"F"eel in the Blank!?

Don't get offended, but we're talking "f" words...

I don't know if you heard it. I did. The calendar rolled around to September. Usually that just means Fall and football - two really good "f" words. Let's think of some more... friends, finger-foods, foosball... (well, that got weak quickly!). Now that it is September the reality has come... the Big "F"ive-0h! I almost think there should be some sinister B-movie music in the background.

OK, I admit it, I'm turning 50. It's going to happen whether I acknowledge it or not. So why not embrace it? Besides, you are only as _______ as you feel. Right? The great thing is I get to choose how to fill in that blank. (Foreshadowing: there's a twist on the way). More specifically, I get to fill in my blank. You get to fill in yours. And I don't just mean the age thing. Let's try some fill in the blanks. How about you are only as old as you feel? Too easy. You're only as happy as you feel... You're only as blessed as you feel... You're only as pretty/handsome (hot for the younger crowd) as you feel... You're only as wealthy as you feel... You're only as loved as you feel (wow!). 

From a strictly literal standpoint, it may not be true; until we consider the feel part of the equation. There is a lot in that little "f" word. It embodies much more than feelings. It exposes how we experience what is in the blank - it is the living-out. It is the opposite of denial and flies way past acceptance. I'm talking about an embrace of what's in the blank.

So really the key is not in filling in the blank. The magic is in how we "f"eel about it - how we choose to experience it and live it out. Here's the twist: we have little control over what is in the blank. Our power is in our response; it is in our attitude. Think about it. You are incredibly blessed, but you may live whole days or even weeks, choosing to ignore the blessings you are given, choosing instead to "f"eel like the world is against you. Thus, you are only as blessed as you "f"eel.

Example: On the 23rd of this month I'll turn 50 no matter what (and no, that's not a ploy for presents - but text me and I'll give you my address for cards!). I can't control it. I can't stop it. I can't do anything about it. As a matter of fact at this point it beats the alternative of not turning 50. I might as well embrace it. I've chosen how I "f"eel about it. That's where Fit50! came from in the first place. We could continue with examples, but I think you get the point - and this post is running a little long.

So "F"eel in your blanks...

Oh, and the bad background music I should be hearing? I'm hearing the theme music to Gladiator (or Braveheart - what man doesn't want to be a Warrior-Poet?!).

For now...
D