This is my “Life Condition” at any given time. But, basically I am a very impatient person especially when I feel forgotten, am disqualified for physical or financial reasons, or I feel like I’m being left behind and that I must catch up! When I feel like I have to get out there and hustle to keep up or to win I demonstrate the worst sort of patience. I’m short with people, I don’t sleep well, I’m constantly on edge and (like my wife says—I am always grumpy). Nothing is right especially if the net results of bad things is that I am to become a self loathing pauper. This end state is the worst possible outcome.
By contrast, I know that if I had a strong, sweet spirit that could sail through the day with a smile, graciously tossing rose petals to all those I encounter I would attract goodness from those that love me. Unfortunately, this condition is a myth. I am ashamed that I’m not a good person when I have nothing. Especially, when I also know it’s my fault. By my own admission I am defined by badness when I am losing and my patience is worn thin. But, I know that I can do better. This is when I listen to my wife and I try to be more patient better.
In bodybuilding you know objectively and subjectively that you are either on track or not on track. It behooves me to turn my ugliness into a planned, purposeful, assault on being more than I am–on time.
Conversely there have been times when all things are going well and my attitude is that I am mightier than I really am. I am so self vaunted. I think I’m so good I can’t be beaten. I am insufferable, and nobody can approach me the king. Again, winning is a great goal and when it happens we have to adjust our attitude to be gracious to those that did not win. My, how we forget so quickly what it felt like to be envious and wounded because you did not win. Attitude is about graciousness and focus on being better in the present and next time. Bodybuilding will bring all this out in us in living color.
In summary: 1.) When you are down I/we have to develop patience and consistency to go the distance. Waiting on God to do his work through us is a time honored difficulty for us mere mortals. However, in order to stay in the game when you are not doing so well is essential. 2.) When I/we win we have to define our existence now with our responses to the greatest glory at the time. This attitude that permeates us at the time of winning must extend itself to our own hearts and to those who love and respect us. We have to be better especially when much belongs to us after winning.
So! Be patient when we have very little and secondly develop an attractive yet competitive personality when we win. Each of these stations in life will provide a definition of our character. Pay attention! These things make us who we are when things are bad and who we will become when things are great.
Six Pack and Senior 