Balance

Balance could possible be the most important thing in our lives, though it often gets overlooked. Everyone has heard the old cliche about too much of a good thing can be a bad thing or however it goes.... It's true. If you eat ridiculously healthy 100% of the time that could even be a bad thing. If only for the simple fact that you need to let your hair down now and then. The secret to success and happiness in life is balance.

I consider myself a pretty balanced person. I have experienced a large number of social settings throughout my life and have adopted bits and pieces from many of them. I see both sides of the political spectrum. I can understand someone who is devoutly religious and someone who is an atheist. I can see how materialism can so easily sweep us away in this day and age, and I can see how amazing it might feel to be a minimalist. On all these different types of spectrum's, there isn't someone who is right and someone who is wrong. It's just different people with different ideas, and had you been born somewhere else or to another family, you very well might be the person on the other side of where you stand now. If you believe that you are a unique human being and that your character or your spirit is something that you were born with, you are wrong. Human beings are shaped by their surroundings. Whether it's culture, parents, friends, location, or a past trauma, you are who you are based upon your experiences. If we can understand this, then maybe we can understand that we are all actually the exact same. People are all the same, they have just been shaped differently than you.

Balance needs to be a part of every persons life. It's even okay it it's extreme on both ends of the spectrum. Myself for example, I might spend my entire week being super disciplined. I'll go to bed early and wake early so I can hit the gym. I'll get all of my work and school completed. I will do yoga and meditate, trying to ensure that my spirit and my mental health are taken care of. Then, after all these things have been completed from Monday through Friday, I might party like a rock star on the weekend. Some people will judge me throughout the week, saying I'm boring or maybe I'm a weird hippy. Some people will judge me on the weekend and say I'm a lush or me and my friends are bad influences. Neither of these judgments bother me, because I know exactly where I need to be, because I maintain good balance. If any of the things I do start to get out of hand I real it in and re-evaluate myself. Besides, my personal happiness doesn't come from anyone else, it comes from within. What others think of my is important, but it's not that important. I don't need to fit into the stereotypical mold of what I'm supposed to be, because that wouldn't make me happy and I would feel unbalanced.

At the end of the day, this is something that each person needs to figure out on their own. We all have a sweet spot in which to operate in. That sweet spot will ensure maximum efficiency in our lives. No one can tell you what you need in life, so just never stop looking until you find it.

Cheers.

Fitness

Fitness, just like diet, is a constant struggle. Even for elite athletes, it never ends. You are never finished. It's a lifestyle. Do I want to be fit or not? If the answer is yes, then it's time to get to work.

For anyone just starting out on their road to fitness, there are many ways to get started, and it all depends on what your goals are. The most important thing is to begin! You can't say tomorrow or next week, start right now. With that, you don't need to rush out and hire a personal trainer and buy a new gym membership. These are options for everyone but not requirements. I always tell people, and practice this myself, find hobbies that keep you active. Many of us don't necessarily want to grind away in the gym for hours and hours. We just want to maybe lose a couple pounds, tone up, or gain a little lean muscle. Most of this can be accomplished without ever going to the gym and with no difficult work out programs. Hiking, biking, walking with a friend or partner, swimming, sports.... there are so many things that you can do to increase your fitness level, and you can have a great time while doing it! Additionally there are tons of groups out there for these types of things so you might even meet some cool new people in the process!

I like to stay active as much as possible. For me it's all about having a routine. I wake up early almost every week day and hit the gym or get a run in. It's tough at first, but once I got used to it I couldn't live without it. It's my favorite time of the day. It's the one time of the day where nothing matters except myself, and we all need that. Then on the weekends or in some evenings I enjoy active hobbies like I mentioned above.

For me fitness isn't about being overly vain or impressing anyone. It's about quality of life and staying healthy. I have a pretty rugged career and I see what happens to folks who don't take care of their bodies. By their 40's they are broken down and wore out. I don't want this for myself. I want to run through the woods and climb trees and use my body the way it was meant to be used, as my vehicle through life. If you don't take care of your vehicle it will break down and leave you stranded. No one wants that.

All it takes is that first step. Or if you have already started, push yourself harder. The only one stopping you is YOU! Your not going to get the body you want by hoping for it. If you can't make it to the gym today that's okay. Take a few minutes after reading this knock out a couple crunches or push ups or whatever! That's what I did ;-)

Grab what is yours. It's waiting!