Shoutout to my 15-year-old nephew whose hoodie I hijacked for that photo above! Ha thanks DJ and what’s up people? How was your Fourth of July weekend (or Canada Day? Or just your weekend in general for the rest of you)? If you shot your own fireworks, hopefully you still have all of your fingers…

So check this out, it finally makes sense now! I’ve never fully connected with the whole Generation X classification that was forced upon me, yet based on age and my lack of a desire for safe spaces and participation trophies, I also know that I’m not a true Millennial.

In the words of the late great Michael Jackson, people in my age range are “too high to get over (yeah, yeah). Too low to get under (yeah, yeah).” We’re stuck in the middle…

Ma ma se, ma ma sa, ma ma coo sa indeed. It appears that I was right all along because Dan Woodman, an associate professor of sociology at The University of Melbourne, recently designated a new classification for the micro-generation of people who were born between 1977 and 1983. Our new tribe is called Xennials, which is obviously a cross between Gen-Xers and Millennials.

Essentially, it’s the best of both worlds because we were the last generation to not have to worry about cyber-bullying during school and actually had to call friends to hang out in person if we wanted to spend time with them (I know, it was a crazy time kids)! Yet, we’re still savvy enough to have jumped on this new technology and pick it up quickly.

We have the perfect balance of youthful optimism mixed with rational reasoning and a strong work ethic. Long story short, Xennials are pretty awesome so yeah, I’m down with the new classification and couldn’t agree more with the need to categorize our unique experience.

My brother and I had a discussion about this very topic just the other night. Technology drives generational change so perhaps decade classifications are becoming obsolete since new tech is being developed at such a rapid rate now.

He also suggested that even the Millennials could already be subdivided as well since they too are not all built the same. But until that happens, Viva Las Xennials!

I also agree with the relatively new classification of personalities that fall in between the traditional introvert and extrovert groupings. I’ve always identified as both since I’m equally comfortable being the life of the party or alone in my thoughts.

With only 2 classifications to choose from, I almost thought there was something wrong with me like I was bipolar or something. But alas, there’s actually a category for other freaks like me! Lol, we’re called ambiverts and again, we are the best of both worlds!

Like chameleons, we can easily adjust our approach based on our mood and surroundings. We’re also better at finding the balance between listening and talking in order to connect with more people. Pretty cool eh?

Yeah, I know, being a Xennial Ambivert is pretty awesome but before you think that I’m getting too full of myself with these cool new classifications, let’s not forget that Myers-Brigg Jung personality test that I told you about a few months ago. You know, the one that essentially said that I’m a tyrannical jerk? Lol yeah, um that one (In case you missed that post, you can check it out by following this link)

 

Basically, it classified me as an ENTJ which they described as a bossy douchebag but not just any bossy douchebag, the rarest breed of bossy douchebags that only 1.8% of the world population identifies with. So yeah, I have that going for me eh? I’m the unicorn of douchebags – bask in my gloriousness.

 

“I’m the unicorn of douchebags – bask in my gloriousness.” – Fat Darrell

There’s only one classification on that test rarer than the dreaded ENTJ and that’s the INFJ coming in at 1.5%. They’re not jerks though – instead they’re very sweet and sensitive. I actually work with one so I’ll let you know how long it takes for me to offend her. So far so good but when you work side by side with the unicorn of d-bags, anything is possible…

Especially when you tack on the fact that I’m a Scorpio with Jersey sarcasm flowing through my veins. Don’t get me wrong, Scorpios are actually very passionate and loyal…just don’t piss us off lol. That’s when the stingers come out and we can be as petty as they come!

I’ve learned to control most of that as I’ve gotten older though. It usually takes a little extra push to send me over the edge now…unless I’m hangry, then anything goes lol.

Sorry if I’ve lost any of you with this topic but I find stuff like this fascinating. There are other personality classifications based on Chinese Zodiac, birth order, birth date and time as well but I won’t dig into those here.

But when you add race and sexual orientation to the equation as well, it’s pretty amazing how specific you can get with your personal categorization (<- that was 6 syllables – look at me using Big Boy words!). There are so many tribes within tribes now! I haven’t even touched on skin tone, eyes, hair style and color or geographical region yet!

When you further deconstruct each person’s individual characteristics, personality traits and what they identify as, it’s easier to understand why the nation is as divided as it currently is. We the People has become Me the Person.

“We the People has become Me the Person.” – Fat Darrell

Sure, it’s fun to classify our unique experience. We’re all the stars of our life story so a little self-reflection is necessary. However, when we’re done focusing on what sets us apart and makes us unique and different from everyone else, we should then shift to focusing on the overarching life experiences that we all share to help us find common ground.

