Hey friend,
I started my weight training journey about 18 months ago (you can read about that here and here if you’re interested). I’m working out on my own now, but I still feel like a newbie in the back section of the gym, where the free weights, punching bags, and cool kids hang out.
I love it there.
It’s often full of tough dudes and warrior-women who look like they could have walked off the set of a gritty action movie with serious faces, bulging biceps, and intense energy. But once the grunts turn into greetings, I meet people like Marcus – 68, fiercely fit, street-smart, intimidating, and a past you could write a Netflix series about.
Once day, Marcus pulled me aside and said in a voice that makes you sit up straight, “Girl, I gotta challenge for you. I want you to be able to do a pull up. Because some day in your life, you’re gonna find yourself in a pit, and you need to be able to Pull. Your. Self. Out.”
There was welcomed wisdom in this challenge as I immediately knew he was talking about more than a literal pit (although I think he had that in mind as well!). “Strength is life,” he said, “You build it day by day.”
Well, I’m a sucker for a challenge.
Game on, Marcus!
But also…this felt impossible. Highly unlikely.
I couldn’t even do a pull up when I was younger. Who do I think I am??
I’ve been at it for about 4 months now (I’m in the turtle-group).
And I’m not giving up.
I’m making progress with scapula pull ups, dead hangs, assisted chin ups, lat pull-downs, among other things. I’m watching others. Learning from some YouTube videos. Getting distracted by life and then starting over. And nursing sore muscles along the way.
Why am I doing this?
It makes no difference in my life if I can accomplish this feat.
And yet…
If I can do this hard thing, what other hard things can I do?
I want to be able to do a pull up just to see if I can. I’m not sure if I’ll make it, but it’s worth trying.
It’s worth the effort because any type of growth or progress requires getting comfortable with discomfort.
It requires overcoming the desire for instant gratification and pleasure.
It builds discipline, and the ability to exert energy even when you don’t want to.
And these are muscles worth building.
How about you?
Are your goals enough beyond your current capacity that they require more of you? How do you react when the resistance kicks in?
Your brain wants to keep you small, safe, and comfortable.
But growth almost always requires risk and discomfort.
