Step into the Arena and Face the Beast

Entering the arena and facing the beast! This means different things to different people. And it applies to any life topic not just exercise.  

Generally, it means facing the thing or task that you suck at, fear, or hate the most, and attacking it with your best effort regardless of the outcome. 

For me with age, and plenty of old army injuries (which of course were not service related, yeah FU VA 😆), my gym demon is now squats. And I’ve conveniently talked my way around them for too many months after my last back strain. 

So here I am eating humble pie and trying to not tap out or get hurt. Pathetically light weight for 4x6. And it kicked my butt. - which also means it’s an awesome exercise. 

I have to do box squats for any type of squats now  and I have to avoid barbell back squats. This was hard to accept. I can do these safety squat bar box squats as long as I use light weight and really pay attention to detail. Also hard to accept. 

I can go much heavier with goblet squats and those are the safest and easiest for me to do. The SSB box squats are really hard right now even with light weight- and they scare me. And that’s why I’m doing them. Cause it scares me and it’s hard! If you run from that it’s over. So yeah a lot of this is mental. 

Go do the thing you suck at/fear/hate the most and get better at it one day at a time. 

That will be worth so much more to you in the end than the coward life of running away and avoidance. That was me and these damn squats. Was… - not any more. Go get sum!!

Inspiration: listen to the birds!

This morning I realized what motivates me. - the birds!

When I go outside for my daily SLLS halt (stop, look, listen, smell), drinking my coffee, standing in the sun, hearing the cheerful songs of the birds, it is a therapeutic and motivational experience. 

It is more powerful and valuable than any drug or treatment. 

It's nature, it's free and it is the gift we were given by God. 

The birds sing such uplifting and motivational songs that you can't help but to feel energized and ready to take on the day. 

It may sound silly. The old crackhead is out there huggin trees. Not so!

Try it sometime. Take your coffee or favorite beverage and go sit in a scenic and serene spot. 

Let the sun shine on your face and just listen for awhile. Allow yourself to hear the song. 

Be inspired, empowered, motivated and energized. 

Then go crush your day in beast mode!

Eric Dempsey

Master Sergeant, U.S. Army Retired

MS, NASM-CPT