#26: It's Now or Never

What seems like far too many people lament about their life's situations. Admittedly some of their complaints are valid -- if there is no job, the lack of income is a true millstone around their neck -- but many other complaints are not valid.

You know the type of person I'm referring to. They complain about everything. There's always an excuse why something happened to them. Nothing is ever their fault. Overweight? They are not to blame. Who then? Some unseen person?

It reminds me of my nephew Bobby who is now 15. Once, when he was about six, and was spending the night at my mother's, he got a slice of pizza from her refrigerator and took a bite. While holding the rest of the piece in one hand he walked into the living room where Mom was and with his other hand wiped his mouth as he chomped out loud. "Not eating any pizza here, Grandma," he said. "Well, what's that in your mouth and in your hand?" she asked. Bobby replied about me, "Oh, Uncle Lou must have put it there."

Funny perhaps, but it illustrates a truth. Until you own up to your fallacies you can not make progress on crafting a new you. You can not blame anyone but yourself for being out of shape. You were not born 20 or 50 or 100 pounds overweight. You did this to yourself over the years. The sooner you admit this the faster your turnaround to a healthier person will be.

"Yeah, but it will take me years to lose all of this weight." So what. If you don't act now, then years from now you'll still be the same, if not worse. You'll continue to be the overweight, tired, out of shape person you are today. What other excuse do you have?

Your situation is what it is because of the decisions you have made. Now is the time to begin a journey of wiser choices, action instead of inaction, responsibility instead of irresponsibility. If you do not like something about yourself, then begin to change it.

Benjamin Franklin created positive affirmations, aspects of his personality he wanted to change, and concentrated for one month on each of the traits he wanted to acquire or eliminate. It took quite some time but Franklin's personality underwent a near miraculous change. Now, he is viewed as one of our our most beloved statesmen.

Think a personal overhaul will take too much time or take too much effort? Ask yourself if you have the gumption to lose one pound. Just one solitary, little pound. If you answer truthfully, your answer must be a resounding "Yes!" Then begin to do what you need to do to lose that first pound. After your initial success, then work toward losing just one more, little pound.

Looked at as a whole, the journey to better fitness and better health often seems too daunting. But, just as you don't eat a meal in one gulp, but in tiny, manageable mouthfuls, so you will embark on your trip to a new you.

Start now, today. Do this for yourself. Make this journey a gift you give yourself.

Little by little. Tiny baby steps.

As Elvis sang many times, "It's now or never."