Published: April 14, 2009 01:54 pm      

Find Your Cheering Section

One Man's Journey, Entry 3

I’m a competitive guy. I want to win. I don’t have to be the best today, but I want to be better tomorrow. Some day, I do want to be the best. If not the best overall, I’d at least like to be the best Ernie I can be.

With my new found desire to exercise and take control of my body, I am no different. I started off in bad shape. Progressively, my health has changed for the better over the last six months. One day, I want to be in great shape, the best I can be.

I compare my journey to become the best I can be to sports. In athletics, the differences between a bad, better, or great team are vast, but one thing that holds true throughout: great teams and individual competitors usually have the biggest and best fan sections cheering them on to a victory.

That’s what I have successfully built: the Ernie Horn cheering section.

One of my most vocal supporters is the publisher of this magazine - Bill. Faithfully, he has pushed me not to accept just good enough in my personal or professional life. And along the way, he’s given me the encouragement to continue along this journey to become a healthier Ernie.

Long before I came to Kentucky, I had another fan named Dan. Not only was he one of my friends throughout college, he constantly tried to educate me on making better, healthier choices for myself. That is an education college certainly didn’t provide, and one of the reason I know he’s cheering me on to the finish line.

After I started this journey, my No. 1 fan came into the picture – Christy. She’s driven me not to accept a slow, somber walk on my journey into this health endeavor; rather, she pushes for me to run the course full-speed and breathlessly. Her constant praise and critiques have helped me guide my work-out performance and overall development. And without her help, I would not be where I am at today.

Also in my corner is a friend from home – Sheila. She, too, is trying to shed a few pounds and make herself healthier. She is inspired by my stories and vice versa. She’s there for me when I struggle, and I try to be there for her when she succeeds. We constitute our own support group, and we count as a member of each person’s cheering section.

Those are just a few of the “fans” I’ve acquired along the way. There are many more people that are offering their praise, suggestions, encouragement and time. Together, these people compose my cheering section, a group of individuals that surround me and root for me to become a healthier person every day.

Building your own cheering section is easier than you think. Start with the people around you. Tell them what you want in life, be it in the gym, from the classroom, or around the job. Let them know your goals, short-term and long-term. Keep them informed about your progress. If you show your dedication to those goals, they will become a more vocal cheering section each and every day.

I am a competitive guy. I want to win. Not just for me, now. This victory is for my fans as well.