As the 2006 elections pass by I realize that I really have no idea who was running for what and who won each of the positions. All I know is that every time one of those awful smear campaign commercials appeared on the television I immediately changed the channel. Smear campaigning is one of the lowest forms of competition in my opinion and I refuse to pay any attention to it. The voter turnout for this latest election period was one of the lowest in history, with only roughly 40 percent of eligible voters making there way to the polls. I believe that voter confidence is steadily decreasing because of the abysmal record of our most recent politicians, but this is just an opinion. The issue at hand is how disaffected our society has become, not just with politics, but also with our everyday lives.

It seems like a large majority of the population maintains a comfortable existence without any disturbances or abnormalities. People seem so happy to huddle inside their home everyday after nine hours on the job watching someone else live their life on television. There seems to have been an overall loss of hope. This same feeling carries over to your health and fitness. So many people won’t step out of their comfort zone into the gym because they don’t want to risk failing, or because of the fear that it might be uncomfortable. Excuses are made before any honest attempt is put forth. People have become accustomed and accept the fact that they are obese and that it will never change. I think life is too short to hold these beliefs. Hopefully, by the fact that you are reading this, you don’t hold these beliefs, but if you do it needs to change.

How many people do you know who say that either high school or college was the best days of their lives? This simple statement bothers me. How can a four year period out of an entire lifetime be the best time of your life, especially when you haven’t lived much of a life up to that point? There is so much to do and so much to see in the short time we have during this life. I think it is a shame that people hold this belief and allow the notion to prevent them from enjoying every waking second of their life. I for one know that the first 20 years of my life was just a warm-up. I have been fortunate to do and see a lot of amazing things so far. But that is just the beginning.

I understand that there are some boring and mundane things about daily life but do your best to change that. Why should anyone be forced to work at a job you do not enjoy passionately? You are the one who applied for the job, and you are the one who commutes everyday to work. Try something new. You are never too old to create a new opportunity. Colonel Sanders didn’t establish his first KFC until he was 65. By that age most people are sitting in a chair waiting for death.

How many people look back on their high school days and long for the body they once had? What’s stopping you from getting it back? There is no physiological law that states that once you hit a certain age you are no longer capable of looking the way you want. Start exercising again. Pick up a new hobby that involves fitness. Not only can you have fun, you can also get in shape. There is this perception that exercise has to be tedious, boring, hard work. Ask a kid if riding a bike fits that description and they will probably laugh at you. People need to regain the light-hearted fun of their youth. Sure, unpleasant things happen in life, but you have no control over it, things will happen whether or not you want them to. It is important to handle the road bumps as best as possible and move on.

Every year thousands of people participate in marathons, triathlons, and other physical feats, while the other few billion people watch with sheer disbelief, questioning the sanity of the people, or wishing they could also compete. What’s stopping you? There was a story of a women in her 80’s who felt like competing in an Ironman, which she did. If a woman at that age can complete one of the most grueling races in world, why can’t you complete a run/walk for charity? The point is that there is so much in this world for you to try; you just need to do it.

Turn on the television these days and you will come across hundreds of reality television shows. Some of the more popular reality shows actually involve exercise and competition. The Amazing Race follows groups of people traveling the world performing all sorts of physical tasks in the attempt to win a large cash prize. Survivor involves becoming physically self-sufficient in a remote land in hopes of outperforming the other cast members. There are handfuls of these kinds of shows. What prevents you from doing the same things? Before you start making excuses, take a second to think about it. Go out this weekend with your bike and find an adventure. Go on a vacation to the Grand Canyon and spend a day hiking the Colorado River. Use a little creativity and you too can share the excitement and adventure that only seemed possible on television.

As millions of people are commuting to the jobs they hate everyday. As people walk passed the voting polls, disinterested. As people sit in front of the television for hours, make a decision to do something more with your life. Very few people would want to look back on their life with regrets. I wish I had done this, or I wish I tried that. Don’t let another day of regrets pass by. Live the life of your dreams. Nothing is stopping you except yourself.

For this society and individuals to be truly great, we have to stop living such disaffected lives. Begin to show some interest in what happens to you on a daily basis. If you see an injustice in the world do something about it. If you are unhappy with the way you look, change it. If everyone accomplished all of their goals and dreams this world would be an amazing place, free of crime, poverty, and disease. The only thing that is stopping this from happening is a few simple choices. Choose to ignore and make excuses, or choose to do something. I know my choice; it’s time for you to make yours.

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