Are You Doing the Right Thing?

Wow, can you believe it’s almost AUGUST already? It seems like it was just yesterday on January 4, 2010 when I decided to press play for the FIRST TIME. And now . . . I just finished my second round (180 days) of P90X! Since then my focus has shifted to training for the half-marathon I’m doing with my sisters on September 26, 2010 in Lansing, MI. This is the first official race I’ve EVER done, so I’m a little nervous about it, but I figure if I can survive 180 days of Tony Horton . . . anything is possible! If you want to see the training schedule I’m following you can download it HERE.

On my cross training days I plan on doing . . . you guessed it . . . P90X! I’m currently on the end of Week 10 and ran a little over 8 miles this morning for the first time since I was in high school (that was over 15 years ago, if you’re counting)!

I know all of us don’t travel the same path when it comes to our health and fitness journey, but I think the article below written by Tony Horton will get you motivated no matter where you happen to be RIGHT NOW. I know every once in a while I need a kick in the pants when I’m feeling down in the dumps, and it seems like he always knows just the right thing to say!

So, let me know what you think and if you have anything else to add! It really validated the decision I made recently to become a Beachbody Coach. It’s all about SHARING and GROWING and WORKING with others so we can make a difference!

Are you doing all the right things for all the right reasons? If not, it’s time to make a CHANGE! Or maybe you know someone who does all the wrong things? How can you help them? It might not be as hard as you think! Sometimes all it takes is for you to quietly lead by example. After all, actions speak louder than words!

Doing the Right Thing–For the Right Reasons
By Tony Horton, creator of P90X

We have become the United States of Quick Fixes.

Why are we so addicted to shortcuts, tricks, and magic potions? Far too many people in this country live in some kind of wannabe fantasyland. We’re trying to keep up with the Joneses without working as hard as they do. This bigger, badder, and faster world doesn’t give us an opportunity to stop and look at real and authentic ways to achieve greatness.

How many people have you talked to about Power 90? who, when they find out they have to exercise and eat right say, “Forget it!” There are millions of people in this country who have absolutely no clue that you have to work hard, take risks, and be willing to fail over and over again to earn what’s worth having. Hard work, risk, and failure . . . “Forget it!”

This is a very sad commentary that reveals what we’ve become in this country. We have the best of the best in the U.S. of A., but we hold the record for the highest percentage of fat people. Why do we reach for drugs, alcohol, sex, food, lies, blame, anger, hate, guilt, and self-pity far more often than power, courage, discipline, forgiveness, wisdom, and self-reliance? We’ve become a bunch of crybabies, filled with excuses, blaming everyone else for our problems!

The freedoms and conveniences we now enjoy were fought for by men and women who didn’t think twice when it came to working hard, taking risks, and failing over and over again. This generation’s selfish, lethargic, “woe-is-me” mentality is creating a country filled with folks who live in a constant state of quiet desperation. Our ancestors worked very hard to create a world with less stress and strife. So why are we more stressed out than ever?

The pendulum has swung way too far in the wrong direction. It’s time to stop all the bitching and moaning and wanting, and the just wishing and hoping and dreaming things will change. We need to start living in the real world and begin to take some responsibility for what goes on in our lives. It’s time to start exploring and searching and devoting and sharing and growing and working for what you want in this world.

It’s really a matter of right and wrong. We know the difference between the two, but we still fail to behave in ways that allow us to be great human beings.

Right vs. Wrong
Work out                                  Don’t work out
Eat healthy                               Eat junk
Fail and try again                   Fail and quit
Persevere                                 Blow it off
Forgive yourself                    Blame others
Listen                                          Complain
Be kind                                       Be right (all the time)
Find out what you love        Ignore your greatness

This is a short list, but I think you get the point.

The list on the right will lead you down the road of endless short-lived pleasures that result in lifelong pain, fear, and sadness. The list on the left (which can be hard at first) will open you up to a world filled with happiness, joy, and fulfillment.

You might want to ask yourself how history will see you after you’re gone. If you don’t like the answer today, then it might be time to do the right thing.

Peace,
Tony H.