New Year’s Day is in rearview and resolutions feel like Thanksgiving leftovers for the ones wanting a bonfire before taking the time and effort to burn tinder; creating a strong foundation. January offers new beginnings for all searching to sculpt their physique. Iron offers all the same narrow pass through the mountains, never discriminating against color, creed, age, or gender; the law of the gym, black and white, you can do it or you can’t. But, the only way to succeed is to show up, consistently! The weights are always waiting, with gravity.
As a young man in my 20’s, I wanted size, strength, and bulge for the proof of my labors; to satisfy my hunger for growth. Today, in my 40’s, the gym has a different end game; all I really want is a good pump, energy, and a piece of mind that brings well-being. When one enters into a program, aka, a lifestyle change, the goal needs to be clearly defined down to a cellular level because that’s what training is about; mind and muscle coherence. One cannot simply push and pull to mind numbing clanks but must bring out an effective connection stimulating body and mind becoming the conductor.
I’ve worked in health clubs from Fargo, ND, to Rainbow City, AL, and one thing is for certain, if your mind isn’t aligned with your body, failure ensues. The courage it would take for a potential new member to walk into a club, (for them), the lion’s den, wasn’t recognized by a mid-20’s youth but now I can see their strength. Confronting what they saw every day in the mirror and the fear that consumed them due to their lack of self-respect was evident when they pleaded that they would show up after work, 5’xs a week at card closing table setup, convincing me to let them get the promotional discount. Problem was they were living in the past.
These men and women had the best of intentions but how can one live in the future when all that plays is the past? “I used to able to do such and such, I can do it today,” was a familiar spotting of an ego who hadn’t been heard from since flip phones, not the person who was in-front of me in the present. They recognize and understand the saying, “Rome wasn’t built in a day” but logic is absent in the face of personal shortcomings. They’re ready to set the world on fire and will work themselves into exhaustion to prove it.
I’ve found health clubs similar to golf courses, most are ecstatic to be there, socializing, progressing, and pumping blood. “Those who love to work never labor,” and that can be seen at both spots. If you show up at the same times you’ll meet like-minded individuals with the same beliefs, criteria, and acceptance. An acceptance of who they are and what their specific goals may be; in addition to welcoming another brother or sister of iron; it doesn’t matter how out of shape you are or how bad your slice is, what matters is, your all in! And, that’s what newbies fail to recognize; if you show up and suck, it doesn’t matter, as long as you show.
Any individual will always get better in any endeavor they pursue whole heartily. The number one goal, after a long absence should be how can I get back here tomorrow? Make the workouts easy and fun; associate the gym with pleasure not pain. If one looks at it through a lens of intimately learning, hearing, and succumbing to the whole of their make-up, gains or losses will come in a comforting satisfaction. Supportive partners surface and before you know it you’re a regular at the Y.
When we set personal goals that are lofty we decline to read the report on blow-back. So why not make things painless, seems obvious but most decline the path of least resistance in the gym; even though they choose it at every over fork in the road. Why, “Because I used to do such and such,” but today the man or woman before me is not on the track team anymore, and so acceptance must be acknowledged for growth to blossom.
My partnership with iron was forged in the fires of little man syndrome but I found a satisfaction, peace, and belief in myself from the simplest isolation movements performed in under an hour. The self-respect and brass that accompanied an open door was welcoming. Along with insight into myself, came the meeting and understanding of others in it together with me. As one searches to externally mold their figure, I believe, as I’ve found, self surfaces through reps and sets, inhales and exhales, leg and chest days; to find I’m in control if I stop to listen.
