Here’s an open invitation to my family and friends… if I EVER write or utter the words “If I can do it”, PLEASE feel free to smack me upside my head.

Lately I’ve seen that phrase many times, with the words “so can you” or “what’s your excuse” either directly following or implied.  Recently, fitness blogger, Maria Kang, made national headlines with a picture of her toned body in a sports bra and shorts, posed along with her 3 sons (ages 8 months, 2 years and 3 years).  The photo was captioned “What’s Your Excuse?”… the message being that if she can find the time to exercise and flatten her tummy, after having 3 kids, then everyone else should do the same.

The responses that followed… on social media, blogs and memes… included excuses such as “my excuse is that I’m fine the way I am” to a myriad of ailments, work or personal issues, etc. Here’s the thing… they shouldn’t have excused themselves at all.

If you can do something… lose weight, avoid sugar, eat vegan, do the rumba, run a marathon, etc., all it means is that YOU can do it. No one owes you an explanation or excuse for not following in your footsteps. If someone chooses to be motivated by your accomplishments then congratulations on being an inspiration. However, no one should be chastised (“what’s your excuse?”) or made to feel like a failure because they can’t or don’t want to do as you do.

So the next time someone says to you “If I can do it…” feel free to tell them to fuck off. Unless I said it. Then smack me, PLEASE… AND tell me to fuck off.