BE A LIFTER
In this day and age, people are more concerned about how things LOOK than with how things FEEL— a vacation isn't necessarily a time to relax anymore, but a chance to one-up the next guy, take some pics, and flex on Instagram.
People join the gym worrying exclusively about results.
The work becomes a means to an end, like bills that have to be paid— instead of a craft that is there to be mastered.
Instead of a journey full of opportunities and unexplored potential— no, the fun is set aside right at the beginning.
Everything becomes about numbers, comparisons, optimal this, and optimal that, utterly externalized— instead of a journey within oneself, a form of expression and self-optimization.
Lifting is something that can truly belong to you, what you'll experience within, no one else has access to.
It can substitute your booze, your pills, your dope— it can be that thing that sets the tone of your day, that gives you STRENGTH to resist the weight of the world, HARDENS your skin so you can withstand the pressure of life.
It’ll do all that as long as you're mindful about the practice.
Mindfulness, HAHAHA, I hate this word.
Mindfulness gets thrown around these days as some sort of mystical transcendental life hack that'll revolutionize your perspective in life, unlock a growth mindset, forgive all sins, and heal all psychic wounds you might have.
It's nothing more than paying deliberate attention to whatever you're doing— BEING PRESENT— basic ancient Buddhist philosophy secularized and packaged as a new commodity for the self-help industry to make bank with.
It doesn't require coaching, mantras, classes, equipment, or a trip to some ancient temple in the south banks of Kuala Lumpur— no, that shit can be practiced anywhere, by putting your phone down at your kid's basketball game, by just thinking a little deeper about what you just read and building up your very own interpretation about it, by paying attention to how hard you're bracing your core, and pushing your feet towards the ground as you stand-up in a heavy squat.
It's just a journey within.
Focusing on the sensations, thoughts, and emotions that are occurring in the present moment— being deliberate, actively experiencing your life.
When you're deliberate about your lifting, it becomes a part of who you are.
Not someone who compulsively shakes heavy things around seeking status and approval, but someone who applies discipline in pursuit of mastering their craft.
Not just a random dude, but a lifter, now assigned meaning.
BE A LIFTER, MY BRUDDAH!
STAY ON THE IRON PATH!
Big KISS
THE POTATO MAN
Right in man!
Now i think gym is a means to an end in the context you describe. Thats kinda my mindset.
The means to my end is:
To be the strongest mitherfucker in the gym, as well as the santabeard grumpy old guy! And the gym is the means to that end.
it is a life style
It is a goal
It is a motivation
It is about goals
It is about bettering yourself one day at a time
It builds a mindset that helps you get through lifes hardships
It is about setting an example
THIS IS THE MEANS TO MY END.
Strength and fitness is so inportant, because nobody calls some squishy soyboy to help them move, and no lady calls some rail thin non masculine boy when someone has creeped on them. They might be friends with some soyboy because he is a decent person and kind to them, but when shit hits the fan people call the knuckle draggers. BE USEFULL!
Ya know over the years i have had many close female friends who were very attractive. Not naming a name but sue was a server in a less than upper class bar (total dive shit hole) and she was a beautiful young italian lady, cali girl but italian heritage, she texted me one day wow 20 years ago, asked if i could come in once i was off work. Sure, why? Because there is a guy in here seriously creeping on me and the bouncer wont throw him out because he hasnt broken any rules yet. No problem. OK ty cya btw im telling him my bigass boyfriend is coming. Hah ok. So short version i come in she throws arms around me says play along in my ear, then points at this little dude, little to me i was 295 and 23%BF and competitive powerlifting. He was maybe 160 i turned made eye contact with him looked back at her pointed at him and he more or less shrank then and there i took a step towards him and he backed off. I caught him near the exit, and said "you have really upset someone i am close with, are you and i going to have a problem?". no. Good will she see you again? No. Wnet back and told her all was well and asked "im your bf huh? why didnt you call your real BF?". Because while im sure he would defend you if he needed to, hes like 100lb less than you, and taller. He is nice to me he's pretty more than anything else,but you, i knew hed leave as soon as he realized your arms are bigger than his legs and that you are wider than the door.Big and strong matters!
So in the end when someone needs something done they ask the strong capable guy not the rail thin squishy guy who never exerts himself, he might be a kind person but has linitted utility.