You control the switch

I think what we need is a big, fat dose of self control. The kind of self control that, even when you know you can, you choose not to. Because choosing not to is the right thing. Not the comfortable thing, not the easy thing, not the popular thing. The RIGHT thing.

For example, health and weight loss. Obesity is NOT a disease if you are a piggish sloth. I know that's harsh, but let's be honest here. You can lose weight if you stop shoving crap in your mouth and get your feet in some walking shoes. You don't have to be Draconian about it. Just make better decisions, drink more water, and move more.

I am "fluffy" because I hate to get on the treadmill and I LOVE pecan pie. That is a fact. It's also a fact that if I sit on the sofa and eat pecan pie, I will gain weight. If I get my tail on the treadmill and have a tiny sliver of pie once in a while, I will not be as fluffy. See how it works? So stop whining, fatties, about being discriminated against because you are obese. If you don't have an underlying medical condition causing your weight gain, you ARE lazy. You have bad knees because they are carrying 400 pounds. That's not a reason NOT to exercise. That's a reason TO exercise. Okay, on to something else.

Ritalin. This prescription drug is a central nervous stimulant, like amphetamines in the nature and duration of effects (www.drugfree.com). Okay, if that doesn't give you pause before giving this to little Johnny, then stop reading here. While I am sure there are kids with ADHD, it is NOT the vast majority of those currently taking medication. Dr. Richard Bromfield agrees with me: "Ritalin is often prescribed not because of an underlying neurological disorder, but as an easy way to calm down children whose misbehavior actually results from ordinary causes such as bad parenting."

We are doing our children a disservice in not teaching them self control. My mother's central nervous stimulant for my bad behavior was a butt-whooping. And let me tell you, I did not need many doses. Parents need to say no more often to their children. No, you can't yell in the store. No, you can't talk in church. No, you can't run in the house. No, you can't have a Wii. No, you can't have an iTouch phone. See how easy it is? Once they get used to hearing no, they will build a tolerance for it, and stop whining and crying afterward. Think of it like an immunization against becoming an ass as an adult.

Speaking of which ... let's talk about credit. Unless you are talking about a high-ticket item such as a house, all credit does is allow us to not have to exercise self-control. Having the "I wants" is not bad if it's balanced with "but I can't right now". Saving money for a purchase is becoming more and more foreign for Americans. But I want it nowwwww. Who does that sound like? You can't tell your children no if you can't tell yourself the same thing. Ahhh. I think we've hit upon something here.

Is your car perfectly fine but you want the latest model? Do you have a closet full of clothes and nothing to wear? Do you have 5 pair of black shoes? Do you give away stuff so you can make room for more? That's what we are teaching the next generation. More! Better! Bigger! Newer! Now! Don't have the money? Put it on credit! That's like getting it free! Let me tell you a secret - you have become a tool. You are not making yourself look better to others, but merely making someone wealthy off of your insatiable appetite for whatever it is you buy and don't need or really even want. Impulse control until you can pay cash! That will take care of most impulse and frivolous purchases. That way, the ones you make will have some thought and sacrifice (at least a little time).

It is far better to limit what you eat and not limit your activity. It is far better to spend time with your child than spending money on him. It is far better to save until you can pay cash. Far better to tell your body and your desires that YOU are in charge.

You control the switch. It says "yes" and "no". Most of the time, it's in the "yes" position, and it gets us in all kinds of trouble. Short-term satisfaction and warm fuzzy, yes. Long term problems, definitely. Flip that switch and be very thoughtful before flipping it back.

I'm going to get on the treadmill.