In every garage there is a special type of magic that exists and if you look hard enough you can find it. It’s not next to the lawn mower or under the old oil pan in the corner, it is in the air. The garage is were true Champions are made. Countless hours are spent inside the garage honing skills and forging an unwavering determination to succeed. It is were we spill our blood,sweat and tears in order to achieve our goals at all costs.
There are hundreds of thousands of people all over the world that have made the difficult decision to be the best version of themselves that they can be. They have gone into their garage and taken the first steps in this long journey with hope and determination, but what actually happens inside there is something no one expects. We are changed on every single level of our beings, mentally, physically and spiritually. I am talking about the garage athlete, the lone wolf that fights him/herself every day to get one inch closer to their goals and accomplishing their dreams.
Young or old, prior athlete or completely new to fitness in general, we are all the same person. The warrior spirit that lies within us is somehow awakened with a thirst for personal greatness and accomplishment that cannot be quenched. Make no mistake, we are different, we are the “black sheep” of our community. Because we shed light on peoples short comings and lack of self motivation by pushing ourselves as hard and far as we are humanly possible of doing we are scowled at and often scorned. Regardless of these nay-sayers we simply don’t quit ever because our lives depend on it. As our local community is waking up with their aches and their pains dreading the life they have chosen, they see us as they drive by blinded for a moment by the shining light of our spirit. There we are in the garage with the door open and the music loud, covered in sweat as we seemingly throw weights over our head with ease as we put in more work in one hour than they are capable of ever producing.
Our lifestyle is completely foreign to them and our passion for our life is something few can wrap their heads around. Every weightlifter and/or athlete who toils away in their garage is a modern day samurai. We all have a fierce dedication and commitment to our goals knowing that we can only help others be their best when we ourselves are at our best. Every person who battles the barbell in their garage walks taller and has more confidence than any one else. There is a difference in our spirit and you can tell by the look in our eyes that we have accomplished something remarkable. Now you can make significant gains by going to a gym or working with a trainer either individually or in a group setting and that is not to be discounted in the slightest, but what I’m saying is this...the garage weightlifter is a rare breed. We have made the decision to move the “gym” into our personal lives only a few steps away from our beds and to become one with the pain and suffering it takes to make our goals a reality.
The garage weightlifter puts in the time without being told, we push ourselves on those last few reps knowing its the harder path to take. We go the distance and use full range of motion even though no one is watching. We are constantly “talking” to ourselves and motivating ourselves to keep going even if its just one more rep. That's what makes us rare and that's what makes us great. We may never be a Division 1 athlete or a world champion, but I would stack us up against any opponent knowing we will do our best or die trying because we fight the worst adversary of all on a daily basis, we battle ourselves. We all belong to a great fraternity or secret society that few ever get to see. Make no mistake, once in you will never leave. Your warrior spirit will push you through any obstacle you will face for the rest of your life.
I have been called many things and have been looked at as a zealot and that's OK, in our journey we will face those who do not believe its possible or even worth it to pay the price we gladly. Just like when our own minds turn against us and try to make us quit, we must ignore them. Learn to push past negativity like you push past pain. What ever your passion is, be it Olympic Weightlifting or CrossFit or P90X or Insanity or anything else, don’t stop...keep going no matter what. We all have one life to live and it is up to us to live it the best way we can. Keep in mind that every day we have a choice of wasting it or making the most out of it, whatever your decision is you cannot get it back. It’s forever gone into the history of your life and its up to you how your history will play out. Are you a Champion or are you a failure, the choice is yours. But before you decide, go into your garage and smell the greatness in the air and change your life forever.
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