Writing to you again from beautiful Colorado. Took a day of rest today given the unexpected 9 miler yesterday and used my energy to lounge by the pool instead. I did walk the whole half mile to the pool instead of driving...does that count as something? Ha. Vacation is so tough. 85 and sunny every day is also so tough...not. Minus my chronically sunburned nose [I think it extudes more than the average nose or something] it is absolutely perfect here.
Every year my dad participates in the annual 'Extravaganza' with a dozen or so male friends, the 'mutants'. Essentially it is a weekend filled with crazy physical challenges...and booze. An active man's dream. Ok I will admit I want a female version. Anyone else game? The mutants take turns planning the Extravaganza weekends and the activities range from climbing 14ers to hunting wild pigs with spears. He just returned from the 2011 Extravaganza this past weekend and as always had plenty of great stories to share. This time around was pretty tame, consisted of lots of climbing, camping under the stars, personal water bottles of rum [gross] and whiffle ball games. The mutants mounted a peak which they dedicated to three members of the group that have passed in recent years. They placed a plaque at the top of the peak to memorialize their beloved passed mutants. Sounded pretty epic.
In the dozen stories my dad had to offer about the weekend, two really stuck out to me. Both, coincidentally, deal with the topic of peer pressure and cast it in a positive light. I thought that everyone would appreciate the anecdotes I am about the share:
For the first time since 1993, the mutant Dreamer [they all go by nicknames. in a very serious way] attended the annual Extravaganza. This is very special because about a year ago he left the drug and alcohol abuse center he had been at for quite a long time. Due to drug and alcohol abuse, Dreamer lost his family, his job, and his friends. He made the brave decision to enter a recovery facility and spent many grueling years trying to overcome his life-ruining habits. I am happy to report that he has been sober since he left the facility, and it was really special to all the mutants to share this year's Extravaganza with Dreamer. In conversation over the weekend, he discussed the role the mutants played in his motivation to become and remain sober. Losing your friends, and your life, because of substance abuse is preventable. Being able to participate in the annual event with his best friends was, and continues to be, an important motivation to maintain his sober lifestyle. Sometimes peer pressure is exactly what you need to make healthy decisions. His 'rum' water bottle was filled with a non-alcoholic alternative. Good for him. My thoughts and prayers remain with Dreamer and I hope he continues in his new lifestyle with all the support he needs.
Another mutant [I'm spacing on his name] attends every year, and every year he has been 40 pounds overweight. The mutants are a VERY special group. They are all between the ages of 45 and 75 and are in phenomenal shape. In fact, Pops, the oldest mutant, continues to kick everyone's ass on a consistent basis. If you can't hang physically, you won't enjoy this trip. Unfortunately, the extra 40 lbs really hindered the mutant this time around, as he wasn't physically able to mount the peak and partake in the memorialization ceremony for their passed friends. It was really hard for him to sit back and wait for the group as they finished the climb and had the ceremony, but he had no other option. After they descended the mountain later that day, he made a verbal commitment to the other mutants to lose the extra weight by next year's extravaganza. Never again does he want to be left behind.
Peer pressure can be a really wonderful motivation to kick ass, stay in shape, and make healthy positive life decisions. Obviously the first challenge is to surround yourself with amazing peers, but once you do so, you can ride on your relationships for motivation and positivity. Don't back down to peer pressure...ride it to better yourself!
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