He was a physically active, healthy, and positive person growing up. He played sports and was always very active right through college. Even after college he would play pickup games of hoops, go for an occasional run and talk about all of the great things he was going to accomplish in life.

Then it all started to happen. Like it does for so many people, it did not happen all at once, but gradually over time. One day he looked at himself in the mirror and did not recognize the person he saw. He had gone from being this positive, ambitious, fit and healthy young man who was going to conquer the world and turned into this normal middle aged, overweight, cynical guy with slumped shoulders, horrible posture and a frown on his face. Heck, he did not even take the time to trim that hair growing out of his nose and ears…he just did not care anymore. You know the kind of person I am talking about. It may even be you. We see it all of the time…unfortunately, it is actually more normal that not. It is called the gravity of life. Reality of it is it is also just plain old gravity itself. Keeping fit and healthy in the equities of our life does not get easier as we get older, it gets harder. There are the aches and pains, the responsibilities, lack of time, and hanging out with our other people who are letting gravity suck them to the ground as well that helps us justify in our own minds it is okay. Well, I am here to tell you it is not okay. People, just taking it easy is why we have so much obesity, alcohol and drug addiction, poverty, money problems and divorce. The most important stuff in life requires hard work.

Gravity is what keeps us on the ground physically, but it is also what can pull us down in all the areas of our lives. And, if we let it, gravity will pull us below the ground. I have talked with my trainer, Brad, about this for years. The mindset of most people as they get older is all about working hard at life until we can take our foot off the gas and chill…get the house paid off, kids through college, retirement…

“Ah…How sweet it is going to be…lazy days, vacationing, fine wine and food, and doing a whole lot of nothing”

Well, I am here to tell you we all need to change our mindset. I know firsthand things don’t get easier as we get older; they get harder in many ways. We actually need to work harder at all the equities of our life because there is no such thing as a status quo life. Either we are getting better or we are getting worse, but we are never staying the same. And, if we aren’t working at getting better every day, gravity will suck us into the ground. We can’t just set off into the sunset. It is not easier to keep off the pounds, it is harder…it’s not easier to keep your blood pressure and cholesterol under control, it’s  harder…it’s not easier to keep connected with our kids once they are out of the house, it’s harder…it’s not easier, it’s harder in all the areas of our life.

My challenge to everyone is every day you wake up make a commitment to make at least a small improvement in all the areas of your F5 (faith, family, friends, fitness, finance) and Defy Gravity. It may require some short term pain, but I promise the long term gain is worth it!!!!!!!

Defy Gravity!!!!!