This is a maxim that cannot be ignored and you and I have to absolutely buy into it.  We shall not step around this truism.  More often than we would like to think our friends, who mean well, are our biggest obstacles to building a solid “can do” attitude.  They have an amazing influence over how we see ourselves and how we envision our futures.  This influence does not necessarily reveal itself until we actually begin the journey to accomplishing our dreams or goals.  The first thing they see is that they would not invest themselves in the type or amount of work that is required. They are masters at imposing their opinions on you by word, facial expression, body language, and sometimes by way of a verbal challenge to what it is you are doing and why.  In our world, mine in particular, it is imperative that I draw on what is recorded in my psyche only.  It’s important to integrate all things related to my quest that are helpful and to jettison all things that are not helpful.

Last weekend I competed in the “National Masters Bodybuilding Championships” in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  I had dropped down from a light heavyweight to a middleweight division and I was in the best shape of my life. I was well conditioned, body fat was at 0%.  My posing thanks to my coach Justin Dees was right on point.  I posed aggressively and I just knew I would do well.  In the end I did not crack the top 5.  I was in the 2nd tier.  I was in total disarray emotionally and I thought I had let my coach down.  But, after a time and a great deal of conversation with my wife, I concluded that I had done my best and the placement was secondary.  I have three goals when I hit the stage: 1.) Be in the best shape of my life. 2.) Don’t embarrass myself. 3.) Move up in the placement if I can.  In this case I accomplished the first two.  But, the hard core lesson for me was that I had sculpted my body and posed like a champ.  I do not control what the judges see or decide.  My only responsibility is to be as ready as I can to give it my all.

The only thing I can do is believe that I can improve and eventually win.  No other voices are allowed to influence me.  It says in the New Testament that when Jesus began his final trek to Jerusalem that he “set his face like flint.”  That’s the sort of commitment to make the climb to being better and to win.  There can be nothing short all out dedication to the cause that I have set before myself.

In closing, there can be nobody else involved as we etch our vision on our hearts.  This setting of the rudder can only be accomplished by us and us alone.  It’s lonely and it is scary sometimes.  But the thing that pushes us forward must come from within.  So, block out all naysayers and those that seek our mediocrity.

Until next time, I remain, Douglas E. Graham, Lt Col, USAF, (ret), MHSM

NATIONALS 2018 PITTSBURGH