Let me share something very PERSONAL with you: (only read if you LOVE me) Have you ever been so proud all you can do is smile and try to hold back the tears? What is your Why? A Why is the reason you get out of bed in the morning. A Why is the reason you do what you do day-in and day-out. A Why is the reason you lay awake at night and yet still dream of living a life full of meaning and purpose in order to make a difference in the lives around you. A Why is the reason we choose not to settle for average, but continue to fight for your dreams because a life lived in pursuit of a dream gives us far more of a sense of accomplishment rather than a life lived in mediocrity. -Jacob Lafond For those of you who may not know; let me share with you my Why!! My Why is Family. Anybody that knows me personally knows that I come from a large family. Growing up the youngest of 13 kids was no cake walk. I never felt growing up that I was in need of anything. My parents worked extremely hard to provide for all of us kids. Its not that I wanted a lot, but there was some stuff i wanted and just didnt understand at the time why i couldnt have it. I started playing sports in 4th grade, and any parent who has children in athletics knows sports can be expensive, especially when you have several children that play; not only one sport, but several sports! As the youngest, i definitely didnt get the cleats, the new ball glove, the new baseball bat, all the pretty accessories that make you look like a better athlete, nope. I got hand-me-down sport equipment and other gear from places like Goodwill and the Thrift Store. LET ME TELL YOU, there was NO shame in that! I was proud of the stuff I had. My parents also taught me at a young age how to work. You want something in life youve got to go out and get it. There are no free rides in life. If I wanted a new pair of anything I was to work for it and pay for it myself, and in some instances thats exactly what I did. I also ended up learning, it doesnt matter what clothes youre wearing or the shoes on your feet, that doesnt define a mans character or determine the amount of effort one puts in on the baseball diamond, the football field or the hardwood. (The 3 sports I participated in from 4th grade through 12th grade). Let me tell you what does define a mans character; his work ethic, his attitude, his integrity, his leadership ability, his willingness to help others, and his word. That is MY view of a mans character so, one may disagree. That is my definition because that is how I was raised, and what I observed by my father growing up. And that is what has gotten me so far in life! I do not know another man who works as hard as my Father. He was a truck driver and would be gone driving all the time trying to make ends meet for a large family, then when he was home, it wasnt time to kick back and relax but work even more. Hed work driving truck, then hed work around the house and guess what!?! Us kids helped! Why have 13 kids if you cant put them to work!?! haha Growing up I hated it! And we didnt just work when he was home. Before he left for the week driving cross country, he would give us projects to do while he was gone and he would be Inspector Gadget when he returned home and by golly you better have done it right!....and we NEVER did, but we would redo it until we go it right! Now some of you reading may say how dare he? or What a slave driver!....and thats okay. We said the same thing as KIDS! BUT guess what he instilled in us at a very young age? How to go to work, and not only go to work but be the best at what we do! AND I THANK HIM FOR THAT! How to work is something that needs to be instilled in todays society. Let me tell you, Ive heard it several times from older generations I am scared for your future, your generation is LAZY! And they are absolutely right! I mean the generation that is saying it built this country! and look at it now! I am just so thankful to not fall into that category. In my opinion its up to the ones who were taught how to work to start showing others, and teach our children to start turning our future in the right direction! So before I go into just rambling and telling you my whole life story; which i will if you want to hear it in person, let me get down to my why. Now that you have a bit of a background on me, now you may understand why i awake at 4:30 in the morning and work until approximately 11pm. With being blessed with the gift of strength, and not just physical strength, but mental strength, both a blessing from God, but really a skill honed by my father teaching me to use my gifts, I have been able to not only excel in the classroom but was very lucky to play football at the collegiate level, also earning a Bachelors of Science Degree in Exercise Science I have been able to live a great life full of experiences! Most recently I have been able to get in the best shape of my life, using my knowledge of exercise and nutrition, and also help others. I have watched my familys health decline slowing over the years and it has really bothered me. I have all this knowledge but not been able to share it with them. Well recently, since I have found Herbalife(1yr ago) I have learned so much more about proper nutrition and how live a healthy active lifestyle and to teach others the same. I have been able to help my father, mother, step mother, sister and brother start making steps towards capturing their life back by getting their health back. My Why: First, since I started talking about finances let me talk about why I work so hard. Again, I am super proud of my upbringing and wouldnt change it for the world! It has shaped me into the young man I am today. I work so hard now to build a financial wall so thick nothing can penetrate it. Money isnt everything but its right up there with oxygen. You dont really think about it when you have it, but when you cant breath its all you can think about, or when you cant pay your bills, or put food not the table, or buy your child something they really want, its right up there with oxygen, am i right!?! Okay, so i just never want finances to be an issue. If I want to travel across the country to see a friend get married, theres no question to it. I am my own boss and can do what I want. If there is a death in the family, its not going to break the bank for the immediate family. If the economy collapses like it did in 2008, its not going to effect me. I want to provide the absolute best upbringing for my future children. I never want my wife to have to work, but i am assuming, shell be working an herbalfie business side by side with me....wink wink, ladies! ;) haha You guys get what I am saying. The other part of my why is to get each and every one of my brothers and sisters, and mothers, and father all on herbalife products and start living a healthy active lifestyle and possibly dive into the business and start creating the life of their dreams, but slowly but surely one at a time Ive been able to help them get their health back. My dad is down 80+lbs all in all, one of my sisters mentioned to me today shes is the smallest she has been since her marathon training, another one of my sisters is still on her journey to a healthy active lifestyle, another I had a conversation with today said she is ready to start doing the same, my step mother was down 10+lbs her first week, another one of my brothers is a freak in the gym and runs all the time, and now what inspired me to write this whole post...the reason I made the very first statement about holding back my tears because I am so proud! I want everyone to give it up for Ryan Faulkner!! I love this guy to death, he is the spiritual leader i look up too, and hold every characteristic I mentioned earlier about being a man! He must have been watching our father closely as well, so for all you fathers out there, realize your little ones are watching, theyre going to walk in your shoes, most likely, make sure their a great pair of shoes to fill! With my brother ryan it hasnt always been rainbows and butterflies. My father also went through a divorce and ryan was older when that happened, most of you know divorces are harder on teenagers. So there was some struggles there, he then joined the marine corps so I didnt really get to grow up with him a whole lot, but he was always someone I looked up too, he was my big brother! Needless to say, in order to build strength there must be resistance and we are some pretty strong and tough dudes! I am so proud of this guy, he has grown so much the past couple of months, spiritually, mentally, and physically! HE IS DOWN a total of 27lbs! Started at 220, and today was 193lbs! Most recently down 8.9 inches, 2.2% body fat, increased his Lean Muscle Mass! HE is KILLING his Herbalfie Nutrition plan, growing his mindset daily, growing spiritually daily, and walks the walk of Jesus Christ! I couldnt be more proud to have you as my BIG BROTHER!! (Holding back the proud tears!) I AM EXPERIENCENG MY WHY EVERY DAY! AND ITS WHAT KEEPS ME GOING DAY-IN AND DAY-OUT! Thank you all who read the whole thing...you get a cookie! jk! But stop by for a Cookie Dough Shake! ;)
Posted on: Thu, 11 Dec 2014 04:53:57 +0000
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