unequivocally yes, my blessing to share with you and have you share back has been the Ali Farka Toure to my black coffee. Is the drink exceptional alone? Absolutely. The music makes the experience come to life in high definition.
One year ago, I wrote the last line in my very first post.
Essentially, we can explore this world of sensory pleasures and burning muscles together as a team. Join me and let’s find health, strength, fitness and balance.
Though my life has changed throughout the year that followed those words, I feel the same way about that mission as I did then. I don’t want to turn down the volume at this point. Stay with me. I’ll keep writing, you keep reading, and we’ll all keep learning.
Happy anniversary,
Kap
Rex Stults says
Hey Kap congrats on the one year anny of the blog. I got turned onto it when you joined the Dodgers front office and look forward to it every morning. It’s inspiring. I too have a blog and chuckled over your son’s question, “would you still write it if nobody read it…” I faced that dilemma. Minimal readership but enjoyed and learned from the journey myself. Then one day my blog got read and tweeted out by BBQ god Steven Raichlen (my blog is on ribs) and BAM! I hope you keep blogging in 2015. I dig it and appreciate your work. Also please help bring a World Series title to the Dodgers. (I’d like that even more!)
Gabe Kapler says
Posts about ribs? My new favorite blog, period. Peace, Rex.
Ruben J. says
Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience. Happy new year Kap!
Gabe Kapler says
You too, Ruben.
Chester says
Kap Thank You, Congratulations & Happy New Year to You & Yours
Gabe Kapler says
Always appreciate your thoughts, Chester.
fc says
Happy anniversary! I am SO not your typical health and fitness blog reader (or practitioner) and was drawn here by your name, but stayed because you’re a really good writer – and I’m a merciless critic. Who knows, I might even adopt a healthy habit or two.
Gabe Kapler says
That would make me happy, FC.
AvengingJackMurphy says
Cheers, Kap. Your ideas coupled with those of your readers have been immeasurably helpful in my quest to regain health and fitness.
You started your blog at the perfect time in my life. Thank you.
Gabe Kapler says
Thank you, too, AJM.
bill says
Glad you enjoy the writing as much as we enjoy the reading Kap. I’ve always felt that writing helps me pull thoughts and ideas from my brain tissue, so I can display, then organize and refine them into a better end product. Kind of like cooking perhaps? It always helps keep me humble and inquisitive, when I’m reminded of how many people out there know so much more than I do. It’s kind of the ultimate ‘outside the box’ experience! Looking forward to sharing a great 2015 with everyone. Be happy, and be safe!
Gabe Kapler says
Strong as always, Bill.
NickX says
Great ending thoughts to a great year. A long time follower that I train suggested I check out the blog due to the similarities in writer’s voice we share (in addition to the content of course!). I have come to look forward to each post as well as getting a good chuckle each time I notice what he was referring to. You “clearing your dome and moving on” was today’s example haha. Keep it up! Cheers to a happy and healthy 2015!
Gabe Kapler says
Glad we are aligned, Nick.
Hollie Hamilton says
Kap, first have a Happy New Year! Your welcome and thank you. I have enjoyed this blog so much. It’s a part of my day each day. I have learned so much from you . As I munch on berries my friends are sick but I’m not. I’m working on cleaning up my eating habits which seemed so hard before but you make it easy. I do write a blog that no one reads but when I’m on the anchor desk for baseball tonight or maybe I will take your chair on fox, it will be all worth it. Thanks for the inspiration.
Gabe Kapler says
Appreciate it, HH.
Dave says
Really enjoy getting your writing every day Kap. can we have the recipe for the soup?
Gabe Kapler says
HNY, Dave. Look for the recipe in Saturday’s post.
Kelebek Beyaz says
“leadership armor”-I really like that term. Congratulations on the anniversary! Your blog is a breathe of fresh air because you do not claim to know everything (and really no one does), you are constantly researching, and you extremely honest. These are the reasons I read your blog every day. My schedule gets really hectic, so I can’t always comment but I make sure I do get to at least read each entry.
I was already a fan of yours going back to Detroit days. Very impressed with your growth over the years. Keep up the good work. I enjoy sharing my thoughts with you and the Kap lifestyle family.
Happy New Year Love!!!
Kelebek
Gabe Kapler says
Happy New Year, Kelebek.
Kelebek Beyaz says
Thank you darling!
slappythefishman says
One year down a life time to go…thanks for providing some good company on the journey
Gabe Kapler says
My man. Thanks, SPF.
Kat says
Happy Anniversary!!!!!!!!!! Im sure there are many more to come.
Gabe Kapler says
Appreciate you, Kat.
Jack says
Congrats on 1 year! Looking forward to learning much more.
Gabe Kapler says
Thanks, Jack.
Chris says
Kap,
Thank you for a great year. I appreciate your insight, opinion and candidness. I look forward to learning more and getting better in general each day.
Cheers!
Dan S says
Hey Kap, congrats on the year. I wanted to just say thanks and let you know this is a great daily read. There have been many times where something you discuss here will be something that I have started to research myself. Looking forward to 2015 and hope for a healthy and happy year for you, your family and all students of kaplifestyle. Now, please come back to Boston and help he Red Sox get back on track.