Joe Average Gets Fit

As I read an article about choosing happiness, the last paragraph brought back memories of events that deeply impressed me. I had a number of times the great privilege of sitting in a few public and private meetings with Les McGuire before his death. On his radio program, he would introduce himself saying, “I am the man who loves his life.”

Many have talked about “creating the life you love”, but that’s not the same as loving one’s life. One can certainly find enjoyment in a charmed life filled with ease, riches, or glamor— creating “a life you love” — but still not love one’s life. When I say, “I love my life”, I mean that I place great value on my existence and wish to make the most of it, as opposed to frittering it away with needless pain, hollowness, or vain pursuits. Don’t get me wrong — one can have both, but “creating a life that you love” is an external pursuit. Loving one’s life springs from a human’s inner core, and through action manifests itself in the world.

If one loves one’s live, a series of actions naturally extend from that motive power. In other words, one follows that declaration with the word “therefore”. For example, in context of this blog, I can say, “I love my life, therefore I act as a good steward over my physical body so that I have the physical capacity to act fully, without physical hinderance.”

Note that this is different from saying, “If I love my life then I will _____.” That’s a common manipulation tactic. How often have we heard, in performances if not real life, something akin to “You’d do X if you truly loved me”? By this the manipulator seeks “X” as evidence of the love, and insinuates (or states explicitly) that not doing “X” is evidence of lack of love. This poor line of reasoning appears to be engrained into human relations, evidenced by the fact that it can be found in ancient literature and religious writings (e.g. Paris in the old Greek myths, or Matthew 4).

When I say, “I love my life, therefore I do X”, the action stems naturally from the love of my life. Why do I rewire my brain? Why do I exercise? Why have I reformed what I eat? It’s not because I have set a goal ahead of me, that I’m working towards. It’s because those are natural extensions of my inner desire. I enjoy my existence, therefore I breathe air and avoid sticking solid objects through my brain. Ceasing to breathe, or putting bullet through my brain would be counterproductive.

Before I commenced my fitness journey I had deceived myself into believing that I was in pretty good shape, and that my condition didn’t really hinder me. Since my collision with reality last March, I wiped that deception from my eyes. I replaced that harmful belief with a new belief: I exercise good stewardship over my body. As with any endeavor in life, it’s been a bumpy ride, but I’ve been steadily progressing.

As I get into shape, I’m discovering new meaning in that phrase, “I am the man who loves his life”. My beliefs drive my actions. My actions produce results. I enjoy the results. The desirable results reinforce my beliefs. This cycle, repeated, helps to create new neural pathways in my mind… a fancy way of saying that new habits are born, and a new life comes into being.

Everyone has their reason for getting in shape, discontent being common. Discontent can carry a person for quite some time, but can it carry a person all the way to the goal? Perhaps. It carried me through the first month or two, but could not carry me over the finish line. I’ve become fit enough that I could call my current condition “pretty darned good”, and hold my position. When I look in the mirror, it’s quite tempting. I am looking really good compared to my prior state, and at times the routine grates.

“Cowboy Up”

Here in the Western states there is a phrase, “Cowboy up”. Its essence means to rise to the challenge at hand. I have had to find something deeper along the way to drive me back into the saddle of the bucking horse called “life”. I love my life, and therefore once again I place my left foot in the stirrup, throw my right leg up and over, planting myself squarely in the saddle — ready to risk being thrown to the ground again. I know with a certainty that I’ll reach my objective. I won’t be thrown forever because I’m learning to ride this wild horse called “life”. Eventually I will prevail because my actions are consistent with success. Success is available to every person willing to follow the same cycle. Believe. Act. Evaluate Results. If an “average Joe” can do this, anybody can.

Status: 62 pounds (28 kg) lighter.