Reframing 50
The simplest thing will change things the most dramatically. The statement, "I want to be healthy, I want to be happy (whatever that means), I want an important and productive life." What do you want? No one can say, but you.
I've always wondered, what with all that expert advice floating around us; books, TV, Internet, infomercials, and, of course, the 6,000 televangelists; Why in the hell is everybody so overweight and uninterested in understanding just what it takes to accomplish these goals of happy, spiritual, productive lives?
What is the big secret?
Well, believe it or not, a guy from Minnesota with a past that reads like a Quentin Tarantino script is going to tell you, and most importantly he is going to be able to back it up with hundreds of success stories (but more about that later). The big hidden message from the secret tablet of Barnum and Bailey, or whomever you espouse to as being responsible. Responsibility for every nuance of your life, responsibility for you and you alone. Not your kids, not your wife, not your cousin or friends, or your cousin's friend, or your uncle's dog, well, you get the idea.
Mistake #1
The I can't, I thought, or the ever popular, well, I just can't or I just thought, no know matter how you dress it up, it's still you avoiding any responsibility for the outcome of whatever egomaniacal endeavor you choose.
It's the proverbial escape hatch for your, oh-so-sensitive Ego. By placing too much on the outcome and nothing on the experience, you pass by the point of import, like an Austin Healy doing 150 on the Autobahn. Experience becomes a blur.
Mistake #2
Why!? People do not take time or effort to step back and ask this simple question.
I.E! Why do you workout or, like in most cases, create the illusion of working out. You perhaps read how your favorite superstar has accomplished this most desirable feat and buy their book, hoping that this will be the one that finally works. The one that turns everything around (the easy way, of course). But as always, you come to find out, that this is yet another dead-end. It's just not for you, I mean, they've got trainers and chefs. How is a regular type person supposed to get a fair shot at anything that really works? Why does this not work? Why do you not look at the real motive that drives your desire for something you don't have? Why?
Mistake #3
The horizon / not the hole
People are always looking at a narrow perspective; you must practice looking to the horizon. In other words, the expansive view. Create a habit of catching yourself compressing or choking off any outside perspective, always think in broad strokes.
Example. "I can't seem to lose weight no matter what". You place sole focus on food and how much, and how often, and how natural verses processed, and, and, and. Now, try this: a couple of clean light meals a day, but focus on NOT focusing. Get the picture? (Sorry 'bout that). You're just aware of food, you don't place any special attention on those 5 fat free chips that you could not resist. In the end, the only person who really cares about this crap is you. Relax and keep The Broad View always looking to the horizon.
Mistake #4
Going into the gentle goodnight, NOT!
I can remember as a kid about 8 or 9 (this would have been in the late 60's), my Dad being mid forties- right about my age right now, 48. I remember my Dad and his friends being old. Looking back from the age I am now, I've gained a whole fresh insight to the things and reason. Why there is such a dramatic difference from then to now.
I have come to an understanding of why I was so compelled to challenge and change the inevitable outcome that generation accepted.
In the 60's, my Dad's generations accepted and adhered to the gospel of putting your 30 in at the job and retiring to a blissful retirement filled with golf, grandkids, and lots and lots of doing nothing. Reaping their reward for diligently sticking to the American Dream Doctrine.
But as we all know, that didn't quite work out. Smoking, drinking, and the stress to live up to whatever falsehood was standard issue at that time would cause that generation to face some ugly truths; high blood pressure, heart disease, a deep anger for an unfulfilled life, kids that played rock n roll instead of becoming Doctors and Lawyers, riding choppers instead of joining the bowling league on Friday night, etc.
The whole neat little package completely unwrapped and in a very large way causing a sort of mass anxiety attack. Men in their late 50s were dropping dead of massive coronary at work or, in the case of Governor Rockefeller, on top of their hooker at work, if you were lucky enough.
