I define fitness as one’s capacity to do work. Work, according to dictionary.com, is “activity involving mental or physical effort done in order to achieve a purpose or result.” Fitness, then, is the ability to solve complex problems, perform complex movements, move heavy loads, and endure physical and/or mental challenges in order to achieve a purpose or result. Notice that my definition incorporates the mental, emotional, and physical.

Fitness is the ability to solve complex problems, perform complex movements, move heavy loads, and endure physical and/or mental challenges in order to achieve a purpose or result.
David Peirce

Americans are not fit. We are stupid as fuck, triggered as fuck, fat as fuck, and lazy as fuck. Don’t think so? How many time do you or people you know spend consuming social media? How many television channels are there? How much time do you or people you know spend being angry about Biden or Trump? How much of their day is spent actively (but probably unconsciously) seeking outrage or distraction? How much savings does the average American have? What is the obesity level in our country? I could go on.

Though I judge harshly, I’m one of these Americans. I struggle with it, even as I am committed to increasing my fitness. I am stalled and sometimes paralyzed by worry over what people will think, fear of losing what I have, the comfort afforded me by the successes of this great country. I am addicted to processed carbohydrates. I am easily distracted by the latest viral news story, learning something new on YouTube, which too easily turns into mindless wandering and gaining knowledge but not actually being any wiser, or shopping for the consumer goods that all my time online across all my devices tells me I need.

Being fit is countercultural. Being able to focus to do your work and advance your career or start your own business or write your book is countercultural. Having the discipline to eat healthy foods and to limit processed foods and is countercultural. Being able to squat and walk long distances and sprint and lift heavy things like our hunter ancestors is countercultural. Being able to sit in stillness for long periods of time is countercultural.

I want to increase my fitness. I want to be able to do more work now and not be owned by the compulsions of culture. I want to be able to age differently than I see Westerners aging and stay strong and mobile until my last day. I want to feel more deep satisfaction from having done good work and not be beholden to dopamine hits from distractions and addictions to feel good. I want to do the work that I signed up for (husband, father, business executive, property owner, etc.) very well.