The Example

On the topic of today’s youth being lazy, I’d like to point out a few things, not necessarily point fingers, just highlight.

Most people, and kids are people, tend to do as they see done. Kids that are around athletics tend towards playing sports. Kids that are around people who do a lot of sitting, tend to sit. But it’s not limited to their peers, it’s who, and what, they are around at home as well.

So, parents, what do you do when you get home from work? (and let me say this, kids are at “:work” for 7 hours a day too. We call it school, but they go in order to create a better life for themselves, just like you do with your job.) So if you get home and sit on the couch with your chips and stare at a TV for the remaining 4 hours of the day because you “deserve” it for all your hard work, then that is exactly what your kids will do. They’ll follow the example set. Why are they considered lazy, if you do the same..?

My suggestion is to put down the smart phone, turn off the TV, and get up and play with your kids. Take a family walk or bike ride. Go to the park, play catch, kick a ball, dance, wrestle, whatever. Your kids will benefit from a health standpoint, as will you. Wouldn’t hurt you anyway, considering the typical  job requires sitting in front of a computer for 8 hours.

Play with you kids, be the example that they need.

On to the next one.

Today's Athlete

I hear it all the time, maybe even said it, but today’s youth just don’t work hard. I have been around youth, middle and high school athletes for many years now, and can say without hesitation that this is false.If, at least, for the athletic youth.

Think about it. They go to school from 8-3, just like we all did, go to a two-hour practice, then at least a couple of times per week have weight training. Working with weights in the in-season was not a something most adults were required to do when they, we, we playing sports. After all that, maybe 6pm if lucky, they have to cram down dinner and get to work on their homework for the day so they don’t fall behind and can stay eligible.

If anything, I’d say today’s athletes work harder than their predecessors. And since many athletes from smaller communities play multiple sports, adding to their time commitments, it is no wonder that when you see them outside an athletic arena they might appear lazy. That’s called recovery! We can’t expect them to be constantly working on their shooting, and when they aren’t doing that, why aren’t they working on their curveball? It ridiculous to expect greatness at all times.

I’m certainly not saying its good for kids to sit and play video games, it isn’t, but all kids, especially athletes, need down time.

So the next time you see a kid who plays sports not practicing his craft, don’t criticize them. Allow them to be kids for a bit. They aren’t professionals who should be doing everything in their power to be great right now. Allow them to relax.

They certainly work hard, especially if it isn’t outside forces telling them how they should act.

On to the next one.

Confidence

Are confident people more successful? Or are they confident because they are successful?

In the gym, it is usually very easy to spot the successful ones. Their posture is better, they walk with a certain swagger, and everyone else’s eyes gravitate towards them.

It is also quite easy to recognize the confident souls. They look around too much, constantly wondering who is judging them.

But one of the great things about being in the gym training; is seeing that person completely reinvent themself through the weights.

When a person gains strength physically, they gain more than muscle – its mental. When they start seeing results, whether it’s losing 20 pounds, abs start to peek out of their soft shell, they increase their squat 20 pounds. They become more confident in themselves, because they, no one else, put in the work to accomplish it.

I’m not sure there is a better confidence booster than your local training facility. The hardest part is walking in that first day.

I’d encourage you to show up. Find that strength. Believe in yourself.

Time to get that swagger back.

On to the next one.

NBA

When I was young, elementary school mostly, I dreamed of playing basketball in the NBA. Get paid to play basketball? That’s me, sign me up.

By the time I reached middle school, I realized that wasn’t going to happen. Why? Well I wasn’t very good, too short, too white, but mostly because I wasn’t working on my game like I should have.

My biggest regret, however, is that I allowed myself to give up on that dream. What could have happened if I had relentlessly attacked my goals? If I had been unrelenting in my efforts to chase that dream? Would I have played for the Bulls? Most likely not. College ball? Maybe, maybe not.

Would that have been the end of the world if I had worked and not gotten there? absolutely, not.

What would have happened is that I would have realized the value of hard work. I would have greatly improved my skill. I would have learned about resiliency, and never giving up.

I hope that I have learned from my 12 year-old self that you should never give up chasing your dreams. There is work involved, and it can be painful. But if it’s really worth it, find a way.

On to the next one.

Shadows

They are always with you, every step on your life’s journey. Sometimes you are aware, other times they go unnoticed. But they are there.

Shadows, however, are rarely in the present. Shadows remind, they haunt. We look down at them and see the same shadow we saw on the playground as kids. Those same shadows follow us, reminding us that we were once superheroes, doctors, firefighters, pilots. The shadows remind us we were once destined for greatness, to be special.

Now, that shadow shows us we are not always what we once saw in ourselves. Our shadows weren’t about our bank account, or being power-hungry.

Dare to be that superhero again. Dare to be great again. It’s not too late to be who you thought you’d be.

Be great.

Small Goals

It’s important to have, and regularly set goals for yourself. But the mistake people make is going “all in”. When it comes to health, people set their goal as “I am going to stop eating junk, no fast food, skip desserts, and exercise 5 times/week.”

Great goals. Phenomenal, really. Talk to me on Thursday, let’s see how it’s working…

What would I suggest? Pick one small thing when you are just starting out and make it a habit. Habits can be formed in three weeks. Do that new thing everyday, or whatever your times-per-week is for those three weeks. After that, it has become your habit.

For instance, say your goal is to eat healthy, but you currently skip breakfast most of the week. Your first step, or habit to form, is to commit to eating breakfast everyday. Yes, it matters what that food is, but initially get in the habit of consuming in something in the morning. Your body needs that fuel to charge your day and power your activities. After that habit is formed, then you can focus on eating nutritious foods at fueling times.

If your goal is to exercise more, but you haven;t done anything for a long (long, long…) time, then you need to start small. Maybe that means walking around the block a few times a week. And by the way, don’t think you are too good to simply walk. The goal is progress, not the olympics.

Start with small goals, high aspirations, form the necessary habits. Knock that first domino over, and it will make the next one more attainable.

Training as a Parent

I will readily admit that I allowed myself to drop off of my training when we had our first child. I didn't completely stop, but I allowed life to happen and training took a back seat, which it probably should when you have a family. Family has to take priority over self, and therefore training. 

But it quickly became "okay" if I missed a session, a week...And since it was okay to miss a week, it also became okay to skip training if it was too cold. Too hot. Too early. Too anything.

I understand having obligations. But my family also deserves to have a healthy husband/father. Your family deserve that, too. The best version of yourself.

It is perfectly acceptable to be selfish at times, especially if it means you are bettering yourself. Bettering yourself is a positive for the whole family.

What good am I if I can't play with my kids? Further down the road, if I don't make a commitment to health, what good am I if I wind up with a host of health problems and become a burden on the people I love?

The investment I make on myself now, regardless of what my training program looks like, will benefit myself and my loved ones in the future.

What investment are you making?