SPARTAN SERIES #169: ” I WAS THERE FOR MYSELF WHEN NO ONE ELSE WAS!”

Ain’t it the truth! Often in our lives we take off in a direction, hell bent on winning or getting someplace fast. We fight, we plan, we sweat, we are happy, we are sad but forward we go with quitting as a non option. Somewhere along the way we lift up our heads and we look around and we realize that all of our friends, family and colleagues are nowhere to be found. Actually, we are all alone on this quest. It is here that we have two choices. 1.) Quit because we become afraid and we don’t have a cheering section or even company. In short the realization that being alone is the norm. Nobody will rescue us or talk to us in any meaningful way to keep us going. 2.) Embrace the challenge because it’s just part of the journey. We come to the conclusion that fair weather friends, family and colleagues are not needed. Essentially, our own person becomes our best friend, our greatest buddy and everything is better now that we have identified the source of our strength which is —- ourselves. We are left with the superb confidence that we have all we need and nobody can give us more.

I remember that Phil Heath gave an interview after winning his last Olympia where he said, “I am so glad to win. Nobody know what it was like to be there in the gym alone at night training in silence.” That’s our road—-Nobody is going to prop us up……I have to depend on myself especially when there is nobody there with me.

Bottom Line: Take help where you can but ultimately learn to become your own best friend and be happy with what you have, who you are, and what you must do to win—-alone! This is where our supreme comfort comes from. Be there for yourself always. The Cavalry is not coming to save you or to keep your going…… See you backstage, on stage, and on the steps down off the stage. We’ll talk when it’s over.