Sticking With Your Hobbies, Getting In Shape, and Feeling Good

Oh, it’s that time of the year and we all know what you’re thinking about.

Freakin’ New Years’ Resoluuuuuuuutiooooons!

You and millions of others are going to look at the calendar and whisper to yourself “2016 is going to be my year, baby!” before fist-pumping the air.

You and millions of others are going to swarm the gym and swear to yourself that you’re going to stick with it. Maybe even sign up for an annual contract at the gym so you and the guy signing you up across the desk know you’re serious.

And you and millions of others are going to say “Ahhhhh screw it” just two weeks into January because that’s exactly what happens every year.

Or maybe your resolution this year is to finally pick up some sports because you heard it’s a great way to get in shape, make new friends, and overall have a jolly good time.

So you go out to buy a fancy new tennis racquet, some shoes, and balls. You go on Meetup.com and make yourself an account before RSVPing for a meetup event.

You’re pumped. Ready to hit.

Then the day rolls around where you’re supposed to head out on the courts but instead of lacing on your brand new sneakers, you log back onto Meetup.com and change your “Yes” RSVP to a “No”. Meanwhile, all your new gear sits untouched for the rest of the year.

Now you’re thinking to yourself, “Alright, Vincent, Jeeeesus. You’re being a real jerk here and I get the point. I need to stop doing this same thing every year where I make lofty goals for myself only to either skip them completely or commit to a measly two weeks before throwing in the towel. I get it.”

But why am I being such a jerk (and making at least 27 assumptions about you?)

Well, every year it is the same thing. I step into the gym in the first week of January and swear everyone and their grandma is working out. Then just a short couple of weeks later it’s back to normal where you’re seeing just the regulars and maybe if you’re lucky, you spot a couple of New Year Resolutioners who are still sticking with it.

I’m not trying to discourage you.

Ever since I started taking my diet, weightlifting, and sports a lot more seriously, I’m beginning to LOVE what I see in the mirror and can feel the difference in my body.

I’m reaching my personal goals of putting on more mass, muscles, and strength, all while making new friends and having a blast.

But I know how easy it is to throw away all the routines and opt to crash on the couch all day instead.

I went rockclimbing for the first time this past weekend and to my surprise, my body didn’t feel like hell the next day because I’ve been building my body up for the past several months. And that feels awesome. I want to keep feeling awesome.

It used to be difficult for me to just open up one of my living room windows but now I can tear that baby open with ease. Small improvements like that are worth the commitment.

Sports and fitness are both important and I really don’t have to tell you that. You know that.

So you better stick with it. And I sure as hell better see you staying with it in February and beyond, because if you think I’m being a jerk now, wait and see what happens if you give up.