Lanny has lived by the motto, “as long as I have a pulse, I have a purpose,” and his purpose has been to reach the minds of children. Given the staggering rates at which children in North America take up smoking, he feels that being proactive is most important. He adds, “If I can’t get them a million at a time, I’ll get them one at a time.”
"Lanny the Non-Smoking Dad"
After two decades of being known as either “Leaping Lanny” or “The Genius”, Lanny took on the new moniker of “Lanny the Non-Smoking Dad.” He uses his twenty-five year old daughter as his prime example, as she has grown up to be a non-smoker. He says, “One hundred percent of my progeny is non-smoking, so I know I’ve accomplished something important.”
He says that raising his own child to be a non-smoker has been important to deliver his message of non-smoking, as he feels that is crucial when suggesting these values to other parents. He says that he wants to convince children the importance of clean living, one at a time, if he must. He says, “If I can get through to just one kid, I know my life hasn’t been in vain.”
He says that he typically aims his work at ten year olds and adds that the age is “the fork in the road.” At that point in a child’s life, they are often exposed to peer-pressure and the temptation to smoke is often in sight. Lanny says that he hopes to offer true leadership to help children make a healthier decision.
Given the revived popularity of professional wrestling, Lanny hasn’t removed himself from his squared circle past completely. He says, “Wrestling gets me in the door and, once I’m inside, I can take the children anywhere I want. But you have to entertain them, you have to earn their respect, and you have to earn their trust.”
"Limericks From the Heart and Lungs!" by Lanny Poffo
Limericks From the Heart and Lungs! includes more than three hundred limericks for non-smokers of all ages. He says that he uses his gift for writing and his funny bone to hook his audience. Lanny also prides himself on the fact that a reader won’t find a single dirty word in the book. Then he jokes about how some limericks are known for being dirty and reiterates that his are clean.
The collection also means to educate in other ways, as Lanny has included a glossary of words that children might not have heard before. If they are new to a given word, they can flip to the back, look it up, and learn something new.
Lanny believes in being very clear about his topics, as opposed to artistry that is cryptic. He says, “If I wrote poems with all kinds of esoteric words, and you don’t know what I’m talking about, then I’ve failed as a communicator. If you visit my home, you’ll understand the point of every painting that hangs on my wall.”
Be sure to check out Lanny's website.
Derek Clendening - I'm a freelance writer and have combined writing with my love of football. I'm very opinionated about football, which you can learn more ...
