Pep Talk: "Let's Do It!"

Boston Marathon. Sandy Hook. Aurora.

Recent polls suggest Americans have come to accept that terrorism is “part of life.”

Really?

I know from the radio show I co-host weekdays on Mile High Sports Radio, it certainly is a frequent topic of conversation. Even on sports talk shows like Afternoon Drive with Mac and Goodman where we normally chatter about the good, bad and ugly of the local and national sports scene.

Americans, it seems, are frustrated, scared and bewildered. Nobody, or few, likes the direction our nation is headed. However, it seems there’s a sense of helplessness when it comes to achieving our goals and overcoming our challenges.

And the challenges are plentiful. We talk, guilty as charged, much about what needs to be done, but then, for reasons baffling to your correspondent, rarely act on ideas suggested in attempting to resolve what ails us.

Let’s take a peek at the national issues dominating the headlines: Immigration, health care, gun control, national security, fiscal responsibility, economic stability and many others beyond my grasp to remember at the time of this writing.

While driving to work the other day, I was listening to the Irv and Joe Show that airs right before Eric Goodman and I take over from 3-6pm weekdays. Irv Brown is a Denver icon: High school and college coach, Hall of Fame basketball official turned legendary sports talk show host and, most important, a man who cares deeply about others. Two women were on his show talking about an upcoming golf tournament that will raise money to support families who have lost children to cancer. She told a heartbreaking story of economic destitution while trying to keep her child alive in the fight against cancer. She lost that battle and was financially broke from the effort.

Really? Our national health care system has become so jacked up that the cost of saving a child’s life can wipe out a family’s finances forever? We all know that’s crazy to fathom. Unfortunately, we all know it’s also far too common place.

What do do? About health care costs or any other tribulation before us?

We need to quit talking and have the courage to act in making progress to solving the “elephant-in-the-middle-of-the-room” issues staring us in the face. Actions speak louder than words, right?

Fear seems to win the battle with courage these days. “What if it’s not the right solution?” Well, what if it is?

Whenever blessed to present a live Pep Talk, we always talk about, in the face of adversity, the importance of mustering courage to put fear aside and allow wonderment to win in creating productive choices to the challenges we face. The challenges may come from a variety of places - home, work and elsewhere. The venues change, but the strategies, my opinion, in dealing with the challenges rarely do.

I know, it’s real easy to stand before an audience and encourage them to embrace this philosophy. It’s real easy to write about it too. Yes, it’s far more difficult to execute such a game plan. We need a mental resolve that doing nothing is no longer an option.

The challenges might be physical, emotional or financial. They might be local, regional, national or international. Again, the origin is irrelevant. What matters is our reaction. Are we going to learn from experiences life throws our way, or become victims of them?

We talk incessantly about fixing what ails us as a nation, human being, family, wage earner or whatever. Too much damn talking and not enough doing. “What if it’s not right?” Well, what if it is? 

When will courage win the battle with fear? For our nation? For our selves? You don’t want to believe what an aging jock is suggesting? Well then, how about embracing the words of Shakespeare? He once bellowed, “Our doubts are traitors that make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt.”

He’s right.

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages, it is time to quit talking and start doing. If hesitant to act because of uncertainty whether what’s being considered is “the right thing,” try and embrace this simple test. When it comes to acting on ideas to become superior to our former selves, ask yourself three questions. Does the action honor me? Nurture those dependent upon me? Add value to the communities I serve?

If the answers are yes, yes and yes. Go for it!  The plan might not be perfect. It will probably require some tweaking along the way. Underachieving is a part of life. It happens sometimes. Acceptance and long-term dwelling in the underachievement motal is not okay. I write those words as much for me as anybody.

Turning life’s lemons into margaritas requires action. We’ll make some mistakes along the way but we’ll learn from them and get better. Rarely is that a bad thing.

Enough talking, let’s do it!