“I believe that the definition of definition is reinvention. To not be like your parents. To not be like your friends. To be yourself.”

“Completely.”

Those who know me know just how much meaning I’ve attached to Henry Rollins’ “Iron and The Soul,” a post I came across at http://www.oldtimestrongman.com .  When I first stumbled across it, I was immediately taken by the similarities in our stories:  The lack of direction, the lack of confidence born from a lack of ability.  The strong figures in our lives who not only showed us the way but gave us permission to take ownership of ourselves.  I truly believe there are folks in this world, a great many, sadly, who need permission to be great.

When I read this, I was in tears.  The emotion is so pure.  I too have felt that frustration…with myself and my situation.  Powerless to do anything but endure…to do nothing because I could do nothing.

As a PT, I cannot count just how many folks have come through the gym doors without having done any serious introspection; they do not know their “Why.”  And because they do not know “why,” “how” is irrelevant.  Sure, I can teach you about joint angles and mesocycles and HIIT, but none of that matters if you do not have a strong enough “Why.”

Echoing Rollins, take a few minutes today and write down your “Why.”  What, or Who, in your life makes you smile?  If you lost them, how would you feel?  How would they feel if you were lost to them?  Give yourself five or ten minutes for this thought experiment…they are worth it and so are you.

What are you going to do to keep those smiles?  To have more happy times?  How far will you go?

Time for reinvention.