I purposely used this title in hopes of grabbing your attention. That being said get your mind out of the gutter.
As I drive around my small hometown being more aware and observant because of my regular meditation practice (shameless plug for meditation), I noticed something. It seems the American flag spends more time at half-mast than it does proudly flying in all its glory. But I would like to take you back to the gutter and away from a political commentary on the condition of our country.
I would like to draw the comparison of the position of our flag to the condition of many if not most men in this country. It seems as I research, watch and observe, (remember I meditate) I can't help but think we men are operating at “half-mast” in many aspects of our lives.
We work long hours at jobs we just tolerate, we come home to our homes which always seem to be in need of a repair or improvement and if we are lucky we get to spend our hard-earned savings and credit on shit we don't really need or want. We try to get our male fix for excitement from watching others on TV doing what we would like to be doing.
Is this how it is supposed to be? Where is the fun, the adventure, or even some type of challenge to be a part of? Let's not even get into our dwindling sex drive that seems to sneak away as we grow older. “Half mast”.
Allow me to breathe a little hope into this depressing rant. It does not have to be like this. We can choose to live differently. But we have to choose. If we are foolish enough to think we can just move through life thinking (or not thinking) that the world is going to take of us and make us feel alive, we are sadly mistaken.
I'm suggesting it is up to you to go after the things you want out of life. No one else is going to do it for you. There are consequences to every action we take. Those consequences can be positive or negative, the choice is yours.
"Ok Jeff, say you are correct (and I am). What can I do about now? I have a family, a mortgage, debt, a job, I have responsibilities! I can't just check out for a few months and go hunt buffalo or climb Mt. Everest."
I am here to help you figure this out and I am a believer in bullets. Not the kind you hunt buffalo with, but the kind you search for so you don’t waste time reading a bunch of meaningless words. So if you have skimmed this post until now looking for the bullets standing out in bold print, here you go:
Get Fit. You are designed to move. So move, man! Lift shit, run, hike, jump, throw. Do anything that gets your blood, muscles, and heart pumping. I'm not going to bore you with the 100s benefits of exercise. But trust me, the foundation of growth or change starts here. If you don't know where to start or what to do, connect with me and I can help or take it upon yourself. But do something. Move!
Eat Less. Yes, eat less. Our ancestors didn't have a McDonald's or Chipotle on every fucking corner. We have way too much access and excess to food and it's making us lazy, sick, and fat. Believe it or not, it's ok to be hungry. In fact, I recommend being hungry on a regular basis. Figuratively, those that are hungry work harder, move faster and are more grateful than our constantly satisfied counterparts. Literally, intermittent fasting (not intaking calories for a designated period of time) is a benefit to all your Circles (body, emotions, mind, and heart). If not sure what to do, again connect with me or look it up. The benefits will blow your mind. It will change your life and your future health.
Juice. I'm not talking about pulverizing fruits and veggies (although this is a healthy habit). I'm also not talking about blowing yourself up like a big testosterone balloon. But as we get older our bodies begin to break down and shut down because we aren’t 20 years old anymore. This does not mean it’s time to give in and give up on being a man and doing real man stuff. I just want you to be happy and I’m pretty sure you do too. Just think about it for a second. If our goal in life is just to be happy (and boiled down to its simplest form, it is), we should be able to do whatever it takes as long as it doesn't hurt you or anyone else. There is a very safe and healthy way to supplement your body's depleted hormones to look, feel, and perform at an optimal level for decades after 40. Talk to your doc or contact me and I can point you in the right direction.
To put a screw in this thing and tighten everything up, I believe this world can be a much better, exciting, fulfilling place to live and I believe it starts with you. We were not made to follow the pack, or get caught up in the rat race. Most of us are falling far short of our potential and this affects our happiness and the condition of our world. Literally, how well we live our lives and how happy we are will affect the future of the planet. Deep, huh?
This article is a very small sampling of what I do to help, teach, and lead people to their best. I create custom-built comprehensive health and fitness programs for high-performance lives. If you think you aren’t living the life you should be, you need to get in contact with me. I can help and I will.