"America the Mediocre?" Reprinted once again…some things are worth repeating.
"I want to rant for a minute about the changes in our culture today…
I will start out by ranting about the day I went to our daughter's soccer game at the local YMCA...she plays soccer in a "non-competitive" league...so, we're watching her little team of 10 year olds running hard to score, jamming the ball, kicking' the crap out of the other guys...winning!
After the score became imbalanced by something around 5 - 0, the ref blew his whistle and made the kids mix up the teams! Wait, wait, wait! What ever happened to WINNING as a goal? WINNING USED TO BE the driving force behind progress and positive change in our society...
I don't know what's going on here but it appears to this hard-working, striving-to-win-this-game-of-life writer that we are breeding a nation of half-assing, compromising, mediocrity-accepting kids...and we are in danger of this mindset deeply permeating every aspect of our culture.
OK, how does this become a relevant topic? Well, take a look at what we do every day? The few of us left in our freakish little sub-culture we like to call bodybuilding, or any related group of people that collectively choose to walk around with the strongest, healthiest physical selves we can possibly create - we must ask ourselves, what is going on with this feeble nation of ours?
-Who in our nation said it was bad to be man-like, masculine or strong? -Who in our society said it was wrong to want to be powerful physically, and healthy? -ho in our society teaches that winning bad? -who in our society believes that it is not an important life-lesson to learn how to win graciously, and more importantly, how to lose with class?
Is not the end-all product of hard work and effort the satisfaction of a job well done, regardless of the outcome? And, isn’t that one of the ways we lay the foundation of something we call character? This unhealthy but popular notion that we must simply surrender to some unknown force or relinquish our independence – or, worse, that we are simply trading away our own liberties in exchange for the relinquishment of personal responsibility - that is what is cultivating this permeating disease of mediocrity.
THE ULTIMATE SIN: You know, to God-fearing Christians (and followers of just about every other religious doctrine invented by mankind) THE ULTIMATE SIN IS HOPELESSNESS...DESPAIR.
So, what does that mean? I'll translate it for you...if not rewarded for working his or her proverbial ass off to win, by victory, then any practical human would ask him or herself - "why should I try harder? It’s not going to make a difference anyway."
For our precious children, including our daughter who runs and sweats and plays her little heart out on the soccer field to have the chance to earn legitimate, solid victory - perhaps feeling the challenge and the thrill of overcoming a taller player, or perhaps standing prideful because she attended all the practices this week, and has done her drills and knows she has paid a price for taking the top prize...for these kids, what kind of lesson are we teaching them when we de-value the prize of victory by taking the “win/lose” out of the equation with these “non-compete” leagues? What kind of value are we placing on determination, hard work, grit and struggle?
We are living in a world where things are not all equal for every individual...life is never fair, and it's rarely easy. But thus is life. And, you know what? It's ok. Making things easy by taking the sting out of losing, by taking away hard-earned rewards, stealing away the chance to feel victory or the chance to learn how to lose gracefully - these things weaken our society by weakening individuality and the right to choose to be the best we can be.
Thankfully, like some of us out there striving to be the best we can be.
At 619 Muscle, we work hard to nourish the drive – to help find and feed the inner SUPERHERO in each of us.
Thankfully, there are still a few of us left around who try harder, take every advantage given to us, study, learn, train, practice, eat and sleep properly to nourish the most powerful, healthy selves we can be. There is nothing more GOOD and RIGHT than to work hard to become the best you can be. It is your personal responsibility – not just to yourself, but also to mankind. SQUARE CHICKENS? Seek your achieve own ultimate potential. Maslow calls these fleeting hard-earned moments peak-experiences. They are what drive the innate spirit inside us. Let's forego these current trends of mediocrity and accepting, tolerance of sluggishness and gluttony...Let's step up as a nation, as a culture, and be the change we wish to see. Let's begin with ourselves, building a nation of superheroes, rather than a nation of pellet-fed, de-clawed, de-beaked, emasculated square chickens living in fear and bathing in a stew of mediocrity. We are the Modern Age of Superheroes, and we can change things, one rep at a time!
