IN THE AFTERMATH OF AN EVIL RECESSION AND THE POSSIBILITY OF ANOTHER DIP IN OUR NATIONAL AND GLOBAL ECONOMY, PEOPLE JUST PLAIN CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHY THINGS AREN'T PICKING UP... I'LL TELL YOU WHY- ACCORDING TO MY GIRLFRIEND I HAVE ALL OF THE ANSWERS ;)
ONE OF OUR NATION'S BIGGEST PROBLEMS IS THAT MANY OF US HAVE BECOME LAZY AND UNPASSIONATE. YUP, I SAID IT. PEOPLE RANT AND RAVE THAT WE NEED TO EAT AND SHOP LOCALLY. NEVERTHELESS, WHEN THE AVERAGE CONSUMER GOES TO PATRONIZE SOME OF THESE ESTABLISHMENTS, THE SERVICES ARE LACKLUSTER AND BLAND. IN MANY CASES, NOT ALL, PEOPLE AREN'T CARRYING A SENSE OF PRIDE, ENERGY, AND DETERMINATION IN THEIR RESPECTIVE LINE OF WORK. A GARBAGE MAN WILL JUMP OFF HIS TRUCK AND SLING A BAG INTO THE BACK, BUT WOULD NEVER TAKE THE ENERGY TO PICK UP THE LOOSE MCDONALD'S CUP SITTING ON THE SIDEWALK. A CHEF PUSHES 100 PLATES OF THE SAME DISH THROUGH HIS WINDOW ON AN AVERAGE NIGHT, BUT WOULD NEVER THINK TO TASTE WHAT HE'S SERVING BECAUSE HE DOESN'T GET THE SAME HOURS HE USED TO.
I THINK THE SAME PLAGUE HAS BLED OVER INTO THE WORLD OF HEALTH AND FITNESS. IT BLOWS MY MIND THAT GROWN MEN ARE WILLING TO DUMP HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS ON XBOX 360 AND VARIOUS VIDEO GAMES. ON THE OTHER HAND, IF YOU SUGGESTED THAT THEY MAKE A SIMILAR ANNUAL INVESTMENT ON THEIR HEALTH, THEY WOULD LOOK AT YOU LIKE YOU HAD 3 EYES. PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO DUMP $100/MONTH ON A CELL PHONE WITH A DATA PLAN, BUT FORGET THAT IT WOULD BE RENDERED USELESS IN THE AFTERMATH OF A SEVERE STORM, TERRORIST ATTACK, ETC. WHAT WOULD BE MORE USEFUL, YOUR BODY.
THE MATTER OF THE FACT IS THAT OUR NATION NEEDS TO GET OFF OF THEIR ASSES AND SHOW MORE PASSION IN LIFE, WORK, FITNESS, AND FAMILY. PHYSICAL FITNESS SHOULD BE MORE THAN "GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS" OR GETTING ABS. MAKE PHYSICAL FITNESS MORE THAN A MEMBERSHIP. MAKE IT A LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCE.
LAST WEEKEND, NICK AND I HEADED TO NEW YORK CITY TO TAKE PART IN A RUN THAT I'VE BEEN WANTING TO PARTICIPATE IN FOR YEARS. IN THE MIDST OF 31,000 OTHER PARTICIPANTS, WE TOOK TO THE BROOKLYN BATTERY TUNNEL TO RUN THE SAME ROUTE THAT A FALLEN FIREFIGHTER TOOK ON 9/11/01. I DON'T THINK THE MAGNITUDE OF THE EVENT HIT EITHER OF US UNTIL WE ENTERED THE TUNNEL AND THE THOUSANDS OF RUNNERS AROUND US ERUPTED INTO A ROAR. WHEN THE CHEER SETTLED, I WAS SURROUNDED BY FELLOW FIREFIGHTERS AND THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS. COUNTRY MUSIC WAS RIPPING THROUGH SPEAKERS SET UP FOR THE EVENT- NOTHING FELT MORE AMERICAN TO ME.
AFTER GETTING OVER THE INITIAL ANXIETY OF RUNNING A 5K IN MY FIRE GEAR, I REALIZED THAT SHORT OF THE HEAT, IT REALLY WASN'T THAT BAD. NICK WORKED AS MY PACE CAR WEAVING IN AND OUT OF THE CROWD. I FELT FORTUNATE TO HAVE A KID LIKE NICK AROUND. EARLY INTO HIS EMPLOYMENT, NICK QUICKLY BECAME MORE LIKE A BUSINESS PARTNER/LITTLE BROTHER. THROUGHOUT THE RACE, HE CHECKED IN ON ME TO MAKE SURE I WAS STILL WITH HIM AND DOING OKAY. THAT GENUINE CONCERN FOR A FRIEND IS SOMETHING YOU JUST CAN'T TEACH.
COMING OUT OF THE TUNNEL WAS UNDOUBTEDLY THE MOST EMOTIONAL PART OF THE RACE FOR ME. AFTER AN EVIL 3/4 MILE UPHILL RUN OUT OF THE TUNNEL, I WAS STARTING TO FEEL IT KICK IN. BUT STANDING ON THE SIDEWALKS TO GREET US WERE 2 LINES OF HUNDREDS FDNY FIREFIGHTERS LINED UP IN THEIR CLASS A UNIFORMS HOLDING BANNER WITH THE PHOTOS OF THEIR FALLEN BROTHERS. WITH THEIR HANDS ENTENDED FOR A HIGH FIVE, THEY SHOUTED ENCOURAGEMENT AS WE PUSHED FOR THE FINISH. I DON'T THINK WORDS COULD DO JUSTICE FOR THE EMOTIONS I WAS FEELING.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, I WANT EACH OF YOU TO FIND THIS SENSE OF FULFILLMENT ON THE FIELD OF HEALTH AND FITNESS. WHETHER IT'S CREATING A BOND WITH A GOOD FRIEND, SEEING YOUR LIFE FLASH BEFORE YOUR EYES DURING A SHITTY WORKOUT, MAKING YOURSELF PART OF SOMETHING BIGGER, OR USING AN EVENT AS A GOAL TO CATALYZE CHANGE IN YOUR LIFE. REALIZE THAT YOUR MIND, BODY, AND SOUL ARE YOUR BIGGEST ASSETS AND INVESTMENTS! SEE YOU IN THE BOX...
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