There's something powerful about embracing long-term challenges that don’t offer instant gratification. The rewards are deeply personal, often holding meaning only for you. Conquering your demons and lifting numbers that surpass your wildest dreams aren’t going to be handed to you; every kilo is earned. That struggle is what eventually gets you to your destination. It is a process that teaches you more than just how to lift 5 additional pounds – it’s something far deeper. It teaches you that the world will not stop and clap for you if you get back up when you’re in your darkest hour. That you don’t get a public parade every day like you’re the King for just showing up to work.
Carl Raghavan writing on the Starting Strength website.
https://startingstrength.com/training/strength-is-a-second-job
Please read Carl’s terrific piece .
This perspective is going to be unpopular. But it is necessary.
People speak about exercise as fun, community-led, intense and most people have a perception of how hard they are working at the gym.
But training needs to acquire the status of a ‘job’ in your life.
It’s not always fun. But nothing worth doing is. You often need to move out of necessity. Even when the desire is missing, you find a way to get the job done. Without reverting to breaks, hacks, entertainment or variety.
Training and exercise is almost always the first thing that gets the axe when life gets tough. But it should not be that way. Finding a way to show up in some capacity even if it for a shorter duration or lesser intensity is what it takes to maintain the physical capacity for strength.
This post might strike some as a motivational post. But it’s not. It speaks to the idea that you train not just for fun, community, health, family or longevity but for a fundamental capacity that exists in your body.
One of the tragedies of modernity is physical strength feeling like an optional skill to
enhance quality of life. When in reality, it is as essential as communication, walking and thinking as human capabilities.
Carl Raghavan writing on the Starting Strength website.
https://startingstrength.com/training/strength-is-a-second-job
Please read Carl’s terrific piece .
This perspective is going to be unpopular. But it is necessary.
People speak about exercise as fun, community-led, intense and most people have a perception of how hard they are working at the gym.
But training needs to acquire the status of a ‘job’ in your life.
It’s not always fun. But nothing worth doing is. You often need to move out of necessity. Even when the desire is missing, you find a way to get the job done. Without reverting to breaks, hacks, entertainment or variety.
Training and exercise is almost always the first thing that gets the axe when life gets tough. But it should not be that way. Finding a way to show up in some capacity even if it for a shorter duration or lesser intensity is what it takes to maintain the physical capacity for strength.
This post might strike some as a motivational post. But it’s not. It speaks to the idea that you train not just for fun, community, health, family or longevity but for a fundamental capacity that exists in your body.
One of the tragedies of modernity is physical strength feeling like an optional skill to
enhance quality of life. When in reality, it is as essential as communication, walking and thinking as human capabilities.
