“Weakness Is A Crime — Don’t Be A Criminal”
Bernarr Macfadden Center, Dansville, New York. Complete Information on Request. (Photo credit: Boston Public Library)
The above quote is attributed to the one and only Bernarr Macfadden. Who was Bernarr? He was eccentric, driven, passionate, influential and whole lot more, but most importantly, he was the father of mass media physical culture and for better or worse, a large influence in much of my own thinking concerning the attitude of physical culture.
I despise weakness, mostly in myself, but in general I am not a fan of it in others. There are many weak attitudes and actions that get under my skin. One of the big ones is germaphobes and the whole hand sanitizer bullshit. Not only because I really question what germs everyone is so afraid of, but also, because it is weakening us as a whole and causing many microbes to evolve and become stronger, more resistant.
But, back to my own weaknesses; I have several and I hate, despise, loathe, scorn, abhor, detest…. okay enough of synonyms; each and every single one of them.
The big two, those that have prevented me from realizing my life’s desires are FEAR and GUILT. Much like Dickens’ want and ignorance, these two weaknesses have held me back, but the one I must beware the most is FEAR — FEAR has stopped me cold in my tracks much more often, and with much more power than GUILT ever has.
It’s funny, because even though I had FEAR in my youth, it didn’t stop me, if anything it may have encouraged me. As I have previously written, I have never felt connected to my hometown. When I was seventeen, I couldn’t wait to escape, and although it was only temporary, I did.
I graduated high school on June 16th; on June 21st I was at the Recruit Training Center in Orlando Florida — Navy Boot Camp. Yes, I did miss my family, but I was away from Northeast Pennsylvania and all of the shackles associated with life there. I felt FEAR, but that FEAR wasn’t going to keep me down. And, for five years I was free — I had escaped.
What the hell happened?
FEAR!
I was on my last tour of duty, when the Navy decided that we should part ways a few months earlier than planned. I was caught off guard, and from the time I received notice to the actual event, only a matter of days had passed. I had every intention to stay in Hawaii after my enlistment ended, which would have been in November, but the suddenness of the discharge in late July left me reeling. That insurmountable FEAR reared its ugly head. I didn’t know what to do, so I took the safe and secure option — I left the beautiful blue skies of Hawaii for the dankness of Northeast PA and went back to my family and the repressing manacles of the Northeast Pennsylvania mindset — I have allowed those chains to bind me ever since.
Breaker boys working in Ewen Breaker. S. Pittston, Pa. – NARA – 523379 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
It is hard to describe this area to those not from here. Those born and raised here don’t see it unless they too have escaped, but the unfortunate transplants comprehend the pestilence which has settled over the region.
If you desire to get a sense of the despair that pervades Northeast PA, all one needs do is tune into the local talk radio station WILK. It doesn’t matter the host’s particular political bent or ideology, they are all prefect examples of the mentality that crushes the spirit of the young — forever oppressing them into the station into which they were born.
Debbie Downer (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Listening to Sue Henry in the mornings, makes one long for the cheerfulness of Debbie Downer. I can’t recall the last thing Sue said that promoted happiness, joy or even a little hope for that matter. Her show is one long monologue of just how awful the world is, and I believe her goal is to make her listeners as miserable as she.
Then there is the afternoon host Steve Corbett; a man who never sees the light at the end of the tunnel, who if asked if a glass was half empty or half full, would simply pour any remaining water out onto the ground and then blame you for the fact that he had to waste it instead of giving it to some poor soul who was entitled to drink it.
Another prime example would be local weather people, primarily Joe Snedeker and Dave Skutnik — no matter how beautiful the forecast, these two David Letterman wannnabes will always throw in, “but don’t get too excited, because it will get bad again soon.” Heaven forbid anyone just enjoy what is here at the moment — no the NEPA mantra of it will be bad has to be added.
All are representative of the area in which I was born — entitlements, resentment and bleakness. This environment I desperately tried to escape, but kept getting dragged back to, until eventually I was trapped and suffocated.
However, in the end, I do realize the choices were mine — always made because of either GUILT or FEAR. Well, I’m done with that. I will pursue my dreams, and I won’t miss another opportunity because of either emotion, for as I have said, life is finite.
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http://www.amazon.com/Obesity-Undone-Beyond-Weight-Edition/dp/1477624333
https://www.createspace.com/3903024
http://www.obesityundone.com/
Physical Culturist and Chiropractor, Dr. Joe Leonardi is the author of the life changing book, “Obesity Undone” and a contributor to NaturallySavvy.com and CarbSmart.com. He is available to appear on any talk radio, internet podcast or television outlet.
He has appeared on 94.3FM’s The David Maderia Show, What’s Weighing You Down, w/Dr. Marilyn Gansel on FTNS radio, Nurture and Nutrition on Blog Talk Radio, Low Carb Conversations with Jimmy Moore and Friends, BlogTalk Radio’s Toni Harris Speaks, Internet Radio: Cathie’s Talking, TV -35′s Storm Politics with Tiffany Cloud, WILK’s The Sue Henry Show, Magic 93′s Frankie In The Morning, WBRE’s PA Live, SSPTV’s News 13, Public Television WVIA’s State of Pennsylvania and Call the Doctor; Entercom’s Outlook on Northeast PA with Shadoe Steele, Citadel Broadcasting’s Sunday Magazine with Brian Hughes, Lisa Davis’ Your Health Radio; Hank Garner’s Podcast, Dr. Robert Su’s Carbohydrates Can Kill Podcast; and the one and only Jimmy Moore’s Livin’ La Vida Low Carb podcast.
Dr. Joe Leonardi also will come and speak to your group; to learn more about his motivational speaking fees and availability contact him at docjoeleonardi@betterlifeseminars.com and check out his website http://www.obesityundone.com/
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************The information contained herein is for information purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease or disorder. The posting and videos do not apply to those with an underlying medical or hormonal condition. I advise anyone embarking on a weight loss and fitness plan to have a thorough medical evaluation. You want to be sure that you are physically able to exercise and you don’t have any underlying medical conditions No guarantees are made or to be implied.************
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