As a kid, I never liked to read. I always enjoyed listening to stories though. So here I am, 30+ years later, writing things down. I think there is value in reading (even more in writing, but I’m on the other end here), and it took me many years to come to this conclusion.
When I wanted to learn about something as a kid, I wasn’t pointed in the right direction. Nobody told me to go to a website and look around for information there. I didn’t even know the internet was a thing. Not often would I find someone who would have the patience, time and desire to explain something to a kid’s questionable level of interest. Instead, I often got a 50-year-old handbook given to me with a kind advice: read this. I think you can guess what happened next. And although the intention was good, the end result wasn’t.
Over time, many things changed. The world changed. I got mature. (Or just old). Our attention span changed. Our interests changed. And with AI being easily available, I think the biggest change of all is that people are becoming more interested in real stories from real people. Because a made up answer to a prompt is just never going to be real.
Lately, I’ve been thinking more about sharing my thoughts. Partially for myself, because I can reflect back on them, and partially I found out some people like to read them. Some for the jokes, some for the meaning, some for the inspiration. At the end of the day, with this series I have three goals. Most importantly, I want to keep it real. Unfortunately for me, this means I’ll have to write bad things about myself, one of which is: I’m selfish. Or, I do this for my ego. Let me dive into it.
Reason #01: I do it all to make myself feel good about myself for you.
I’ve been active my whole life. I’ve been going to the gym for 25 years. I’ve been doing this career for 19 years. I think I got to the point, when I truly believe it and can honestly say that I have a clue about fitness, wellness, and health.
When at my early twenties people tried to get me into selling supplements in MLM systems (join someone’s team, sell products, register other little agents below you, get rewards, follow the cult, etc.) I never fell for it. Not because I didn’t want to work hard or didn’t believe in the products, but I always found it ridiculous how I (the 20-year-old athletic guy at his prime) could really be the authentic person to talk about experiences, health and all to people who have a million responsibilities while my biggest one is to make sure my waxed leg was tanned and my hair was spikey from the hair gel.
However, now is the time when I know what I know, and I also know what I know is known and if someone doesn’t know what I know, that doesn’t make my knowing not knowing. I could have said it more simply: just because some people will question my words and we may disagree on things, I’m experienced and mature enough to either have a grown up discussion about things and adjust my views or walk away from the conversation. And very rarely still call someone who doesn’t agree with me stupid.
So anyway. I’m doing this because I speak with a lot of people from different backgrounds. During these discussions several topics come up on a regular basis, so having a post about a topic can help someone to learn something new or spark an idea that can change a life. So, even though it’s not a secret that I would be thrilled if I was the person who changed your life (or at least contributed to your health, fitness and happiness) but eventually that would make me feel good, so really, is this about you or me?
If you like the series called Friends, you may recall a conversation between Phoebe and Joey, where he says there is no act that is truly selfless because helping others ultimately makes you feel good.
Reason #02: I want to be an influencer hate influencers.
Being authentic is something I’ve always liked and wanted to be, but I probably often felt like a hypocrite. With my age in numbers going up, the patience and tolerance towards things that don’t resonate with me go down.
This includes all the fake crap that social media is about nowadays. Yes Tiffany, your ass looks good in a tiny bikini, but your peptide pumped body with a good marketing team and no morals don’t make you a good coach. Not even if you have millions of followers and you earn millions a month. It makes you financially rich though, so kudos, just don’t confuse the two.
So anyway.
Probably a part of me is trying to keep it real, and a part of me would like to be financially more free. (MLM people, pretty please, leave me alone). So, I just give you a 5-minute read every now and then about something I believe in, live by, do or practice, and let the universe do the rest.
One thing I truly enjoy and want to do even more is to connect with people who I share similar interests with. You know, mindset, training, hobbies, hikes, lessons, values, etc. The good stuff. And to be able to eventually show you that the way I live my life – or rather the body I’m building for myself to support the life I’m choosing to live – provides me with great opportunities, and there is no reason why you couldn’t have the same. I am not the only one who flies to a different country to wake up at 5am to summit a peak and dip in a mountain lake along the way – so there are people who do more than me and I can learn from – and simultaneously, there are also people who envy what I do and want to do new adventures. Is that influencing?
Reason #03: I’m becoming proud of what I do
I achieved many many things that people around me tell me I should be proud of, but for me it kinda always felt like yeah it’s ok, but I could do more. Always more. I’m not saying nothing is ever enough, but there is always more. At least, it used to be like that. If you ever have been on the self-discovery journey, I think this may resonate with you.
Coins have two sides, so this is as much of an advantage as it is not. This mindset maybe took away some joy, but it also helped me to learn more and more and to become very experienced and knowledgeable in my field. If you haven’t guessed it yet, that field is fitness. It also provided a body for me that can lift heavy, jump high, run fast, endure a lot and keep going on for days. The healthy, confident mindset allows the fighter in me to catch a break and the adventurer in me to roam wild. To visit new places, do new challenges, climb peaks, jump out of planes, cycle around countries, keep up with the nephews, complete a random Ironman, and to show you that this is all possible.
And, if in this positive mindset I reflect back on the things that I achieved and the values that I represent, I realize I actually started to feel proud. If I look back I think I’ve done some stuff that are pretty cool. Things that may be worth sharing. And thus, I’m here to introduce the way I live and invite others to join me in creating and sharing the stories that build good humans.