"To have that sense of one's intrinsic worth which constitutes self-respect is potentially to have everything."– Joan Didion
Joan suggests that when you have intrinsic worth you have self-respect. I would add that intrinsic worth leads to having a better sense of who you are, which means identity. And one main and necessary component of identity is self-esteem. Having a positive self-image facilitates the journey and developmental process in establishing one’s identity. A necessary element in developing a positive self concept is mastery or having ability and competency.
Simply put, having success experiences, trust, autonomy, and competency results in the development of a positive self-concept. Having a positive self-concept allows the individual to have a sense of intrinsic worth and the self-respect that Joan suggests. From this point, it is very likely that the individual will be successful in knowing who he is and a road map in developing one’s identity. Having a clear identity or knowing who you are is both important and healthy.
I just got off the phone with Ed Budde. Ed is currently president of the Kansas City Chiefs alumni Association. He Played for the Chiefs 13 years and continues to live in Kansas City. Ed played in the first Super Bowl against the Green Bay Packers. Prior to that, he was a first-round draft choice of both the Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles. Obviously, he chose the Kansas City team. In college, he played for Michigan State and he attained many honors. He was an All-American at Denby high school where we were teammates.
Today, he referred to himself as an “old Chief.” I told him that when he said that, I thought of Sitting Bull. I suggested that he think of himself as a” Chief. “It is healthier for him to think of himself in a more positive light and not as an old Chief. Our inner thoughts and how we refer to ourselves tell an important story. So monitor what you say. If you are using a word that connotes something that is not favorable change or re frame that with a positive. Thinking about yourself and employing positives is important for your well-being which is your mental health. It makes awareness or listening to yourself important and it is only then that you are able to make the necessary change.
On another note, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Inst., said a child’s first cholesterol check, should occur between ages nine and 11 and the test should be repeated between the ages of 17 and 21. The American Academy of Pediatrics endorsed the guidelines. This was taken from the Wall Street Journal, November 12-13, 2011.
As we know, there are growing numbers of American children who are either overweight or obese and likely on the way to developing diabetes. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that obesity in American children has tripled within the last 30 years. That seems to be an alarming number. It would be interesting to look at data as far as the increase in electronic game activity is concerned. I would guess there is a positive and high correlation with participation in games of this nature coupled with the increase of inactivity among children and teens. Playing the game, sitting around, and being inactive are a disease. I am sure the schools are doing less as far as physical activity is concerned. So as parents, it is your job and responsibility to deal with this disease even though you might make the pharmaceutical industry unhappy. They would prefer you just start taking the statins –the drugs.
The remedy in dealing with high cholesterol is related to improving diets and boosting exercise to at least or a minimum of one hour a day. As far as exercise is concerned, one hour a day does not seem like much. However, if you are not doing any exercise then one hour would be significant. There are plenty of examples that I know and realize how difficult it is to make those necessary changes. There is no simple answer. It takes hard work, discipline, and consistency.
Today after our run, Secretariat and I were talking about age and performance. I told him that my next book can be titled”Age Has Something to Do with It”. More about that subject matter later.
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