I made a decision a long while back that I wanted to grow up to be a tough old man. The old is easy, but the tough... is tough.
But, what is tough? What does it mean? Did I choose the right word to describe what I wanted to be? Did I mean rugged instead?
Tough is strong but flexible and not brittle. Not easily chewed. Characterized by uncompromising determination. Capable of enduring hardship and strain. Hard to influence. Just... hard. Tough is hiking 15 miles without water, which I do.
Rugged is shaggy, hairy, jagged, turbulent and stormy, with wrinkles and furrows. Weathered. Strong. Sturdy. Austere. Stern. Coarse. Having ability, stamina or resolution. Just... rough. Rugged is two weeks worth of stubble while ridding on a horse... like The Marlborough Man, a young lady friend tells me.
Rugged seems outward appearance whereas tough is deep inside... like character.
Me, always thinking function over form, easily chooses tough over rugged... while borrowing a couple of qualities, like strong, sturdy and austere... and understand that rugged does correlate somewhat with tough.
What I am, and how ruggedly old I look, are my real trophies in life.
I accept this comfortably.
I want to be a tough man, discipline, diet and exercise will take me there. And it will happen before I know it.
- copyright 2013 by Willy
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