Most of us find the truth about ourselves at the edges of our ability. Every day is a starting line. Every day we have to face ourselves with brutal honesty. Sometimes we have to allow ourselves to believe we are better than we are. And sometimes we have to allow ourselves to accept the fact that we are much less than we really are.
For me, the pull up has been such a litmus test. It took me YEARS before I was able to do a single unassisted pull up. But every time I practice I get just a little better. It all boils down to learning how to figure out exactly who you are and what your skills are. Today I was able to easily crank out 5 assisted pull ups at the Y with good form.
But my goal is to do 5 pull ups WITHOUT assistance. The fear is always present that I'll never be able to do that. But the fear doesn't stop me. It doesn't paralyze me. I don't let it.
Like each new day, every day at the gym is filled with potential. Gym-going friend, if you haven't lifted hard, properly, and consistently for at least 3 years, it's too early for you to think about quitting. You've not even seen what your body is naturally capable of. That usually doesn't happen until you reach the more advanced stages of lifting. But first, you have to build up a solid foundation of knowledge and experience.
I've seen tons of guys quit the gym. In the majority of those cases these guys are just looking for some kind of shortcut or quick fix. If that's you, remember that you probably have a lot more natural muscle-building potential than you realize. As you make progress over the years, you might just find that you actually feel pretty good about where you're at overall. Ot at least good enough to keep chasing down your goals. It's not just about seeing how much muscle you can put on but also about the development and evolution of your mindset as well. Generally speaking, unless you have elite genetics, it's going to take you years before you reach your potential in any aspect of physical activity. It doesn't matter. Can people who are struggling to get their first pull up be athletes? Of course they can! Can people who have waited until they are in their 60s and 70s to become physically active be athletes? You better believe it! Can people who finish dead last in a marathon (as I have done) be athletes? Yes they can. And yes they are.
For most of my life I was a non-lifter. But after years of practicing, after struggling with all the limitations of my age, I realized that I had come to see the world differently. Lifting was no longer something I did. It was something I was. I am an athlete even when I'm not at the gym. Activities I once regarded as threatening I now see as rewards. And when you surpass your dreams? You dream on. Being an athlete is an odyssey -- an odyssey of constant discovery. And it can be the journey of your dreams.
So why not? Why not do it? Yes, you will have good days and bad days. Yes, you will meet some of your goals and fail to meet others. But every day you will try to do your best. For better or for worse, you are the only YOU you will ever have. What you decide to do with YOU is totally up to you. The only question is: Will tomorrow bring you closer to the You you want to be?