All About You FRIDAY – Wear It Out

Old fishing equipment with rod and lures. Fishing preparation Old wooden workshop fisherman.

I love writing this blog.

I first launched the MoveWell Academy because I thought it would make me some money. I spent thousands of dollars learning about how to push the marketing of the site, buy into a system that told me I should get bots to like all my stuff and boost the ratings. I initially wanted the site to attract physical therapists and other health professionals. I wanted it to look polished and sophisticated. Create an image of something much bigger than it really is.

It’s been a success, but it looks nothing like the original vision. I realized that in order to get people to want to pay for stuff, I needed to write so they understood what it was that they would get if I put things behind a paywall. And as I wrote what is becoming an online version of the philosophy of how I do physical therapy, a very interesting thing happened. My site that was designed for professionals began attracting people with curious minds. People that are not health care professionals. People who are dealing with pain issues and are looking for answers.

“I read every blog post,” some have said, “I don’t understand it all, but I read it.”

“I feel like you were talking about me,” several have said. (Yes, I probably was).

And then the comment that I hear the most, “All About You Friday is my favorite.” The blogpost that has nothing to do with physical therapy just may be my most popular.

It’s my favorite too. When my alarm goes off at 5 a.m. on Friday morning, I roll out of bed and write to all of you. That’s what it feels like. Like I’m sitting down to chat with some friends over a hot cup of tea. A mental cleansing after an intense week of problem-solving.

I may think about what I’m going to write about before I fall asleep, but nothing is typed until I lie on the couch in the dark quiet of my upstairs living room on Friday morning and think about what I’ve learned this week. About life. About love. About being human.

It’s made me more observant. It’s broadened my understanding of humanity. And time and time again, I am reminded of how to life a better life.

A couple of weekends ago, a friend reached out to me.

“I want to buy one of those electric pickers,” he said. He was referring to an electric guitar.

“Ooh!! Can I go with you and help you pick one out?!” I replied. I had been eager to check out the new Detroit Guitar show room on Woodward Avenue and this would give me the perfect excuse.

When I walked in, I gasped in excitement. Beautiful guitars of all shapes and colors adorned the walls. I saw my friend gazing at some in the corner.

“You have to look at these,” I said as I waved him over to the collection of PRS guitars. He just stood there and smiled as I picked one up and then another. He had no idea what it was he needed, so I took the liberty of picking one out. “This is the one,” I said as I held up a beautiful PRS SE Studio guitar in tiger orange burst.

I plugged it into an amp and he nodded his approval as the clean, rich tones filled the room. I noticed it had a scratch on the back.

“Oh no!” I exclaimed with disappointment. They didn’t have another guitar of that kind in the shop. “Maybe someone can get rid of that scratch for you,” I said, thinking of a few good luthiers in my life.

My friend said without hesitation, “It doesn’t bother me.” And when I looked at him quizzically he added with a twinkle in his eye, “How about I plan on putting a few more scratches on that thing myself.” So he took the 15% discount and we headed out the door.

My friend is 60 years old and an avide outdoorsman. Over a celebratory lunch for his new purchase, he explained he has adopted a new philosophy.

“I have a closet full of fishing rods. I’m not buying another one until I wear those out. I’m at the stage of my life where I am on a mission to wear things out.”

I can’t think of a better philosophy.

Have a new pair of shoes? Go see the world and wear them out.

Got a new tennis racket? Hit the courts and wear those strings out.

A new guitar? Play it so much that the scratch on the back is lost in the wear and tear from your own hands. Imagine the music that will have filled your soul by then.

I had so much happen this week. My schedule was crazy. I started teaching my summer pre-school gym classes. I got called into my pastor’s office again for a “chat” about my lifestyle (story for another day) and after seeing a bunch of patients yesterday, I raced home, changed my clothes, grabbed my guitar and hit the stage with my band to open for the opener of the Royal Oak Summer Concert Series.

As I stood on that big stage looking out over the crowd of people mostly made up of my friends, I let the stress of the day melt away and a smile spread on my face.

I’m going to wear this guitar out, I thought. I’m going to wear life out. Wring every moment. Best advice ever.

I hope you open up your closet and see what is inside. I hope you grab whatever it is and use it. Wear it out. You bought it for a reason. Don’t save it for a rainy day.

It’s been a long week. Don’t forget to celebrate.

Until next time…