My dislike of terms and catch phrase used over and over to describe the last few months is well documented. To be fair, I almost always hate them. Topping that list are the corporate jingle jangle we add to things that seemingly don’t need extra description. What’s funny is I’m sure I’ve used some along the way and that just proves how pervasive they are. Regardless if this bugs you or not, my brain has been at constant odds with  one notion. Within this “new normal, all in this together, socially distant, unprecedented times,” lies a question. Should we bother trying to change anyone’s mind?

If your knee jerked up and kicked the bottom of the table and you yelled “Awe fucking hell no ass shit!!” in some  sort of Tourette’s like reaction, know you’re not alone. This is my initial reaction as well.  I watch it displayed daily in plain view.  People clinging and fighting to the death to make sure their version of reality is the correct one. Logic and reason be damned, they’ve found an article or video to defend their position and they’re going down with the ship. Regardless if refuted they’d rather die with their position. Good on you dummies. 

It certainly makes me question the collective sanity of the world. On both sides of any argument the lines in the sand are drawn, never to be crossed, like there’s some “being right” participation trophy at the end that requires only a strict adherence to faulty logic.

There’s no room for thoughtful discussion nor respect for opposing opinions. No wiggle room for the case of a well thought out argument to change a mind. There’s black and white neither betwixt shall a shade of gray emerge. 

The prevalent feeling I get from all this is this “all hope is gone”.  Uplifting for 5:09 a.m. I know, but that’s what I think every time I open the internet of things these days. What happened to you?  To me?  To logic? To reason? There’s probably a complete post about how we got here, this isn’t it. Unbelievably this is about hope. 

Over in a little corner of the internet, a change experiment is happening. It’s not liberal or conservative, black or white, pro or anti science. It’s a daily affirmation that change is actually possible because I’m seeing people do it every single day. 

One man lost 200+ pounds and for the first time in 20-30 years has freedom to move and energy to play with his grandkids. A college friend ran 4 miles for the first time in her life yesterday, a notion she has considered for 20 years, in December of 2019 she could run none. Daily attitude, mental health, supporting others freely and willingly, uplift, inspiration, sweat and smiles. 

On January 1st, about 120 people agreed to a challenge with me. To run or exercise 20 mins a day for 100 days in a row. That group became the FRESHJUNKIE Fit Club, now 800+ strong and embarking on day 8 of the third 100 in 100. Any time I think you can’t change anyone’s mind, I need only spend a few minutes combing the posts to see change occurring in real time. Regardless of political, religion, race, and other polarization these people have opened themselves to change and are doing it. 

This isn’t some ad for FJFC. I bring it up because I too default to “why should I bother giving anyone an opposing viewpoint, you can’t change peoples minds.” This is both true and false. You mostly can’t change minds. People change their own.   

Let me say that again. People must change their own minds. 

I have told them every morning for 208 days that they can. That’s it. They’ve done the rest on their own. 

Maybe our goal, however hard, is to present options in a non argumentative form and stand back. The world isn’t 80’s debate club, where a winner is declared based on who defended their argument better regardless of its truth or merit. It’s about hope and logic and opening our minds that there may be an alternative perspective. Tough I know, but maybe it’s the only way. 

If you want to come see some change and see people open up to their own possibilities, head over to Facebook and search for FRESHJUNKIE Fit Club. It’s a free and open group.  We welcome anyone. You need to agree to open yourself to remove your own lines in the sand.   If you share political and stupid shit though, prepare thyself for me to rain down upon thee with furious anger. 

Maybe running and exercise can save the world?

(I’ve added this picture of me mostly running naked to open your eyes to the possibilities and/or to ruin your day)

#hugsandhi5s