Recently, after a sickeningly long hiatus, I returned to the gym. I did not leave the gym by any conscious effort, but I did let life get in the way of my health. I had started a new job and the sudden change in schedule threw me for a loop. Now, I’m not making excuses, just stating that there were mitigating factors involved. At any rate, I returned and, although I knew that I had slipped some, I did not know how much until I tried a familiar circuit that I used to breeze through… not any more!! Sweet Christmas!! It kicked the living Fiddle Faddle out of me!! I had gotten the message in the middle of the gym… special delivery… I had to go all the way back to step #1.

At first I was upset by this. I thought about how far I had gone, how close I had gotten to raising my max to 400 lbs on the bench press, how I moved so easily, how I’d felt so strong. No more… at least not right now. But, that is ok. Why, you ask? Here’s why: it is a new beginning and a new path. It is an opportunity to challenge myself to be a better me than when I was on my way to 400. Maybe this me can take it to 450 lbs? Maybe this me will have a 12 pack instead of a 6? (Don’t judge me, I can dream!!)

Look, it’s like this. Taking anything or everything back to the drawing board is not bad at all. In some ways it is the greatest adventure. It is the possibility of new heights, more undiscovered countries, new depths of understanding… ultimately, the forging of a new sword.