I wanted…

  • I wanted to write a blog post about how my life is changing now that I’ve moved 4000 miles away from the one place I’ve ever called home as I attempt to make this place my new home.

  • I wanted to write a blog post about how my first run in Halifax was amazing but a few days later my achillies is acting up and my feet hurt and I’m worried about taking so much time off from running now that winter is coming and this west coast girl is in for some east coast winter weather.

  • I wanted to write a blog post about how I’m finding myself bored for parts of the day because I am unable to work so the mindless eating behavior is creeping up and how Burger King is taunting me to try the “Angry Poutine”.
  • I wanted to write about how I’m missing the comforts of my home in Tacoma. How knowing where everything is brings about a lot of safety on this journey. I knew where my gym was. I knew where my work was. I knew where I would run when I wanted to strap on my shoes and hit the pavement. I knew where all the “healthier” food options were if I was out for a long day. I knew everything about my city inside and out.
  • Basically I wanted this to be a pity party for me.
Instead I’m going to leave you with the following blog post by my new trainer Chris over at Absolute Wellness.
(and get off my pity pot).

CHOICES

 

I had absolutely no intention of writing anything until the weekend, and even then I had only been toying with the idea of writing a proper introductory blog as I kind of got right into the heavy stuff on my first post.  You know, a blog to let potential readers get to know a little bit about me and what the purpose of these ramblings might be.  Then I landed upon two YouTube videos which got me thinkin’… FUCK I HATE WHINERS!  (sorry Mom)

Okay, there!  The elephant’s out of the room.  Any of my clients who read my first, and now this blog have just been waiting for me to drop an F-bomb – it’s a bit of a thing with me.

This first video was a preview for a book by Dr. Lee Lipsenthal entitled “Enjoy Every Sandwich”.  Dr. Lipsenthal was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in July 2009 and after a subsequent recurrence accepted his diagnosis, illness, and treatment.  He discovered that rather than fear, the realization of his own mortality actually brought out a calm reflection, one which enabled him to provide insight, aptly portrayed in the title of his book, he advises us to “Find the joy in the simplicity of life”.  I know… a bit heavy!

The second video was much lighter – a clip of Michael J. Fox playing Johnny B. Goode (yup, a re-enactment of Back To The Future, complete with red guitar) at his recent charity benefit held last Saturday (November 12th).

So… just how the heck did these two videos elicit that emphatic statement noted above?

Here’s two men, whose lives are dramatically affected by medical conditions. How easy would it be for either of these men to pack it in, to simply say, “why bother, I’m dying”, or “I don’t think I can, I kinda got the shakes today”?  “Hmmm,I just don’t feel up to it today”?  No one would think twice.  Yet they’re not.  They’re at peace, they’re thoughtful, they’re raising our awareness, they’re helping, and they’re LIVING.  Even in death and sickness these two men are living – excuse free!!.

How many of us…  how many people do we know are so consumed with excuses, rationalizations and justifications for their own suckiness that they can’t get out of their own damn way?  We search for any reason possible to justify our complacency, “I’m tired”, “I’m just really busy”, “You have no idea how difficult it is”, “Something just came up”, “But they’re not doing it” (referring to someone else’s lack of action).  

STOP IT ALREADY… seriously!  

Take a look around you.  For the most part we’re pretty damn fortunate (if you disagree, listen to the news).  Most of us have our health (and a choice of whether we take care of it or not).  We have a roof over our head, food to put on our table (and a choice of what to buy), and a cozy bed to climb in to at night.  The basics, right?  Choices, right? 

Either we choose to get up off our asses and pursue our dreams and goals, or sit their drowning in our sea of excuses.  You pick!  

“Excuses are the nails used to build a house of failure.” 
~Don Wilder and Bill Rechin

Suggestions

1/ W.I.N. – What’s Important NOW!  De-clutter your life and focus on the things that will really make a positive impact in your life RIGHT NOW!

2/ Lose the “buts” and “can’ts”.  Any explanation that begins with “But…” is simply an excuse, and “I can’t” just means that you don’t want to badly enough.  Lose them!  Remove these words from your vocabulary.  Either you want to or you don’t!

ONE LIFE!  ONE CHANCE!  NO EXCUSES!

(check this video out if you’re still in doubt)

And maybe, just maybe embedded somewhere in this blog post is the intro I had thought about writing.  Maybe this explains that amidst my profanity and no bullshit approach there’s a simple desire to see people make a change in their lives and in turn, for them to help others.  

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4 comments to I wanted…

  • I love you. And you KNOW I love me a good Wilmot rant. Chris speaks the truth, and is in no small part my education for how I live my life now. Thank you for sharing him with your LCJ audience.

    I know transition is hard. I’m so grateful you’ve been with me these last two weeks, and that you’ll be here while I’m recovering. I know it hasn’t been easy. I know you’re making the very best of your unexpected free time. I hope you feel every iota of appreciation I have. Cause its BIG BIG.

    AoM/AoY Forever. xo

  • Michele

    As someone who has done this very thing but with less distance. Seattle is close but still miss my friends and country. The ONLY thing that got me through was to volunteer my ass off and work out. I met people in both places.

    Good luck eh!

  • One of my fave free places to hang out in Halifax is the Keshen Goodman library on Lacewood. I could spend hours there!

  • […] been 623 days since Tara arrived here in Halifax with […]

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