John 'Wayne Ideal': Lesson #2

Here we go again pilgrim!
              This is the second installment of the 'Wayne Ideal' series. The concept takes John Wayne's characters and pulls characteristics from them that we would be wise to apply to our own lives. In the first installment we highlighted 6 lessons to be learned from two of his movies. Here we will add another 4 lessons taken from a variety of films. 

"I Won't be wronged"- The Shootist

"Well, I don't favor talking to vermin, but I'll talk to you just this once... if one of your men cross my land or even touch one of my cows or do anything to that store, I'm not going to the sheriff, the governor, or the president of the United States. I'm comin' to see you."- Chism

Physical Fitness

              John Wayne was 6’4 and roughly 212 lbs. He was always physically fit enough to take his large frame and throw it onto the back of a galloping horse. His physical fitness was never idealized, overtly sexualized (my wife disagrees) or used for anything other than practicality. There is a difference between superficial fitness and actual body betterment. Take the time to push your body to serve an actual purpose rather than trying to sculpt something that will only look good in a mirror. Here are some exercises to give you the body of a cowboy with muscle to help you stay tall in the saddle. Not to mention, stay fit in case you need to put up your dukes. Pun intended. 

"There's no land anywhere worth a hoot, till it's flowed with good honest sweat." -Three Faces West 

Connectedness to Nature

              John Wayne will roll out a nap sack and lay down under the stars. A connectedness to nature is a foundational lesson to learn in this series. It is a stereotype that a cowboy is frequently close lipped. This can be blamed on a desire to listen to nature rather than cloud it up with chit chat.  
              A connectedness to nature will encourage listening, quiet the mind, see greater perspective and will give a person a sense of belonging. This isn't a post about Ben Franklin, but there is something to be said for, 'Early to bed early to rise.".  Meeting the sun is a perfect time to block off some time for meditation. Sit, lay or walk about in nature. Give yourself 20 minutes of peaceful listening. Simply enjoy the sunlight and dirt under your back. Why not go crazy and spend a night under the stars. 

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"Out here a man settles his own problems." -The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance

Self Reliance

               Last week we included the lesson, ‘Independence’. This is arguably the same lesson in greater detail. By self reliance we mean to be versed in a number of necessary tasks. Learn many trades and always be gathering information. Around a single film Wayne would be shoeing a horse one scene, chopping wood in another then building a fence in the next. Do some basic wiring, patch your clothing or become a helping hand on a ranch. 
              Learn a new trade and practice it. Encourage a curiosity of learning how things work. Know that, if worse came to worse, you would be alright. 

“Well I’ll be a suck egg mule.”- Chism

Sense of Humor

              Perhaps the most important lesson of all. Have a sense of humor, or at least surround yourself with people who have one. In the film ‘Chism’ Wayne’s character finds company in a small wiry man who opens the comedic valve, “Well I’ll be a suck egg mule.” is my dad’s personal favorite.
             Having a sense of humor will make a life based on this ‘Wayne Idea’ tolerable and fulfilling. And remember,

“Life is tough, but it's tougher if you're stupid.” - John Wayne