So, the other day I was in a bit of a funk. Unusual for me as I’m normally pretty chipper these days (ha – I make myself giggle), but like everyone else I can get a good case of the “woe is me” and “life stinks” going on. This particular case was about the usual these days: “why can’t I lift this (insert heavy object name here)? I could last year. Easily!” or “can’t I bench more than that?” or “why does it hurt when I bend?” or my perennial favorite, “how come my shirt sleeves seem to have so much room in them?” (sleeve gapitis – it’s a real thing, Google it. Seriously.) All in all, I had a serious lack of motivation and started looking back to the “good old days” through pictures and social media posts.
What I found depressed me further. Here’s me goofing off after trying to climb one of Colorado’s 14,000 footers:
Here I am running a 5K:
Here I am looking possibly as buff as I ever have:
Here I am about to go surfing for gosh sake:
And the coup de grâce, here’s the weight I was benching just a year ago. 255 for reps and sets:
All the makings of a good sob fest and longing for the glory years. Are they gone? Am I a has been? Has age finally caught up with me? Questions I’m sure most of us have asked ourselves and if you haven’t, you will.
But, you know what? I decided instead of wallowing in self-pity that I was going to use these images to motivate me.
My lungs and legs are still good. I can climb mountains. Maybe not summit, but I didn’t do that before anyway. I was climbing in Idaho just this past summer (well after my heart rehab).
I can still run a 5K and did just this past July. I bet I can beat my time next year!
I’m increasing weight in my bench each week. I can keep going and bench even more than I did a year ago!
And as far as looking buff – well, modesty prevents me from saying so judge for yourself:
Surfing? Sorry, that was a one and done! Fun, but there are sharks out in the ocean.
The best is yet to come.
Onward!
Journeys With Dave 