Monday, June 18, 2012

The New 4 letter words…


Remember when we were kids and our parents would tell us that if we got caught using the “4 letter word” we would get beat?  I don’t know about you but my parents used them like they were standard conversation language in all aspects of their lives. 

As I grew up I would hear horror stories about how some kids had used it and their parents had lost their minds.  Your even witness to this in the movie “A Christmas Story”.  The scene where Ralphie is helping his father change the tire and when the bolts get bumped and lost, you hear him utter that infamous word.  Flash forward to him sitting in the bathroom with soap in his mouth, (Come on, you know this happened to just about every one of us).  The part that really sets it off is when his mother calls the mother of the other little boy and you can hear her beating the daylights out of her kid over the phone.

Ok, I know you’re wondering why I bring this up.  Since I’ve embarked on my journey to become fit and healthy I’ve realized that there are quite a few others words that I now consider to be part of that “4-letter” category.  Though they contain more than four letters their meanings cause me to lump them right into that category.

Words like:  Lazy, Laziness, Procrastination, Negativity, Loafing, Judgmental, Ignorant, Intolerant, Fake, Excuses, Depressed, Afraid, Fear, Unmotivated, Glutton, Sloth, Obese, Lack, Not, Can’t, Won’t, Stupid, and Weak.

Now, I know the argument can be made that a lot of these words can be used in a positive manner and your right they can.  But consider this:  Most of the time that words like these are being used is in a hurtful manner and more often than not are being used to tear someone down.  You should strive to consider if the usage of the word is appropriate for the time and place and should never be used to refer to someone in a bad light.  Everyone and I mean EVERYONE can always work at being a better person and if you think your making yourself better by stepping on other people then eventually you’re in for a very rude wake up call. 

As I started my journey I remember all too well what it was like to be on the end of some of these words.  I’ve even been on the receiving end of having my own family use words like these not only to describe me but to my face as well.  I will even admit that I have in the past done the same thing to other people to make myself feel better and you know what, it never did, and I would always stress about how I made the other person feel when I said things like this.  I now live everyday trying hard not to use words like this and instead try encouraging the people around me to see the positive not only in life but in themselves as well.  It can be hard, but living a healthy lifestyle is not just about the physical.  You have to feel good on the inside as well to be a complete person. 
So I challenge you now, try to eliminate these “4-letter” words from your life.  Being a motivated positive influence to yourself but also others has a lasting effect.  The people in your life will appreciate it and you will also feel better yourself.

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