When people look at me and ask why I spend so much time training martial arts or going to the gym, I look at them and think “How could you NOT want to do those things!!!” I know most people are not like me, but how could you not get excited by pulling up on a huge deadlift or nailing a perfect half guard sweep, or burying someone to the mat with a big harai goshi… freaks.
I really do understand that most people do not like extensive martial arts training, or extremely heavy weight training, but there is gotta be SOMETHING that they love to do… right? When I look at people who are just content at letting life slip away, I thought they just “sucked at life” and I had to accept the fact that 95% or more of the population is content just doing NOTHING. I drives me up the wall, but I was willing accept their suckiness.
But I read a quote in a book my wife just got about incorporating heavy weight training into a woman’s fitness routine The quote was “If you’re gonna do something, do something you love.” It was a very well written book and my brother-in-law also picked up the male version of it too, and after reading a good portion of it, I thought – “THIS GUY GETS IT”. It was a very REAL and HONEST approach to weight training and fitness. Not to be cocky, but it’s what I have been preaching and utilizing for years. I just wish I had known about this book or philosophy sooner, I could have reaped a lot more benefits. Here is the book:
Well, the quote: If you’re gonna do something, do something you love. may have changed my overall thought process about people in general. Maybe people just haven’t found that one thing that really, really motivates them to “perform”. It could be anything from swimming, running, golfing, martial arts, weight training, pilates, gardening, etc. Maybe these people just haven’t experienced that one thing yet. Maybe there is still hope!
So, I am challenging you the reader of this blog. If something interests you, or excites you, go do it! Grab your life by the sack and go for it. And if you’ve got something that you love to do, appreciate it and be thankful for the times you get to do it.
But, if you know what you love and it’s something that you dream about doing, or dream about being – don’t let another day slip you by without doing it. Don’t make another excuse about why you can’t do something today. Even if you’re already “doing something” like going to the gym, and you HATE it. Do something else! Take a martial arts class, take a yoga class, dance, mow the lawn, do something else until you find that thing you love! Then exercise, training, and improving your life becomes fun – not just work.
http://www.break.com/index/super-strongman-man-deadlifts-1100-lbs.html
Holy Crap – that is an amazing feat of strength!
What was the title of the book you read?
Thanks,
Matt
It’s called: The New Rules of Lifting
Great book, with a very straight forward, no BS approach to weight lifting and training in general.
Try crossfit. Go to Spark Sport Conditioning and it will blow your mind. Ryan Ford goes there.
I totally agree with you in regards to loving training. I too love nothing more then the rush that comes from training.
Good luck with your fight.
Doing what you love all the time should be at the top of everyone’s goal list. Why be miserable your whole life, working for someone you hate or watching TV that dulls your valuable brain. Find out what it is that stirs your passion and then get to work immediately to make it the main focus of your life.
Good post.