Saturday, November 18, 2023

Becoming the Best Version of You

Hello all. 

Yeah, it's gorgeous outside. This was my view this morning as I arrived at the River Road trailhead at the High Bridge Trail near Farmville. 

Southern Virginia is so beautiful this time of year. Here's how the trail starts. 

The crushed gravel surface is easy on the knees. But the most desirable place on the trail is the bridge itself of course. 

It's a half mile stretch and a place where I like to step on the gas a little and sprint. 

I usually run by myself but today I had a little buddy run with me. He latched on to me for a half mile or so before losing interest and wandering off with his tail wagging.

Earlier I had a really crazy lifting session. I am beginning to realize that I'm learning new things every day and I feel like there's so much more left in my tank despite my age. I attribute that to my stubbornness to always become better and to always try to find ways to improve and grow in life. I'm definitely not unhappy, but I'm not content with what I've done so far and I feel like I have so much more I can do in life. I feel like my best years are ahead of me. I mean, today's workout was amazing. 

It seemed to come together perfectly and I just felt no low points at all. 

It's like when you hear about one of those NBA basketball players where they just can't miss and they're in this zone and it's just them and the basket. 

Days like today won't come all the time but they do come. 

I've had an incredible life, some really incredible experiences, but the past 5 or 6 years have probably been the best years of my life and I feel very grateful and very blessed to have had these opportunities. I want to be the best version of myself I can possibly be. I'm going to continue to stretch myself because that's the only way I'm going to become a better person. I'm comfortable being uncomfortable. I'm comfortable with pain. And so I'm going to put myself in those situations that will stretch me. That's just who I am as a person. People might think it's a little reckless, a little risky, but I like being risky and I'm going to keep on doing it. 

Okay, I'll stop rambling. I write all this simply for what it's worth. Maybe one or two of you will draw something inspirational for your own fitness journey from a guy who is 71 years old and more excited about life than when he was 20. I believe our Father would be pleased to give us so much more if we had the faith to ask for it. Hezekiah asked for an extension of life. Caleb asked for a mountain. Jabez asked for an enlargement of his coast. Many of us are living on a narrow coastline. We need to push out our borders, possess our possessions, and enter that rest that remains for the people of God. Notice that the Lord said to his faithful servant, "Well done" (Matt. 25:23). The servant's work wasn't merely done but was done well. The emphasis nowadays is on just muddling by and then one day collecting our pension. That's not how I want to live my life.

Now let's see if I can follow my own advice for the next 20 years.