Mahler's Monday Morning Motivator # 207 - The Wizard of Odds

[Mahler]

Mahler’s Monday Morning Motivator # 207 - The Wizard of Odds

The Wizard of Odds

The towering doors open before you and you look down the seemingly endless hallway leading to the audience chamber. There you will be enlightened. There you will get all the answers that you seek. There you will be confronted with the wisdom of the ages. You walk down that long expanse of gleaming marble and with a certain measure of fear and apprehension you enter. Before you the flames leap up and the smoke billows. And soon, you hear the voice; that booming voice that cannot be ignored. “I am Odds, the great and powerful. Come forward.”

You meekly step closer and the voice, which somehow seems to be coming from within you now, says, “What is it that you seek?” You hesitate and then with faltering speech you ask, “How can I get back home, to the way I used to be and live a better and longer life?” There is a long and unnerving pause followed by low, deep sonorous laughter. “Do you not know that the odds are against you?”

Yes, the Wizard is laughing because he knows that the odds are that 80% of adults will experience some sort of back pain in any given year. He is laughing because he know that the odds are that the average person will suffer some measure of joint deterioration, especially knees and hips, as they grow older. He is laughing because he knows, as he speaks, that the odds are that there are millions beyond the walls of his sanctum who are consuming far more food than they need to, thus fueling their eventual demise with useless calories and artery clogging junk.

The Wizard of Odds knows too, that those seeking his intervention will often assist, unknowingly, in stacking the odds against themselves with a host of excuses. He knows that the odds of anyone actually taking his advice are going to be decreased with cries of I am too busy, I am too tired, I am too old, I am too fat, I am too … and he has heard them all and again he lets out a sinister laugh.

Again, you ask, “What must I do?” The Wizard of Odds responds by sending you on a quest. “Bring me the broomstick of the Wicked Witch of the West.” Wait! Sorry! Wrong story. “Go out and exercise. Lift weights, run, ride a bike, swim. Eat good food, taking in what you need and not what you want. Then come back to me and I will give you the answer to your question.” You take a step back. You hesitate. Again, with faltering voice you say, “but what you ask is so hard. Exercise is boring and I will surely injure myself. And, great one, I fear entering the presence of the ogres that lurk in the confines of the dreaded gymnasium. Surely they will annihilate me.” With a clap of thunder the voice responds “GO!”
You retreat in haste and your journey has begun.


Many weeks pass and you have tried to do what the Wizard of Odds has commanded. It is time to return and get the answer to your question. You stride confidently as you enter. You are a little lighter on your feet and you no longer cower in fear of the Wizard of Odds. Before he is even able to speak you step forward and say, “I have done all that you ask. Now tell me the answer to my question.” Once again, the Wizard of Odds begins to laugh. But now, it is a hearty, joy-filled laugh. You are annoyed and begin to look around and off to the side you see him. There is a man that you had not noticed before. He looks familiar. “Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain”, the voice bellows. But, curiosity has gotten the best of you and you go to investigate.

Why has this person tried to deceive you? You confront him. “When you were out on your quest, what did you learn?” the man asks. I learned that I do not need you. I learned that I control the odds and that I can change them in my favor. By eating well and exercising I can live a longer, healthier life. I should have known that all along. And then it dawns on you. He knew it, too. “But, why did you make me go through all of this?” And the answer, simple and clear was, “because you had to learn it for yourself.” That man behind the curtain looked so familiar because it could well be a friend, a relative, a trainer or coach or even someone on the street who was all the things you wanted or didn’t want to be. Sometimes we are not prepared to listen, however, and have to learn for ourselves.

People can tell you many things, but when all is said and done you must have the personal courage to act. You must draw from within you the heart to put all your effort into those actions. And, you most surely will need to pull it together by using your brain to do it all wisely. Oh, there will be times when you find yourself running though a field of poppies and you fall asleep and lose sight of your goals. There will be many occasions when you are attacked by flying monkeys who will try to undermine your efforts. And, you will surely have to deal with the wicked witch who will try to frighten you into doubt or indecision. But, right now is not that time. So, click the heels of your Nike’s together three times and get to work, because there is no place like home.

****************
Have a Great Week!
****************

[Phaedrus49er]

Step off, b!tch! This is MY house!

Poignant as always, John.

[Jean-Paul]

The odds are, that was a great article!

[liftintexas]

well said, John - thanks

[GG300]

Nice read John, although I am still trying to figure out just when I switched over to being an ogre.

[Lost Dog]

.

[maggieandmommy]

I love it--great words to start the day off!

[Bill2380]

Good one John.

[LisaS]

still showing Wizard of Oz on Easter weekend in your market John?

very good - entertaining and true at the same time.

[RacerBill]

I have a feeling we're not in Kansas any more.

Great one, John!

[kingkop182]

Have you written this somewhere else, John? It's very familiar to me but I just can't quite put my finger on it.

[UConnJulie]

Great one John ...

[Mahler]

Originally Posted by kingkop182

Have you written this somewhere else, John? It's very familiar to me but I just can't quite put my finger on it.

I wrote it for John Izzo as a favor to help kick off his web site. The more I read it, I wanted it to be a part of the numbered Motivators, and so here it is.

[kingkop182]

that's it.

It is a good one, cheers

[Tom@foresight]

Another Great one!

Cheers

TOM