Where Has American Tenacity Gone?

When I was young and saw someone do something that I considered pretty impressive, I would say to myself, "If they can do it, I can do it." More often than not, after working at it for a while, I was successful. I honestly do not know how many people's minds work that way anymore, but it does not seem to be too many.

It appears to me that a lot of people defeat themselves from the start. Before an attempt to accomplish something is ever made I hear the excuses: I don't have time, my joints hurt, I am to old now, I should have started when I was younger, etc.

It used to be a distinctly American attitude to think to oneself, "I can do it. I'm good." However, over the course of time, cultures change (well, there may be exceptions), and we certainly have. All you need to do is watch Joel McHale's show on Netflix or Tosh.0 on Comedy Central to be vividly reminded of this.