1st Month - Compliments From Strangers

This past month has been the hardest I've ever worked at physically bettering myself. 3 times a week in the gym for weight training and hard cardio, and another 2 days a week playing hockey. 5 days out of 7 containing highly regimented, high intensity activities. My weight didn't really budge for the first three weeks, which was a bit discouraging at first. I know that I should not rely on that number, but I wasn't feeling is though I'd improved in any other area over that time, just ending up extremely tired at the end of each day. Considering how hard I was working, I was expecting drastic changes, but was looking in the wrong place. After pushing and pulling weights for the first time in years, I was building lean muscle (which is more dense than fat), and in turn my weight was remaining stagnant. However, my body fat percentage has been gradually dropping and my waistline was slowly shrinking. I haven't noticed my appearance changing at all, but I've been the recipient of endless encouragement from my dear wife and other family members. But, for some reason it took a complete stranger to convince me that a change was actually taking place.

Receiving a compliment from a loved one, usually pleasant and rooted in fact, can be taken more lightly than it is intended. This is because, as a loved one, you are obligated to provide unwavering support and encouragement to your mate/sibling/offspring/friend. Compliments from a complete stranger, however, are sparse at best. Strangers are not required to provide you positive reinforcement by any means, but the rare occasions that they do should be noted.

As I was being pushed through my routine at the gym recently, I stopped for a quick rest. At this particular facility, conversations are usually non-existent, or brief and breathless at best. The unspoken mantra is that if you're able to speak coherently, then you're not working hard enough. There I stood, gasping for air, eyes pointed upward looking for some sort of divine intervention to release me from this self-imposed torture. I then heard an unfamiliar voice say, "I can tell you've already made a lot of progress!". I gradually lowered my head to see that those words were intended for me. The best reply I could muster was a wheezy "Thanks.", thrust out between heavy breaths. They then mentioned that "a noticable change had occurred in the two weeks since they last saw me". It's truly nothing different than what I've already been told by others, but this source was completely unprovoked and unbiased. Sometimes it's the little things that make a difference.

Now, please don't let that one example detract from the wonderful support that my family and close friends have given me. They set the foundation that allows me to attempt to improve myself every single day.

"Fall seven times, stand up eight." It's time to stand up again.