I remember when my oldest son Nathan who was 11 years old at the time, was diagnosed with Acute T-Cell Leukemia. My wife and I were stunned to get the news from the Oncologist at Arkansas Children’s Hospital. It was so devastating that we could barely take in the terrible information laid before us. We cried quietly as Nate’s Physician outlined our way forward and I can recall his word picture that he related to us describing the road ahead. “Nate is really sick. If we do nothing he will die soon. In 1968 there were no survivors of this type of Leukemia. Today (1991) there is a 60% chance of survival if we give him the correct treatment. In order to get to the other side of this obstacle we have to go deep into the valley where it’s very dangerous. We then have to climb out onto the safe ground on the other side.” In other words, the worst nightmare of our entire lives was about to start. We had to fight for my son to make it. We “had to go through the Worst, to get to the Best.” There was no other way. There has never been a short cut to the Best. It has to be earned and we have to rise to the challenge in order to possess the Best.
In bodybuilding we often wish there was a shortcut to get big muscles or to get shredded. But, we quickly learn that there is no such thing as a short cut. The work required to be great is in front of us and we have to surrender to the reality that this hard work is what’s going to bring us/me the Best. I recall the lonely times in the gym when there were no friends to pound me on the shoulder to keep me going or to reach higher, go longer, push harder. There was only me with my dream and a pile of iron to keep me company. These workouts when I didn’t feel worthy or self-motivated to give it all I had were the very things I needed to keep making progress. Other times I would push so hard that I would injure myself such that I could not train hard. I had to work around the injury in my shoulders. I had to not communicate with anybody how I felt.
In closing, all of us must realize that going through the worst to get to the best is a maxim. It is a covenant with God which he uses to try us and refine us so we can be presented in the end to God himself. It is written in the universe that resistance will cause growth. Thus, we need to embrace this truism and make plans to conquer the difficulties that will surely end in our own ruin. The worst is not the worst. It is the beginning of something great and marvelous if we will stick to the plan. Do the hard work gang! Be that person that welcomes the life of toil aimed at being better. You will win because you know the goodness that awaits you. Remember: “You have to go through the worst, to get to the BEST.”
Until next time I remain, Douglas E. Graham, Lt Col, USAF, (ret), MHSM
Six Pack and Senior 