“I can’t function without my second cup of coffee;
but,
once I’ve had that second cup, look out world –
I can
do ANYTHING!”
Herbie Halfmaster
What
gets you going and keeps you going through THICK and through THIN? What pushes you “over the top” to be able to
tackle anything that comes your way … or do you ever get that far? Do you always have to be “pushed” or
“pulled” by something or someone else? And/or
do you need to lean on “crutches” just to make it through?
For
me, it’s sometimes ibuprofen, sometimes coffee or a caffeinated
soda. The really undesirables may
require a shot of bourbon; but with bourbon on board, one risks breaking one’s
neck! So there are definitely limits to
the help we can get from “crutches”. Perhaps a deferred reward will do it, as in “When I finish this project I can have a
donut/ice cream/soda/chocolate bar, buy a new outfit, etc.?”
The
challenge to living an unencumbered and fulfilled life is to move from not
doing anything at all without a push, to doing something, even if it
requires a “crutch”, to doing the necessities without “crutches”, to
doing more than the necessities by any and all means – and not becoming
so dependent on “crutches” as to end up an “invalid”.
The
really neatest condition is being “undeterrably invincible”!
How
do we move from having to be pushed and pulled along in life to a dependence on
“crutches” to being “undeterrably invincible”?
By
taking three calculated steps:
- First, fortifying
our constitution to a point that any challenge can be “taken in stride”. There is no real substitute for
attentive preparation, including education, research, experience,
strategic planning, organization and endurance conditioning (including
some form of exercise);
- Second, by
accepting the role of “steward” with enough backbone to take on
responsibility not only for ourselves but for our adopted “mission” and
for others within our frame of reference (as in “He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother!”); and
- Third, by identifying
and putting on the best ARMORALL we can find.
Armorall
is defined here as a tangible or intangible “vestment” which confers upon us an
unnatural state of empowerment to do what needs to be done (ala, “Powdermilk Biscuits”
from “Lake Wobegone”.) For mowing the
grass, raking leaves, trimming trees, pulling weeds, removing mildew, patching
the roof, repairing the driveway, plumbing, etc., I use my “KRYPTONITE, By God
Overalls”. For lifting and moving
bricks, furniture, attic boxes, etc., I use my form-fitting “Flack Jacket/Back
Support/Gut Garter”. And for deskwork or
keyboarding at the computer, I fortify myself with “O-Zone H2O” and don
my “Sack-‘Em Socks”.
Cleaning
the shower is a slightly different story.
For this onerous task, I have established the “Devil’s Alternative” option,
such that cleaning the shower gets me off the hook from doing a 30 minute
workout. Some weeks, I get a lot of
workouts!
Knowing
what “makes you tick” and setting up even “hokey” conditions for tackling monstrous
to mundane duties can make a world of difference in both attitude and
accomplishments. It can even enhance your
sense of “play” by making games out of doing things you would otherwise
deplore. WHY SUFFER SO UNNECESSARILY!?!
Other
kinds of armorall one could use, depending on particular circumstances, might
include:
- Cowboy boots / Steel-Toed Work
Boots
- A “Power” tie
- A talisman of any kind (rabbit’s
foot, etc.)
- Photograph of a revered
“Champion”
- Background music – or NOISE of
your choice
- Having a “Song in your heart”
- Wearing “Lucky” underwear
- A “Chaw” of bubble gum
- A “Howitzer Hat”
- A “Nothing left to lose”
mentality
Finally,
having a mind set of “Eventual Surmountability” is extremely helpful. You WILL do it, and you WILL get through it –
no matter what it takes and no matter how long it takes – and life will be so
much better for your having persisted in the effort.
The
best “armorall” against “vincibility” is three-fold. The first two are preparation and starting
early. There is no real substitute
for comprehensive preparation, including: education, research, experience,
strategic planning and organization – beginning NOW! The third element is the cultivation of strategic
associations/affiliations/alliances. No person or civilization has ever achieved
greatness without them. Having someone
run along side you and being there to “get your back” multiplies your potential
impact many-fold. The fallback position,
of course, is JUST DOIT – simply roll out the armorall and become as “undeterrably
invincible” as you are already prepared to be!!
Quartermaster
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