Sergeant Tony's Blog

If you’re on Facebook you probably have some of the same kinds of friends that I do. On Monday their status updates are full of negative and downer talk.

(If you’re NOT on Facebook, a “status update” is a way for you to tell your friends something about your day or your life. Some people update their status once a day or once a week and others update their status every 10 minutes! “I’m in line at Kroger.” and then ten minutes later, “I’m driving home from Kroger.” Oh boy! And then other people give you something of what their life is like on that particular day. “Such and such is enjoying this beautiful day here at Hilton Head.”)

The Negative Nancies who whine about Monday have just a few things they seem to be passionate about.

They can’t wait to leave work.
They can’t wait for Friday to come.
They need a vacation.
They love _____________ ! (fill in the blank with wine or margaritas)
They’re tired.

A lot of their status updates are just whining and complaining. Most, but not all of these people, are twenty something single women who seem to be confused by their “singleness.” They can’t understand why guys aren’t beating a path to their door. Not all of them are twenty something women. Some are in their thirties and forties. Most are women.

I have started clicking on the “show me less about this person” button just so I don’t have to be reminded that it’s Monday and that it sucks. I mean, seriously … who wants to read that?

Whining and complaining are HUGE downers!

One of my female friends is going to go out on a date with a guy she’s really not that into. But she’s going to give the guy a chance. She asked me for some advice on how to sort of “cool his jets” if there isn’t any chemistry on the date. I suggested several things to do, including “dominate the conversation with endless boring details about stuff and do a lot of whining and complaining, and telling of ‘woe is me’ stories.” That ought to extinguish any possible spark that might exist. Any guy who’d ask for a second date after a full night of that crap is desperate beyond measure.

On the other hand, there is nothing, and I mean NOTHING, more appealing and more attractive and more winsome than people with a passion for life! A lust for life!

Mark Sanborn wrote a book called The Fred Factor. The subtitle is “How passion in your work and life can turn the ordinary into the extraordinary.” Maybe you’ve read it. It’s a fabulous little book!

The “Fred” of this book is Fred Shea. Mr. Shea isn’t Mark Sanborn’s doctor, pastor, counselor, attorney, or priest. Fred is his mailman. But Fred isn’t your average mail carrier. Mailman Fred knows the people on his route like ministers know their congregations.

Fred knows each family by name. He knows the kids, the dogs, and the cars that belong in the neighborhood. He knows when people on his route are ill, when they are celebrating, when they are mourning. He pays attention. He engages those folks in conversation. He is passionate about his life and his work. He has turned the simple act of bringing mail to a house into a vehicle for kindness, friendship, compassion, and caring.

Who would have thought that a mail carrier would be the subject of a national bestseller about passion? With almost 2 million copies sold!

It’s doubtful that many of the people on Fred’s route knew too much about Fred himself. Of course they discovered things about him after the book came out. What this means is that Fred talked to the people about them and their lives. He took an interest in the other person and paid attention when the other person spoke.

The point is passion! The goal is passion for EVERYDAY, not just Friday. Not just for the weekend! Our daily mission statement must be to live THAT day successfully … with passion. To live THIS day with joy and gladness. A day designed to put more positive things out into the world than negative ones. A day planned to put a smile on another’s face for no other reason than to see another person smile.

Here’s your homework. It’s a multi-part assignment.

Part One: Write down the five adjectives that YOU believe best describes your personality. Which five adjectives would you choose to describe yourself? Don’t bother with physical descriptions. Focus instead on the personality attributes and character qualities that you believe best describes the real you. This is what you believe YOU bring to the table.

Part Two: Read that list.

Part Three: Write down the five adjectives that you would LIKE to describe you.This is what you wish you brought to the table.

Part Four: Share these two lists. Enlist the help of a friend or family member who will be honest and frank with you. Ask their opinion. Then ask them to help you live more according to the list of adjectives that describe your idealized self. And give them permission to kick you in the seat of the pants when you act contrary to the you that YOU want to be!

I think it’s interesting that Facebook is called face book. What is the “face” that you show to the world? When you leave the company of another, what are the “take aways” that person will take from their time spent with you?

Are you a Fred?

———————-

YOUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS

Please keep Teri Trotter and Tawnette Baker in your thoughts and prayers.

——————–

0645 CLASS CALLED TO DUTY!

This is a Monday, Wednesday, Friday class and will follow the same routine as the 0830 class!

The 0830 is currently on hiatus for the summer.

——————–

SUMMER SCHOOL SPECIAL

Have a student who’d like to join USMC Fitness BOOT CAMP for the summer? Special discounted program for summer student recruits! Email me for details!

——————–

MOUNT FUJI

Next Thursday! The fourth Thursday, June 25 at 0530! Meet at the U of M in front of the parking garage on Zach Curlin!

——————-

What are your 5 adjectives?

To your continued good health and fitness!

Tony

Sergeant Major Tony Ludlow

USMC Fitness BOOT CAMP, Commanding

4888 Southern Ave

Memphis, TN 38117

901-644-0145

www.usmcfitnessbootcamp.com

www.shaklee.net/tonyludlow/main