So I'm not sure if this is the right forum to post in, but whatever. This is not a question, but maybe just something to think about for everyone. Bare with me, this does actually relate to the gym........
I work with a guy who is always complaining about something. Let's just call him John(Doe). He's always complaining that he's tired, sick, out of shape, etc. He's not where he wants to be in life, and he feels like its someone else's fault. Like he's owed something. You know the guy I'm talking about. Whether its a friend, family member, co-worker, bottom line is that most of you know someone like this.
I myself try to be a very healthy person, in all senses of the word. Not that I'm perfect of course, but I do care about the way I feel, look, and live. And I know that its up to ourselves to make that happen. So one day I got tired of John's negativity and complaining, so I confronted him about it.
I asked John that if he's tired, out of shape, and not happy with his life, then why doesn't he do something about it. I then offered to train with him at the gym if he needs some inspiration. He responded with an enthusiastic yes. " I just really need to get back in shape", he said. "I'm really getting fat." So I told him that we start Monday.
That was about a month ago, and I see him everyday at work, and everyday I say" What time are we working out tonight." Of course, he's only shown up a handful of times. I lift 4 days a week, every week, and he may show up once.
At first I kept giving him encouragement, telling him that all he needs to do is show up. However nothing has really changed.
So today, I said, "ok, 8pm tonight, lifting, you're going to be there tonight right." He said " yes, definately." "Cool", I said. " See you at 8pm."
Well I bet you can guess what happened. Thats right. I called him 20 minutes before 8 just to give him a third reminder, and he didn't answer his phone. I was there at 8pm, and he wasn't. I was kind of pissed. Why am I trying to help this guy when he won't even help himself? I was lifting shoulders, so I figured I would go it alone. However, when I walked over to the military press, there was another guy who was just getting started. So I asked him if I could work in.
This guy was a good 15 years older than me,(I'm 28). Not that that's old, but for sure not in his prime. Still, this guy is in great shape. I see this guy every time I go to the gym, but had never talked to him. So after getting a chance to talk to him, he tells me that he is currently battling a rare form of cancer, and that there is no known treatment for it. I was blown away. Here is this guy battling cancer, yet he's still committed to going to the gym everyday. And this guy was throwing up more weight than I was, and I'm a pretty strong guy. You hear about these types of things, but rarely do you get a chance to experience it first hand. " At least I still have my strength" he says. It was pretty moving to say the least.
Anyways, I work my sets, get in a great workout, and take off. While I'm driving home, I get a call from John, the guy who was supposed to work out with me. I didn't even ask what happened to him, but he volunteered the information that his phone was on vibrate, and that he didn't hear his phone. "But you knew we were going to start at 8," I said. "I reminded you three times." He just kind of babbled away some bull**** answer, and I basically told him whatever.
So I'm thinking that here's John on one side of the spectrum: negative, miserable, and always complaining about how life owes him something. Then on the other side we have a guy with cancer who could be complaining, but is positive, and taking advantage of every opportunity he has to better himself.
I asked myself a question. "Now who do
you want to be?"
I guess what I was reminded of tonight is that bodybuilding, just like anything else you care about in life, takes hard work, dedication, persistance, focus, and positive thinking. Nobody is going to give it to you, you have to work for it. In the new Cadillac commercial, Tiki Barber says that "Opportunities are seldom perfect, but I've learned that if you're not ready for them, they may never come again." The guy with cancer tonight reminded me that we have the opportunity to shape our lives, bodies, whatever, into what we want. All we have to do in order to take advantage of it is to put in the work it takes.
I'll let everyone who reads this draw their own moral of the story, but I just thought that it was something that might inspire someone else the way the guy with cancer has inspired me. This might be kind of sappy, but whatever. Let's all pray for him.
Out.
<message edited by Silence on Monday, October 23, 2006 12:07 PM>