 

It’s entirely possible to be an individual within a group. In fact, that’s what this experiment called America is all about. We were intended to be a collection of free-thinking individuals from various parts of the world who come together as one nation to share and benefit from each other’s unique perspectives and thrive as a collective unit.
That’s right, independent yet united…well, except for ENTJ’s cuz you know, we’re douchebags…

 

 

Ha, sorry fellow ENTJ’s – I was just kidding with all of that (lol sorta…). Although some of us come across as pricks on the outside, many of us are really sweet once you peel back the rough exterior.  And that my friends is how you transition from a discussion about personality types into a discussion about pineapples! See what I did there?

Seriously though, we can learn a lot from the pineapple. I’m sure you’ve heard the saying “Be like a pineapple. Stand tall, wear a crown and be sweet on the inside” before right? If not, now you have… and you’re welcome.

Aside from emulating the pineapple though, you should also eat the pineapple (unless you have a food allergy that is – sorry Mom ☹) because aside from being delicious, they’re packed with nutrients!

Pineapples contain tons of vitamin C, potassium and health benefits that include immune and digestive support, eye health and bone strength!

Please bear in mind that I’m talking about the raw pineapple fruit here and not necessarily in the form of Pina Colada…

Have a fitness question you’d like to ask or an accomplishment you’d like to share? Tell us about it in the comments below!

 

Speaking of pineapples, who wants to see my latest impulse buy (at least until that 2am Amazon order arrives)?

I almost made it out of the store without buying anything until I passed this shirt and well, who can resist the charms of the amazing pineapple tee? Surely I couldn’t. Besides, of all my food shirts, this one may actually be the healthiest…

I think you can see where this is going already so let’s just keep the pineapple theme going with a few great recipes that I found online that I plan to try asap!

This first one is for an incredible low calorie protein shake that looks absolutely delicious!

Skinny Aloha Bliss Pineapple Protein Smoothie

Courtesy of Jen from Carlsbad Cravings
Prep time 5 minutes
Serves 3-4

Ingredients

2 Scoops of vanilla flavored protein powder

1 20 oz. can pineapple chunks in pineapple juice (or sub 2 cups of fresh pineapple and 1 cup of fresh pineapple juice)

1 fresh ripe mango, peeled and roughly chopped

1 ripe frozen banana

1 cup nonfat vanilla Greek yogurt

1 cup lite coconut milk

1/2 cup orange juice

1 cup ice cubes

Instructions
Add all ingredients to your blender starting with fruit then chop then liquefy until very smooth. If you like a thicker smoothie, add more yogurt and ice. For a thinner smoothie, add more orange juice/coconut milk.

And this one I’ve got to try as well! These tropical burgers looks incredible!

Pineapple Bun Burgers

Courtesy of Lindsay Funston from delish
Prep time 10 minutes / Total time 20 minutes
Serves 4
Ingredients
1 lb. ground beef

1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

8 pineapple rings

1 large red onion, sliced into rings

4 slices pepper jack

4 pieces romaine

8 slices cooked bacon

Directions
Heat grill to medium-high. In a large bowl, combine ground beef and Worcestershire and season with salt and pepper. Form into 4 patties.
Grill patties, pineapple, and red onion until charred, 3 minutes per side. Top burger patties with pepper jack and cover grill to let melt, 1 minute.
Top bottom pineapple buns with lettuce, burger patties, bacon, and grilled onions, then top with pineapple bun.

Pineapples really are an amazing topping for chicken, salmon, tacos, cakes, salsa, you name it! Try incorporating some into your dishes this week and tell us what you come up with in the comments below!

Oh yeah and before we close out this section, check out these burger socks that I found in my closet the other day!

I completely forgot about them so that’s why they weren’t included in the Burger Time post a few months ago! The fact that I have so many crazy items at my place that I could somehow forget about these says all that you need to know! Sad but true story haha…still, check them out! I may wear these to the gym later lol…

Today’s Soundtrack

Wanna be Starting Something – Michael Jackson

Pen Pineapple Apple Pen – Daimaou Kosaka (lol listen to this one at your own risk…)

Wild Thoughts – DJ Khaled ft. Rihanna and Bryson Tiller

4:44 – Jay-Z (#legend)

Have another song that fits today’s theme or that’s just so incredible we should check it out anyway?  Tell us about it in the comments below!

Okay, before I head out, thanks to all who have sent your condolences for my tragic loss lol each day I get stronger because of you.  For those of you who have no idea what I’m referring to right now, here’s my Facebook post about the situation:

If you’re not following me already on Instagram, Twitter and the Fat Darrell page on Facebook you’re missing out!  Click the buttons on the side panel to follow me now!

Here’s another situation that happened over the weekend.  Yes, my life is really like a sitcom…

Anyway, speaking of the gym, it’s about time to head out for my second workout of the day. Why a second one? Because this local Mexican restaurant is offering $4 burritos all week and I just got paid last Friday! This could get ugly folks….very ugly lol.

Okay my little pineapples, lol it’s time for me to go but please drop a comment below before you leave. No seriously, do it this time… lol okay people, let’s make it a great week. Thanks again for dropping by and as always, May the Fork be With you…

-Darrell

“If pro is opposite of con, then what is the opposite of progress? …”