A Better Version of You
Over 170 years ago, Henry David Thoreau observed, “The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.”??
????????????Can you imagine what Thoreau might think of our day and time? As I have traveled the country extensively over the past seven years, I have not only met and witnessed the people Thoreau describes, but I have also been among their ranks. Indeed, I have marched to their tune.
????????????It took a significant, life changing event, to force me to take inventory of my life – a global pandemic. When Covid struck, I was experiencing a mental, physical, and spiritual drought. While I appeared happy on the outside, successful by worldly standards, living the proverbial dream, I was actually unhappy with myself. I did not like how I felt, nor what I saw in the mirror. I was not alone.
????????????I am thrilled to report that I am in a much different place now and striving every day to continue the infinite journey to a better me.?
????????????What I have found to be extremely rewarding is hearing from those who have been inspired to make long overdue lifestyle changes because of my story. I recently received this message. I share it with the author’s permission.?
????????????“Hey Sir…A while back you posted a not so flattering picture of yourself on Facebook and berated yourself for being out of shape. It was a very touching message that personally resonated with me as I too had become overweight and out of shape. At the time I thought you were being very hard on yourself, but as a soldier I understood this because I know this is the type of motivation that drives soldiers to action. I realized, in the absence of leaders constantly pushing us to be better, we must take it upon ourselves to practice self-motivation, and at times this can prove to be unbelievably difficult. The bravery it took to send that post out to the world took an incredible amount of guts and I salute you for it. And even though I wanted to, I could simply didn’t have the nerve to post a pic of my own physical fitness failure standing in the mirror before me. But you did greatly motivate me to action. Since then, motivated by your posts, I’ve changed my outlook. I’ve added a daily workout and gym routine and have lost almost ten pounds towards my goal weight. I eat better, look better, and most of all I feel a whole hell of a lot better (mentally and physically).”
????????????So many of us find ourselves out of balance. In the rat race we call life, we’ve allowed our relationships to deteriorate. Like our bodies, relationships require exercise. They do not happen serendipitously. Indeed, they require nourishment, but where do we find the time? Perhaps our priorities are not what they should be, and we know we need to change, but just can’t seem to make that first step.?
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????????????Join me on the journey to a better you. Through a steady drip of social media posts – and a forthcoming podcast – I will share my tips and techniques for taking control your life and becoming the best version of you. Together, we will explore how to construct a life that brings contentment and satisfaction. In the meantime…
Keep Moving!
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Jimmy, you’ve always been an inspiration. Keep moving forward, brother.
Strategic Leadership Consultant | Speaker ?? & Author ?? | ?? I work with Leaders who want to Blaze a Trail through Turbulent Times ??
2 年I cannot wait for your podcast, Jimmy Blackmon. Thank you for sharing your story and leading by example -- your courage shows up when you are vulnerable.
Director, Global Onboarding / Army Veteran
2 年Looking forward to the ‘steady drip’ of insights - much like any endeavor, focusing on a few things at a time allow for incremental change. Thanks for sharing your story Jimmy!