The world looks worse to me every year as i get older. It’s hard to think somethings will ever improve, but i also know it is not as bad as it has been in the past.
I fail to understand how somethings have went so upside down. For example: For the first time EVER in the history of the world, the bane of the poor is obesity. For at least 10,000 years, civilization has struggled with hunger and famine…And of course in many 3rd World Countries people still do. But in the Western world obesity is absolutely out of control. I see a new title put on it every few months-I recently heard of obesity labeled as a disease. Now i am not a medical professional, but i know that cancer is a disease, being fat is not.
High School graduation rates in the USA are falling. Some school districts are reporting 1 out of every 5 students will drop out before completing their senior year. That is truly unreal to me. Where will we go as a nation when 20% of the population decided HS was so hard they needed to punch out early?
The other day while instructing a class on the lawful use of force, i asked a group of 45 service members if they have read the Constitution of the United States and if they know what the first 10 amendments are to the Bill of Rights. Guess how many raised their hand? Not one. I was shocked. So i repeated it the next day, same result. So far this week i have asked over 200 service members, and have gotten the exact same answer. Someone please tell me why you would swear to defend and protect an idea that you do not know about? So i implore you, my reader: Please take two hours out of your busy day and read the Constitution of the United States. Why do i want you to do this? Because it has been paid for in blood and many people seek to take it away from us piece by piece.
I do not want to sound down about the whole deal, but it really does concern me. I have daily contact with mass groups of 18-23 year olds and what i see is not exactly reassuring.
Solutions? Yep i got a few to start with. Personal accountability. Stop blaming your parents, stop blaming your teachers, leave your boss, ex-girl friends/boy-friends, and neighbors out of the equation. You are what’s wrong with you, and you’re the only person who can take control to get back on track to fix it.
Put power back in to your life. I want people to get positive again. So many people are shifting to a helpless-ness attitude. Its time to re-center here people. I want YOU to do something. Try this out. For the next 4 weeks, say something positive to every person you talk to. I do not care if you dislike the person or what ever. Just say something positive or nice. And don’t fake it, don’t be an ass about it. Try greeting people with a “Sir” or “Ma’am” for 4 weeks. Go out and meet some new people, and tell them you’re glad you met them, and you want them to have a good week.
Since i write mostly on fitness related topics, and 95% of you reading this are here because of fitness related subjects, i have a special assignment for YOU. I want you to get 5 people involved in exercise in the next 2 weeks. 5 people you know, if you don’t know 5 people than go meet 5 people and get them going. Don’t worry about HOW to train them, just get them walking, doing some push ups and sit ups or something. Show them they can do it. I have yet to see someone get serious about their fitness and not experience a positive mindset change.
So that’s YOUR homework. I am leading from front on this, and I am going to get 20 people to start, and to make it fun 20 of them will be strangers to me. So lets get to it.
{ 5 comments }
Great piece Adam. What’s even more sad is there are plenty of people who have read the Constitution but don’t like what it says and want to change it. “That 2nd one isn’t that important, it doesn’t really mean you can own a firearm, and if you do it can’t be for purposes of defending yourself, no one needs an automatic weapon”. And then there’s the separation of church and state issue, hey folks it’s Freedom of religion not freedom FROM religion.
I took my kids to DC last year and we read everything. Now they are a little young to understand fully but they know that many, many people have made the ultimate sacrifice for us to live the way we do.
I agree and will commit to getting 5 people off their rears and into gear!
Two of my neighbors have been working out with me and this morning I got an update. In 3 months my friend Andy has lost 35 LB’s and his cholesterol has gone from 215 to 140. Amazing what personal responsibility for the food you put in your mouth and the things you do on a daily basis will have.
I am working with 100 executives over the next three weeks and I will ask them the same questions.
Great post. The RKC armbar and TGU just keep getting easier and easier, thanks again for the great instruction.
great post adam, i to will find five people and help them realize the benefits of positive thinking and help them realize exercise in some way shape or form will only make them stronger mentally and phyiscally. I will spend some time tom. rereading the Constitution to make sure i know exactly how fortunate i am to be living in the United States Of America enjoying the freedoms we have. Thankyou very much adam.
Adam my Friend
This is why you are the strongest person Ive ever known.
Not because of crazy bending, breaking, ripping & gripping.
Mitch
South Africa
or we could just wait for the Gubmint to fix it all…..