Fit for Life: Memories, Remember the Important Ones

Saturday, June 01, 2019

Matt Espeut, GoLocalProv Health +Lifestyle Contributor

“Remember when, is the lowest form of conversation” said Tony Soprano as he angrily stepped away from the table while his buddies reminisce about the good old days.

I have to somewhat agree with that term because I can’t stand it when people talk about how great things were, how much they bench pressed, what a great athlete they were, how they were prom queen, or how much money they made back in the day. Blah blah blah.

People that have this kind of stronghold on their past do it because they don’t have much going for them in the present day. They are unhealthy, out of shape, and can’t find anything significant in their current life to talk about and embellish in.

Therefore, they need to bask in the victories of the past.

If you ever watched married with children, you get what I’m saying. Al Bundy, a guy with 2 loser kids, a useless wife, and a career as a shoe salesman, constantly has day dreams of his high school football days when he scored 4 touchdowns in a single game. His present-day life was misery, so he had to dig backwards to find an ounce of self-worth.

Although, I find it fun to walk down memory lane, see old pictures, catch up with old friends, and think of the people and loved ones that I have lost over the years, I try to focus on what’s important now, and how the best is still yet to come.

With a few exceptions.

This past Monday we celebrated Memorial Day and I am curious to see how many people found this day to be more significant than just an extra day added to your weekend.

This is the day when you’re supposed to remember when, or think about what if, or what our lives could be today if it weren’t for the brave soldiers that fought for our freedom.

My grandfather fought in WW2 and I have heard many stories and viewed many documentaries to acknowledge what an important day last Monday was. Although I don’t remember back much more than the early 70’s, I do have a tremendous amount of gratitude, and respect for the people that have made sacrifices for what we have today.

Here are some things to remember and put in prospective the next time you take freedom for granted or feel entitled.

Remember, in some countries, in this present day, women still can’t vote, or expose skin in public.

Remember when you go to the market and buy what you want, some countries still have to ration their food.

Remember when you go to work and get your paycheck, most of it is still yours and other countries will take a bigger percentage of your earnings.

Remember, you have the power to be as successful as you want to be and there are no limits to your success beyond the ones you place on yourself.

Remember that when your kid goes to school, you don’t need to worry about an air strike that could destroy the school.

Remember that you have a choice with everything you do and say and that YOUR thoughts and actions (not the governments) will dictate the outcome of your life.

Remember it was guys like my grandfather that prevented a dictator tyrant from taking over less than 80 short years ago, that would have changed life as we know it today.

Do I remember playing football with my buddies? Hell yea. We had a blast.

Do I remember that I had the hottest car in high school? A 78 Trans Am bandit edition with velour seats and T tops. Yup, I do.

Those were all fun times and I am glad I had these experiences; however, the important memories are things that helped shape who I am today, and where I am going in the future.

I also remember the losses, defeats, the trouble I got into and the mistakes I have made along the way. I remember this and feel grateful that I made the necessary changes and adjustments to grow and benefit from my memories, and NOT make the same mistakes again.

This is the time you say to yourself, remember when……., and do your best to not let negative things continue to happen throughout your life.

At 50 years old, I can honestly say that my life is good enough now, that I don’t need to remember when I did cool stuff in the past.

I am in the best shape of my life, I constantly try to get better through self-development and learning, and am a few steps away from achieving a level of success that I have been envisioning for myself for a long time.

I don’t have the time or desire to think back and tell people how great I thought I was in the past.

In my opinion, the best is yet to come.

Matt Espeut, GoLocal's Health & Lifestyle Contributor has been a personal trainer and health & fitnesss consultant for over 25 years. He is the owner of Fitness Profiles, a one on one, and small group personal training company, as well as Providence Fit Body Boot Camp, located at 1284 North Main St., on the Providence/Pawtucket line. You can reach Matt at (401) 453-3200; on Facebook at "Matt Espeut", and on Twitter at @MattEspeut. "We’re all in this life together – let’s make it a healthy one.

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Fit for Life: Memories, Remember the Important Ones

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