One of My Favorite People

When I went to grade school – longer ago than I like to admit – we always talked about “the 3 R’s”. They were “reading, riting, and rithmetic” to take poetic license.

However in today’s climate, I believe we need to add another “R” to that mix. And that would be RESPONSIBILITY. It’s a word as well as a meaning that has seemed to elude many people today especially as regards behavior, conduct, and performance. Too many people seem to seize the quick fix type of solution to their problems without even realizing the end results of their actions.

Since the focus in my speeches and in the way I live my life is on taking that responsibility, I identify with those who view life in a similar manner and who also inspire me. These would be people who have chosen that accountability is a primary virtue in the way they live their life. Let’s take that a little further and focus on those who have taken the responsibility for their health and well being.

One of the people who comes to mind immediately is Mike Huckabee, the former governor of the State of Arkansas. Governor Huckabee realized that at age 42, he not only had diabetes but was also overweight to the tune of over 100 pounds. After his doctor told him he may very well be living the last decade of his life, he knew he had to take some very immediate action.

So how does the average person react when facing these types of situations? Do they take the attitude that they’ll start “tomorrow” or maybe check out weight altering surgery, or perhaps buy one of those diet plans where your daily eating regimen is replaced by “food” that you buy on a weekly basis. Those diet plans are completely inconsistent with continuing good health and as far as that surgery, well, I’m not so sure the statistics are completely in on the successes and/or failures of such options in terms of both short term and long term reviews.

So what did Mr. Huckabee do? Well you guessed it - he chose the high road – he took that responsibility. He realized that if he started a walking program and added more nutritious food to his daily regimen, he could achieve some amazing results! And look what happened; he lost that excess weight and the diabetes disappeared! No short cut irresponsible solutions for him. I would imagine Mr. Huckabee is rather proud of what he did since he resolutely chose prevention rather than intervention. Raise the flag and sound the drums for Governor Huckabee (as well as that electric guitar)!

Weight issues have long since ceased to become just a matter of vanity. We seem to have misplaced the idea that overweight, obesity, and inactivity are our personal responsibility. They are markers for serious illness and premature death. Medical science now realizes that the 65% of overweight and obese people in this country will have increasing health and illness problems with each passing year, if they do not have them already. That extra fat not only increases the incidence of the insidious diseases that currently plague Americans, but that fat also prevents absorption and utilization of the valuable vitamins and minerals we gain from our food and daily supplements.

If you want to control your health, and continue with healthiness as the years go by, and you want that enthusiasm and energy in your life on a daily basis, and how about that weight loss - then taking the responsibility to do just that becomes of paramount importance. So to people like Mike Huckabee, I say, you are an inspiration not only to me but to thousands of others as well.

So because he pulled out all the stops and did what he had to do – in other words acted with responsibility rather than engaging in a quick fix to control his health - and his future wellbeing - Mike Huckabee moves to the top of the list as one of my favorite people!