I’ve seen several blogs where people talk about some great thing they’ve done, and how they will teach you to do it, step by step. They will teach you exactly how they lost 50 pounds or made a bunch of money or landed a great spouse or something. As if what works for one person is going to work the same for everyone else on the planet. Sure, some things work that way, but most things vary, depending on the individual and his or her circumstances. Bad news, it’s up to you to figure out your own life.
I haven’t done big, huge, impressive things – at least not by my standards. I haven’t scaled mountains or traveled the world on points, or made boatloads of money selling shitty ebooks. I mean, I’m not a total slouch – I have a bachelor’s degree, an interesting resume, am fairly healthy, own a nice house, and have navigated through some difficult times here and there. I haven’t given up on life, but I’m not working on any oscar winning shit right now. I’m sort of in transition. Slow, steady, transition. I’m becoming much more centered and at peace with who I am, without the distractions of relationships or jobs. The idea is that I will be MUCH better at both when I decide to participate in either again in the future. Basically, I’m setting my clock:
“Quiet minds cannot be perplexed or frightened, but go on in fortune or misfortune at their own private pace, like a clock during a thunderstorm.”
— Robert Louis Stevenson
What I want to do is to encourage you to figure out what works for you, where you are right now. I want you to stop driving yourselves and the people around you crazy, looking for The Answer. It’s not out there. Or maybe it is. You have to make your own way if you ever want to succeed. Yes, I encourage you to do research – lots and lots and lots of research. Then Try Things. Don’t go out, thinking you’ve found The Answer, and give up if it doesn’t magically transform your life in 3 days and 10 nights. Try Things! Take the things that work and do them again. Tweak them, try little variations of them. Try their opposite! But don’t give up. Don’t ever give up!
If you decide you want to lose weight, figure out how YOU lose weight best. Don’t go to the gym three times, hate it, and decide you’ll never lose weight, Ever. Find out what works for you. I’m a fan of doing pilates and yoga workouts alone in my house, using DVDs to guide me. And I walk on my treadmill, watching YouTube videos. Maybe you’re one of those people who loves parkour or ballet, mountain climbing or biking, or running along the pavement as the sun rises. Maybe you like strolling on the beach, eating cheetos. Maybe you love the Atkins diet, or paleo, or nutrisystem.
It doesn’t matter, as long as it works for you on some level. The goal isn’t to miraculously get it right on one. The goal is to do better than you’re doing right now. If you find yourself getting frustrated, maybe it’s time to back off on the subject and work on something else.
I’m finally posting twice a week on a somewhat consistent basis. I had particular days of the week picked out, but that didn’t work for me, so I use it more as a suggestion than a must. So far this is going alright. I’m working out at least 5 days a week – that’s another Win. I’m eating more salad and less processed things. We’re not going to discuss my sleep / wake schedule right now because, ugh.
That’s exactly my point. I’m not some know-it-all douche who is going to tell you right and wrong, as if any of us actually have a clue. I might sound like it at times when I’m on a rant, but that isn’t my point. I write here because I want you to figure your shit out, and feel okay while you do it.
Tony Robbins said it best:
This is awesome. Straight-forward, honest, no punches pulled. Just people helping people. It is a beautiful thing. Thank you.