So, why am I in the pits? Am I bummed already? Hardly…I ‘was’ in the pit, literally. Last night was (and everyone near my age and older gasped) Nine Inch Nails live in Dallas. Yeah, I dig Trent and…well, it’s really Trent. I’ve been into heavy music since I was a kid and I never grew up. Sue me. Besides, Trent is my age, so I felt right at home with all the depressed teens in black bouncing off each other like human pinballs in a fiasco known as the mosh pit.

No one hassled me or my five friends over our age. I think this is partially do to the fact none of us really look or act our age, and mostly due to the fact that skinny, malnourished NIN freaks are scared of guys with arms the size of their legs. Heh. Made the show that much more fun.

It turned out to be quite the cardio blast, actually. You try jumping up and down for an hour and a half with stops every so often! Kinda fun…I’ll try it more often, only without having to slam some drunken 20-something to the floor all in the name of release.

I dig the music, but I could take a pass on the pit. But, best seats and all…even if there were no seats. I also love Sting, U2, Seal, and other music more “appropriate” for a man of 42. Ladies, fear ye not. : )

Emerson said:

When it is dark enough, you can see the stars.

Sometimes it can be cathartic to release negative energy into the air.

Okay, enough of my justifications for diggin’ strange music. Now I’ll let you in on a cool fringe benefit: the concert “is” my exercise report…seriously. I was drenched and, for the first time in a long time, not lightheaded afterwards. Seems my holistic therapy (self-administered) is working well! I’ll be back under that squat bar in no time- - and the fat will just melt off at that point.

Now, a bit about mindset and depression. Since I’m yacking about NIN, it stands to reason that I mention mindset. If I wasn’t a musician (10 years professional), I would probably detest NIN due to the lyrics. Not exactly Disney kosher…more to the point, they’re really freakin’ scary. Not “satanic” or anything, but a harsh look at a tormented soul. Over the years I learned to tune out what I didn’t want and program what I do into my mind. No one is perfect at this, but I’ve gotten to be pretty good at it. So, I go through some mental rituals if exposed to negative thought, even if it’s fictional like in a movie or a song.

First, I remind myself of my Core Values and my own attraction statements. I’ll share more about The Law of Attraction with you in later blogs, but suffice to say that I believe we are all products of exactly what we’ve chosen, consciously or unconsciously, to attract into our lives. Obviously no child attracts abuse, but what that child does with this horrible event in his or her adulthood is often 100% Law of Attraction. I’ve seen people become the most incredible teachers and humanitarians and others become bitter, hateful and distrusting of anyone who looks at them wrong — and both went through the same thing as children.

Please…this is not a guilt trip, it’s a responsibility trip. I’m asking each of you to take full responsibility for whatever you feel comfortable doing right now…and then just a little more. At that point, you’re ready to be responsible for your body and your health. With responsibility comes the ability to manage. Without it, you are literally flapping in the imaginary winds.

Train hard today. Do something that really inspires you, and then share it with another person. Also, I challenge you to consume every meal you eat tomorrow from your own kitchen. No cheap proteins like deli meats. No cheap carbs, like white bread (Subway? Are you kidding me??) No cheap fats like fried foods. Just the good stuff.

Tomorrow, we’ll do water…and we’ll have a weigh-in as well. I’ll also talk about some weight training for those ready to add more iron to your metabolic fire. {10}