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June 16, 2010

Discipline is what many people dread

Robby Robertson The Athens Review

Athens — There is a word that has been rolling over and over in my brain for the past couple of weeks. It’s one of those words that I don’t really like, and to be honest, haven’t been very good at. It’s a word I have thought of from time to time, and a word that I try to live by on occasion (but really never do).

What is the word? D•I•S•C•I•P•L•I•N•E!

I space it out like that so you (and I) will get the true sense of the word. Discipline is tough. We always do things that we have to do. We have to go to work. We have to eat. We have to pay our taxes. We have to obey the laws of the land. These things we have to do.

But when it comes to things we don’t have to do, but we should, how many times do we do them? Yeah, we have good intentions. We say we are going to. We start out doing them. But how many times do we continue, especially when things get tough?

There are the obvious things like diet and exercise. We all know we should do that, but most don’t. The reason I know that is because the obesity rate in America is at an all-time high.

I love the thought of working out. Running, lifting weights, swimming, riding bicycles are all things that are good for me. I even love to do them, when I am feeling really good. But when I am sore, or it’s too cold or hot, or I’m tired, I won’t go do it. I get real lazy. This is where discipline comes into play. Making myself do it when I don’t feel like doing it.

Then there are things like making time for our families. I’m not talking about at a sporting event our kids play or watching TV together. I’m talking about quality time at the dinner table, or doing something together where you just might listen to each other. Times where there are no distractions.

What about making time for reading? I am not a big reader, but I know that when I do make time every day to read, instead of watch TV, I am much better informed. Anytime you can expand your mind is time well-spent.

I love television just like anyone. I have my favorite shows, along with sports and some news programs. For the past six weeks, I haven’t really watched television. When I started thinking about what I missed, it wasn’t much. When you stop and think about what the television does, compared to reading a book, or spending time with people, there is no comparison.

What about doing for others? How many times do we actually do for others? I know I have thought about it. I have even done it a time or two. How many times have I put someone else before something I wanted to do? I can’t say I have very often.

I have to be disciplined to do this because this is a ME generation we live in. It should come naturally. I should want to do for others consistently, but I don’t. I am one of those who have been programed to make sure I feel good, and I am taken care of.....first.

We always think about helping other people when they are in need. It makes us feel good to help those who are less fortunate than us. What about just helping anyone...at any time?

How many can say they really know their neighbors today? I mean know them in a way where they come over for dinner ever so often, or where we have a cup of coffee with them from time-to-time just to visit?

Years ago, when I was a kid, my parents did that. We knew most of our neighbors. In fact, we knew most of the people on our block. It wasn’t every week, but I do remember times when we would go to our next-door neighbors, or they would come over just for desert and coffee and to visit.

I do know the world has become busy. Very busy. We have replaced those sit-down coffee visits with a wave at the grocery store, or a “hello, how are you” at church or the ball park.

It’s time to re-program, and become disciplined about each other and the way we live. Make yourself do things that are not the norm for you. You can even start small. Find something that you need to do but don’t, and try it for a month.

It may be giving to a person each week. It might be waking yourself an hour earlier. It might even be turning off the TV a couple of days a week.

Whatever discipline you need in your life, make it happen. You will be glad you did.

Robby Robertson is a Staff Writer for the Athens Daily Review.

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