MY ADDICTIONS

We all have addictions and distractions. I’ve had many. My mental and physical dependencies have included but are not limited to the following: myself, secular purpose and success, excess, money, material possessions, sleep, work, health and fitness, getting high (unnaturally and naturally), winning, alcohol, red meat, sugar, caffeine, pop/soda/CocaCola, junk food, school, playing, talking, socializing, cursing, sports, and life in general.

I have always strived to incrementally cut out dependencies and distractions that were hindering my goals.

In high school, I gave up pop for 40 days to get healthier. I gave up a normal social life to achieve my academic and athletic goals. In college, I gave up TV to achieve my social goals. I deleted social media apps frequently. I gave up my physical health to focus on my girlfriend who loved me and helped improve my mental and emotional health. I gave up spending time with my friends and ones that are most important to me to focus on school and fitness. I gave up getting drunk and getting high this year to try to win the Little 500.

This summer, I gave up sleep and my social life to compensate for work. I gave up work to compensate for my family and sleep. I gave up working out to compensate for work, family, and sleep. I gave up a nutritious diet and hydration to free up more time to work, socialize, sleep, and work out. I gave up time to value nutrition. I gave up red meat and fast food to save time. I’m giving up material possessions to free up more space and to earn more money. I’m giving up excess money to find secular purpose. I’m giving up myself to achieve my ultimate goal(s).

We all have vices. Incremental improvement is ideal. Focus on one. Attack that dependency. Move on to the next one. Minimalism, moderation, and balance. Focus. Attack. Learn. Balance. Focus. Attack. Learn. Balance.