No excuses.

I've added this as a logo for the site.

I've added it as a banner on my twitter profile.

But what does it mean?

All my life I've made excuses. I've dressed them up as decisions, made in the cold light of day, and backed by my experience and research and blah blah blah.

They are excuses. No less, no more. I don't want to do something, so I don't do it. And I make an excuse in the progress of justifying that decision, but anybody who hears me knows it's an excuse.

A reason without any justification.

A poorly framed argument for taking a course of action that is ultimately harmful. For example, not going to the gym (I'm hurt or aching) or eating that big tub of ice cream (I deserve it, I've worked hard today).

I've done myself no favours by codifying the practice of excuses as a reason to quickly brush off deeper analysis of why I'm taking the harmful path. Once made, an excuse is justified by it's very existence, and no more thought or discussion is needed.

The practice of mindfulness seeks to open up a process of awareness, such that progressing down a harmful path causes dissonance - my subconscious knows that I've made an excuse, can't justify the subsequent action, and continues to point that out long after the action has been taken.

Especially when the results of that action arrive later. Sometimes, much later. For example, the tightening of a shirt around my midriff. The aching of muscles that used to be able to handle the load.

It's not enough to be able to handle a short term lift - I carried my ten year old son into bed last night without strain or pain - but to build strength over the longer term, such that I can play football with him for an hour without feeling exhausted and in pain for days afterward.

That requires no excuses.

Professional development requires no excuses.

Instead of excuses, commitment.

Commitment to the longer path, and the continued repetition of actions that do good, without brushing them off.

As I get older, commitment is more necessary, and excuses are weaker, and more obviously so.

So - No Excuses.

A commitment like this takes time. And will be hard. And I will undoubtedly fail at times. But to progress further on development of mind and body requires that I commit, and win more than I fail. Even small wins help stay on the path of progress.

No Excuses.