Issues: An Honest Account of a Real Girl with Real Issues

Do What You Want

“Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads.”  ― Henry David Thoreau, Walden

I do not fear death for I have faith. But I will not flee life for I have learned the key to living, and it is so simple it boarders on insulting: DO. WHAT. YOU. WANT.

Abandon every notion you have on what you thought you wanted and who you believed you needed to be because it’s crap! Do not live in the shadow your parents, your teachers, your peers painted for you because the very fact that it is shaded makes it dark, and as much as a plant soaks in the sun, we feed on light.

DO WHAT YOU WANT. It’s simple. You KNOW what you want. But we have been so conditioned by society’s shackles we even believe that we do not know what we want. But that’s crap. What you want is to be happy. It’s not money, a Chanel handbag or Louboutins. It’s not a corner office, a Ferrari, a mansion or yearly yacht excursions to St. Barths. Find what makes you happy, truly happy, and you will be free. Perfect it, and you will be rich.

I did this. I know. I live Everyday Better because that is my daily choice.

Together in Health!

xob

Entitlement Is The Disease Of Our Nation

There is not a word I dislike more than the term, “deserve.” Most of the time it is someone else saying the word with regards to me when I hear it. The sound is of nails down a chalkboard, I cringe. Most recently, I expressed to friend an opportunity that has presented itself but has yet to be confirmed. I told him, “if the stars align, I may be flying to LA (where he lives) to shoot for [a major fitness magazine].” He told me, “[I] deserve it.” I cringed and told him I cringed.

It is my firm belief that nothing in this world is “deserved.” Rather, we work for what we want, and the harder we work and the smarter we work, the greater our reward. The blessing for which to be grateful here, is not the product of our labor, but rather the ability we have, to change our circumstance; our ability to “earn.”

On Wednesday, I met someone who suffered a traumatic brain injury that severely affected his neoromotor skills; Chris was flying over the speed limit when he flipped his car and hit his head, landing him in a coma for several months. Did he deserve to walk again? Did he deserve to be crippled in the first place? It was he who stepped on the gas, neglected the speed limit and broke the law. But, did he “deserve” his circumstance?

Recently, I lived with someone with a very entitled mentality. Silver spoon fed, he had come from money before losing everything, which was never really his, but his father’s to begin with. Did he deserve wealth again? He felt he did, there’s no question. But he sat on his ass and did nothing to earn it, so it did not come. He became frustrated over what he believed was his misfortune, but never determined. He was starving, but not hungry, and having come from where I have been that was something I never understood.

Entitlement is the disease of our nation. I am blessed never to have known starvation, not because I am lucky, but because I have always been determined to put food on my plate; whatever it takes. But, I know struggle. And much like lifting a heavy weight at the gym, struggle builds strength. I Am Strong.

Together in Health!
xob