They weren't told they could have a real ideal of their very own. They were sure that what they were part of was infallible. No need to look any further, "don't rock the goddamn boat" as my Dad used to say. Now my Dad was no different. Three sons, a wife, and a 14 year career in the Navy. Then settle down into a nice 20-year salesman job working for a large pharmaceutical company. What went wrong? The 60s, that's what. When my Dad retired early (56 years old), two days later he would have his first heart attack and need a quadruple by-pass, but have a new lease on his life and future, a second chance. Eat right, exercise, and find a reason to get out of bed in the morning, a passion for life. But his generation wasn't taught or allowed to have freedom of individual passion, or even being open to such a concept. Theirs was a harsher past, working to just survive. Seven years later and #2 heart attack came. By this time, he was heavier than before, and had not exercised, and had become angry and unhappy with his life and for all I know, his past. The second one took its toll. After the operation he was in a coma for weeks, and once out of it, he never really recovered. Six months later he would be dead. I was 34 and at that moment I remembered thinking: I do not want that for my future- tubes and wires coming from your body, unconscious and in pain, and more vulnerable and helpless than anyone can imagine. My Dad was a very angry guy and for whatever the reason, his life did not live up to the hype. Once you get to your finish line, and you decide that you want your money back, and find out that this particular store does not have a refund policy, well, you don't get your do over pal.
Reframing 50
Avoiding this is as simple as simple gets. It goes like this: What makes you happy? If you can honestly unravel that question, you will have a life fulfilled. Answering that question is not tough, you just need courage. The sort of internal courage, that allows you to not fear what anybody else thinks about your decision. Notch that accomplishment in your belt and the rest is apple pie.
I created Strength for Living because it is a natural outgrowth of all my passion in life, martial arts, kettlebells, art, music, motorcycles, and more importantly, the process of learning.
After 25 years or so of letting the ego direct the outcome of my passion, I became aware that I was in charge and not my ego. That simple little statement is about the size of the universe in concept and substance. And as daunting as that may seem, as simple as letting go. Letting go of your idealization of who you think you are. If you can let go of all the little bits of useless habitual thinking that trap you, you can genuinely have a fresh start. Wake up everyday with a new slate and no baggage. This concept relates to everything in your life- mental, physical, and spiritual. Drop the predetermined outcome and you get to make a new ending. So let's start with the physical. Allow me to simplify your life, first by showing you how to workout your body and never get bored.
A belly-buster workout plan found in AARP magazine, tried and tested, found people having a 3-6% body fat loss in a year. The problem with this traditional concept of total physical fitness is that it has no sustainable future for 99% of the population. This is just busy work for your life. Wanna bust your belly? Quit eating pizza and drinking pop. Its simple, try it.
And now... The Unholy Trinity - Push up, Swing, Squat. Learn how to do these correctly and you will never look back. Instead of making a workout out of getting in shape and becoming healthy, use your new awareness and desire to learn to create something different everyday. In the past 4 years I have not repeated an identical practice session. Don't even use the phrase "workout", its implications are subtle, but undermining, remember The Broad View.
So, here you go... There are only a few requirements:
- Choose 1 or 2 or 3 of the Unholy Trinity, whichever feels right
- Don't let yourself get carried away, 5-15 minutes
Remember it's practice- if you feel like one move more than the other, stay with that. Don't automatically do what's written down. Think outside the box. So let's do a comparison: Here is a side-by-side look. We are not saying that the workout in AARP is badÉ We're saying it's a waste of time. If you don't have a kettlebell, go to the website for help in locating one.
Remember, "Strength for Living" does not have a required time limit. This is the very same principle I use when training firefighters (go to website for more information about firefighter program). This Program will make you strong, flexible, and happy because you will see and feel the results, right now!
(AARP)
| Aerobic | Strength | Body Awareness | |
| Monday | 25 | 20 | 0 |
| Tuesday | 45 | 0 | 0 |
| Wednesday | Off | Off | Off |
| Thursday | 25 | 20 | 0 |
| Friday | 45 | 0 | 0 |
| Saturday | 25 | 20 | 0 |
| Sunday | Off | Off | Off |
Ron Morris Strength for Living
| Push up | Squat | Swing | |
| Monday | 5-15 reps | 5-15 reps | 50/5 mins |
| Tuesday | 5-10 w/feet up | 10-12 w/kettlebell | 25 w/pause |
| Wednesday | Go to the park: play with your new found strength | ||
| Thursday | 20 incline | As many as you can in 1 minute | 20-30 swing switch |
| Friday | 10 regular-slow | 20 as hard as you can | |
| Saturday | Go to the park: climb, swim, jump, Rollerblad, play | ||
| Sunday | Same as Saturday | ||
Numbers refer to reps, time from 5-15 minutes.