Learn from the past don't simply forget- Lance Armstrong

In case you have been living under a rock or are simply numb to the constant noise from media, American cyclist Lance Armstrong cheated by using banned performance enhancing substances during his career and has recently been stripped of his titles, shunned by his corporate sponsors and forced to step down from the high profile position he has held with his cancer foundation, Livestrong.

Be Careful About Forgetting

Part of the statement released by cycling's international governing body, UCI, (it covers the basics by condemning Armstrong and his actions) moves beyond discrediting his career by suggesting he should be forgotten. Given the recent fall from grace, I wonder if Armstrong has learned anything? I wonder if he feels regret? I wonder if he regrets being part of the most sophisticated cheating scandal in modern sports- a scheme that was known within his own sport and largely ignored by the governing bodies. I wonder if he would like to forget his cycling career. Even if he wants to and others want the rest of us to, my suggestion is quite the opposite: don't EVER forget!

Remember Your Failures... and LEARN

Just as we should not forget about Lance Armstrong as a cyclist, we should not be so quick to forget our own failings when it comes to health. We all struggle with living a healthy lifestyle. It is easier to make poor choices and spend time doing other things than putting in the time and energy it takes to consistently eat right, exercise, and take care of our own overall health.

Some people have more success with living a healthy lifestyle than others, but there is always time to begin your own journey in the right direction.

Pick ONE Thing

What is ONE thing you can do NOW to help you live healthier? If you can find that one thing and stick to it for 3 weeks (that's right, just 21 days) you can create a new habit. And not just any habit, but a good habit! Sure, you may have tried diets before or joined the gym January 1st 3 of the last 5 years and are still trying to lose the same 10 pounds, but don't let those failures discourage you- learn from those bad experiences as you create better experiences. Get started today. And don't be ashamed, because as bad as think those failings might be, I'm sure it's not as bad as being publicly humiliated and ostracized like Lance Armstrong.