Talk vs. Action

Verlin James Contributor

Motivational speeches, workshops, youth conferences…do they solve anything? I remember being young once and enjoying not so much the content of these events, but the company of those who were attending. You see I was never popular growing up. I was a studious guy, yet at the same time I was also athletic. Still at the time I could count all the friends or acquaintances that I knew on one hand.

Looking back I can honestly say that motivational speeches or workshops do provide some benefit, but the void that they try to fill never becomes even remotely filled.

Now don’t get me wrong, from what I remember, these events, celebrities and facilitators were good and they did fill a void, temporarily. But they never gave me answers much less a game plan.

William Oombash of Sachigo Lake First Nation and Genevieve Beardy of Weagamow Lake First Nation participated in training sessions with Verlin James leading up to The Daily SEVEN Challenge at Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School.

Now, what has worked for me is this: Whatever dream you have, hold onto it, burn it into your brain and try to figure out a way to get there. Be realistic, if you suck at math or school in general, and you are thinking astronaut then you might have a problem. However, you can still figure out a way to become better at the things that you aren’t good at. This is where motivation and goals setting comes in.

But if you cannot think of anything, or don’t know what you want, or you do have a dream yet don’t mind a little pain then I have a little solution for you, one that will test your will and determination. It’s a simple fitness challenge, one that requires persistence, and a desire to become better and fitter.

All you will need is your own bodyweight, and any free space. It could be a bedroom or even outside, it doesn’t matter. Now here is what’s going to happen, there are seven setting-up exercises that you are to complete on your own or with a group, these movements will form the foundation of the exercise sessions. Seven strength and endurance movements will follow at your discretion, depending on your starting fitness level. Additional exercises will be posted in serials of seven, and these will support or enhance the setting up movements that you will become familiar with.

The idea is two fold:

1) you will become fitter, and,
2) you will understand that there is no easy solution to anything.

After all… nothing worthwhile comes easy.

Verlin James, from MacDowell Lake First Nation, is a graduate of Pelican Falls. He served as a rifleman in the US Marine Corps, and later attended the University of Manitoba, where he received a BA in Classical Studies and Anthropology (Archaeology). He likes to travel, learn new languages, and loves to exercise.