It was another killer NPC event in the SoCal region! Thanks to Jon Lindsay and the NPC, we had over 200 hard-working athletes bringing their all and strutting their stuff in the packed house of the Scottish Rite Center here in America's finest city! We want to congratulate all of the 619 Muscle friends and family who kicked butt, and left nothing for the short ride home!
Our friends who got up on stage and represented included: Kristi Krasja, Meg Kruse, Kristine Wilkes, Georgie Jackson, Lisa Raposa, Stephanie Love, Laleh Yaghoubi, Monique Whitney, Sandy Weathersley, Paige Clark, Julie Gjerset, Tammy LaShelle, Natalia, Billie and Brenda, Dr. Joy Blitz, Molly Aguilar, Michelle Bates, Tracey Rogers and Chuck Rogers, Koree VonBerg, David Medina, Jack Hill, Rory Love, Sylvia Duque, Vernessa and May, Carina, and the two Matt's from Camp Pendleton - as well as Kaysie Gunnoe, our dear friend of the family!
It was an amazing night! Derik Farnsworth, IFBB Pro and veteran of the stage, gave a classy/groovy guest posing presentation, and Meriza DeGuzman co-MC'd the evening event. Gina Aliotti (now Mrs. Silva) graced the day with her married self, all aglow, tanned and happy, freshly returning from her wedding and honeymoon.
Pete helps two of our nation's finest prepare for the battle on the stage, next week at the NPC San Diego Bodybuilding, Figure and Bikini Championships - March 20th, 2010.
Our tough, proud, U.S. Marines and amazing athletes, Matt Ewy and Matt Boatwright, joined Pete today at World Gym, San Diego, to drill posing and presentation in preparation for next week's show. IFBB Pro Figure, Sabrina Gibson, was also on hand to lend moral support! Let's get 'em, boys! OORAH!!
This is hardcore. This is what we do. Our goal is to out-perform ourselves, every single day. This drive to be better than we were yesterday is the fuel that keeps us growing. It's a monkey on your back that pushes you to be bigger than you thought you could be, better than you were yesterday, to out-do yourself, exceed your own expectations and work to be your own, personal superhero. This is the 619 Muscle way of life!
Back pounding, hard-core. It's growin' time! Watch me do pull ups...hahaha...not too bad for a bottom-heavy italian boy! ;) I'll get better as the diet kicks in, though!
Just got back from the Arnold - was a crazy busy time, fun, but fast and hectic - always is in Columbus. Had a great time, met up with old co-workers and friends, and pushed the family's cause while out in this annual industry/lifestyle gathering.
But now, this week, it's back home, back to the gym and back to business! Meriza's targeting the Cals, I'll be focusing on 20 more weeks of hard, hard training, and God-willing, I'll make an impression at the USA's. We've got many of our family gearing up for competition next week as well at the San Diego show! Best of luck to everyone! Kristi K (soon to be Romero...) is looking great, Rory and Steph have each made some amazing changes in their physiques, and both will show better than ever! Lisa Raposa will be making her stage debut, and is looking to do some damage in her class(es)...her hubby, Eric, has been crushing it and looks his typical awesome, hard-as-nails self...Ms. Kris W. is pushing hard to be the best she's ever been, and she's right on track! Family members Georgie and Meg are also in tremendous shape and will shine on stage! 619 Muscle friends, working with Mr. PD Devers, Laleh Yahgoubi and Monique Whitney are in amazing shape as well, as is our newest rookie, the beautiful Sandy Weathersley! (I'm so proud of lil' Ms. Sandy! we can't wait to see her strut her stuff! Jason G's working with his buddy, David M, who is looking ripped and ready - also making his stage debut next weekend...Derik's working with Jordan again, who's big, thick and ready for business in the lightheavies...it's gonna be a killer show, and the family is well-represented! And I've seen several other athletes prepping for the spring, so I'm not sure how close a few people are, but it's going to be a killer show, for sure!
Stay tuned for updates, pics and more!
And thanks in advance to Mr. Jon Lindsay and the NPC for what is sure to be another kick ass bodybuilding event in San Diego!
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