The Why and The How

Over 50 years ago a very brilliant man wrote a book. Now, nothing unusual in brilliant (or not) people, man or woman, in writing books, yesterday or today. But this book had a huge impact on the way people think. The author was Viktor E. Frankl. His revolutionary book Man's Search for Meaning. In it Frankl describes how he found it possible to embrace life even though Frankl was undergoing the most hideous of circumstances. He is a survivor of not just one or two Nazi concentration camps, but four, and he lost all, his mother, father, pregnant wife and possessions. All that remained was one sister. Yet Frankl not only lived, he lived a long and full life. He was fond of quoting Nietzsche, "He who has a why to live can bear with almost any how."

So, with that said, I too have found that the why is so important in all areas of life because it will provide the necessary impetuous to continue on, to bear the how. My quest to lose weight due to the possibility of taking insulin shots was very powerful. I'd do most anything to not have to face a needle every day. And that is still true today. But that is not enough to continue my regimen of eating what is good for me, in appropriate portions, and to exercise as much as possible. I know this is a regimen that has to be followed for the rest of my days.

What is driving me to stay on course is my family. I am not done yet in providing and protecting. I must stay healthy so that my energies are directed in making sure my wife and I have a comfortable retirement, one that is financially secure. It is also my wish to make sure that my granddaughter is given a better shot at life than her father or me. It is not in my plans to pay the health industry all that I accumulate in health costs.

I will mention just two ways that I will use to stay the course. It is not enough to write down goals and then keep them to yourself. One way is this blog. You can be a big part of my life just by writing your comments. Let me know what you think. Ask the question, "are you still skinny?" The second way is to keep checking my weight everyday. Get on the scale to see just where I am at. Over or under from the day before. Like today, I was at 161, that made me walk just a little farther.

I highly recommend you google Frankl and do a little research. Get together your own why for whatever you want to accomplish. Good luck.