Choice Of Words

Lately, in the course of conversation, or even when I happen to overhear a passerby use a particular phrase, it makes me cringe. Its simple enough, and I'm sure people are just saying this with the most benign intentions, but it's driving me nuts! The simple phrase that plagues me these days:
"I can't."
I've come to believe we as humans possess remarkable, almost magical abilities.
In fact, I'm inclined to think the only ability we as humans have in varying amounts is.....decision making ability.
I've seen the inside of enough people to know that all people were issued nearly identical equipment. What overwhelmingly makes most people different from each other is what they have chosen to do with that equipment.

I can't stop smoking
I can't stop spending
I can't stop with the porn

Sorry people, I ain't buyin' it. The more logical and likely explanation as to why you cannot accomplish any given goal in front of you is, you don't want to. Either that, or you have become content (for better or worse) in your current situation. Either way, "I can't" doesn't fit the bill.

I can't stop eating
I can't go to the gym
I can't get out of bed on time

These (among many others) are not impossible tasks. Yet everyday we all say "I can't" when talking about our efforts, or lack thereof, concerning such matters.

I can't change my job
I can't live without facebook
I can't stop with the drugs

Meanwhile, a double amputee is climbing to the top of the planet.

Meanwhile, a thirteen year old child scales Mount Everest.

Meanwhile, Salvatore Giunta has a story worth learning about.

To be sure, citing feats of athletic achievement makes for an easy target. Nevertheless, these are just humans who made a decision. From there, they took the necessary steps to see their goal accomplished. Simply stated, they "wanted to." Such people are no different from you. They simply made a decision. Are they super humans? Do they possess talents you do not, or muscles you'll never feel? No. To suggest otherwise would to be to consider their Creator somehow valued them above you.

So if you come across me and say something like "I could never do that" Don't be surprised if I mention the story of a man who walked between the towers of The World Trade Center EIGHT times on a wire 3/4 of an inch in diameter (no safety net or rigging of any kind).

This is what this human did. What was it you can't do?

I'm not trying to convince anyone to run to the nearest mountian and start climbing. Rather, let's start much smaller. Let's just stop saying "I can't" when the truth really is "I don't wan't to". I think life around us would look a lot different if we were all forced to deal with the shame of saying...."I don't want to".