What Matters

I got this message on Christmas 2020. It’s from one of my clients who is simply a remarkably consistent worker of the steps. Having started as a total novice, he’s now embarking on an athletic future. On the scale, he’s down 80lbs. In composition, it’s more like a 120lb transformation, as he’s gained at least 20lbs of muscle and lean tissue during his journey. That journey began with partial range of motion body weight squats, and is now over 400lb weighted deep squats ATG. And as nice as all those things are, what really MATTERS is moments like this. Something which was once so far off as to be “impossible” or “unbelievable” is now a reality. Theoretical potential was replaced by actualized attainment.

I failed to understand the magnitude of the message until the Sunday afterward when we had our next appointment. I wanted to clarify just exactly what it meant to him. He informed me that over a year ago he wore 4XL and it might fit snugly. What the reader or onlooker might miss is how he is more secure in his future and sticking around for his family. He contracted Covid a little over a month prior to sending this message; and, at least in part due to his tremendous efforts over the past two years which dropped several risk factors, he suffered only very minimal symptoms. So minimal, in fact, that DURING his sickness he set several personal records in lifting. All the while he maintained a conditioning practice with cardio programming WHILE sick with coronavirus.

We’ve been working on restoring him for a couple years. The weight loss is nice. The athletic gains are exciting. But his resilience against all challenges is what really matters - a resilience which once seemed impossible, but now is here. Merry Christmas everyone. May your new year bring what really matters into focus.