Good morning fellow EXer's! I would like to wish everyone out there in NoExcuseville a very happy Thanksgiving! As I contemplate the activities that fill our holiday, one that was not around at the original Thanksgiving was pro football! However a little thought does bring out some interesting (I think) parallels between the plight of these gladiators, and those of us who continue to beat this addiction! I hope you will find this line of thought interesting!
#1. Preperation.
Each year these professional athelets come to a summer camp! They make a committment to do whatever it takes to achive success! Here they work on the physical conditioning that their bodies will need to endure the ravages of a long season!
Each day "newbies" come to this site! They make a committment to do whatever it takes to achive success! They look to us for the mental conditioning that they will need to endure the onslaught of the nicodemon!
#2. Study.
The next step for these ball players is to learn, or relearn the fundamentals of thier profession! They must memorize their playbooks so they know what they need to do on every single play! They look forward to their season starting, so they can put what they have learned to good use!
The next step for our "newbies" is to study. Here they learn to accept the fact that they are addicts! They learn the fundamentals of a quit! From charting their smoking episodes, to recognizing their triggers! They start to look forward to their own personal quit date!
# 3. Pre-season.
Camp breaks, and these atheletes go on the pre-season! Here they get the first chance to put into motion all that they have learned! Some will do very well. The coaches will recognize them right away! They will recieve special attention! They will become team captains, or starters! These people will not back down, ever! In them is a basic understanding that was verbalized by the great Vince Lombardi! I do not have the exact quote, so forgive me as I paraprase "The harder you work for something, the harder it is to give it up!" Those who have neither learned this, nor put in the effort will continue to struggle!
The third step for our new "newbies" is to go out and put what they have learned in to motion! They quit smoking! Some will do very well, and the "elders" (the folks I call the Super Exer's) will recognize them right away! They will recieve special attention! They will become leaders at this site! They understand how hard they worked to get here, and are determined not to give up! Those who have not worked as hard will continue to struggle!
#4. The season begins! It really counts! What these atheletes do every day matters. The food that they eat. The beverages that they drink. Every bit of exercise they get! And every thought that goes through their heads. All of it make them who they are, and determines how much success they have! The coaches understand that not everyone is blessed with the same level of talent! It is their jobs to help those who are having the hardest time, to become winners! They also understand that not everyone has the comittment, and dedication to make it! Those are the ones that disappear from the rosters! Some will work hard enough to come back. Some will never understand what it takes!
For our fellow Exer's..........Hell, just re-read the paragraph above this!!!!!!!!
Have a great day!! Tommy
