You Can Always Be Better

What's something you are really good at? 

I'll go first. 

I'm good at being self-disciplined, tenacious and consistent.  

How about something you are bad at? 

If we're talking just fitness, I'm bad at mobility, explosive power and general speediness (I'm built for endurance, what can I say).  

Of course there's more, but then this whole blog post would be just that and no one has time for that/probably no one cares.  Anyway, the point is that I have things I'd like to improve.

No one is perfect, therefore everyone has the capacity to be better.

There is confidence in yourself and then there's complacency.  

I don't want to be complacent.  

When it comes to fitness, science and gravity might say that being solidly in my mid-thirties means everything is going downhill from here on in. Perhaps my physical peak has already passed. 

Well, forget that. 

The 30's have been good to me and I am blessed. I'm fit and healthy and still doing things that keep me active and strong. 

But my health goals are not just to maintain my current state, nor are they just to stave off what might feel like the inevitable toll of aging: weight gain or muscle loss. 

I always want to be better.

I hope to keep this attitude towards fitness and, let's be honest, life in general, for the rest of my life.  Here are some of the things I'm trying to do: 

1. Get stronger. I'm still chasing PRs on my back squat and deadlift, and steadily improving the number of pull-ups I can do. These are foundational strength movements and there are numerous benefits to getting and and staying strong with them. I'll do a separate post on the myriad of benefits these exercises have.   

2. Improve mobility. Yes, I talk about this all the time. Mainly it's to remind myself (and all of you) of its extreme value. Having good mobility means having healthy joints and strength in all ranges of motion. Think of how important that is as you age! 

3. Learn new things. I'm constantly reading and researching health, fitness and nutrition because I enjoy those topics.  They help me not only be a better trainer and blogger, but also to achieve my own goals. However, I've also delved into other subjects that have nothing to do with fitness - I'm looking for improvement in other areas too, like spirituality and mental health. I learn because it keeps my brain and soul active and happy.

My dad is a great example of this. When I was a kid, he used to joke that if he retired he would probably just die because he wouldn't know what to do with himself. But now that he actually is retired, he's learning photography, playing the violin, traveling and generally enjoying the heck out of his golden years. I want to be like him. 

4. Create. This blog is part of my creative outlet. Studies show that using your creativity is part of keeping your mind active and healthy. As much as we were made to move, we were also made to make things. I wouldn't call myself a very creative person, but I appreciate that creativity is part of self-improvement. Being a writer, there's always the thought in the back of my mind that one day I'll sit down and type out that great American novel. One day!