Callous [Kal-uhs] Adjective 1. Made hard; hardened 2. insensitive; indifferent; unsympathetic

In the hopes of passing wisdom down to my boys, I often write of my view point. The way I see things. The world may seem like a scary place, but with the right guidance our children can crush it here. With that I wrote the following. Maybe one day they will understand what I meant or better yet, put it into action. Here it is:

Calloused, its how many adults operate, having lost their sense of awe. Calloused from the the repetitive movements day in, day out. The daily grind, as some have called it.

Calloused, from a fixed thought pattern, never allowing new ideas to spark in the mind. The belief we know what we need to know and no more. Holding onto old ideas, because its the way its always been.

Calloused, in the view of others. Our perception only confirming our biases. Only building ignorance.

Calloused because the mundane is comfortable. The mundane is safe.

However, I challenge you to not hold a calloused view of your world, to not live in the "been there and done that" mind set; but, to have calloused hands from the friction of action. The movement of the barbell, the climb, the pull, or the lift. Hands calloused from the work.

To have calloused feet from the the run, walk, the hike, the hunt or the chase. Calloused from paths, roads and the journey taken.

To have calloused fingers from the thousands of pages flipped through in books which spark new ideas. Calloused fingers from the act of the written word, the played song, the painted portrait.

Calloused, because you have become stronger, hardened and more resilient to what the world may through at you. 

I challenge you to be calloused as the result of action, not as the consequence of comfort.

Efren is the father of two boys. He is a police officer outside of Chicago. He is also a certified personal trainer.