As usual, I’m up late working. I’ve been at it hours, and still have lots to do, but I really should call it a night and hit the sack. Except I’m too tired to sleep. Oh, the body’s ready and willing, but the brain just keeps churning along. Thanks, brain: That’s very helpful.

Against my better judgment, I turn on the television and begin surfing. Not thirty seconds passes before a weight loss infomercial appears on the screen and I’m confronted with yet another amazing testimonial about how the Ab Scruncher 3000 XL has changed someone’s life. Miss Perky is going on and on about how she’d tried everything and nothing ever worked. That is, until the Ab Scruncher came along and in only three minutes a day, two days a week, while eating ice cream the pounds just melted away. “If I can do it, anyone can do it…”

*sigh*… There they go again.

If we’ve heard it once, we’ve heard it a thousand times. And, frankly, I don’t get it. Sure, it’s inspirational. Yes, it’s compelling. Of course, I’d love to believe that if Perky can do it, then I can too. I mean, if she tried and failed her whole life (just like me!) before finally finding success, well then it’s perfectly logical I’ll do exactly the same.

I just don’t get it.

What about this situation makes any sense? Is it solely because we belong to the same species that we’ll be certain to reproduce her success? Beyond that, she doesn’t know a thing about us. She doesn’t know who we are, or what we’re like, or how we’ve lived. She doesn’t know our medical history, our family history, or even our financial history. She doesn’t know what foods we enjoy, despise, or are deathly allergic to. How on earth can she say, “If I can do it, anyone can do it?”

I know we all get discouraged from time to time. That’s just life. And I realize words like this can be helpful pick-me-ups, if delivered at the right moment. That’s not a bad thing. But take care not to read too much into it. Don’t see things that aren’t there. If you’re going to make a difference in your life, then take the bull by the horns and do it. After all, if you can do it, then you can do it. End of story.