Inspired by the prolific writing schedule of James Clear–who posts every Monday and every Thursday without fail–I just wanted to share an insight that’s been nagging at me for a while now.
I’ve been in the iron game long enough now to have seen just about everything. From bodybuilding in the Golden Era right up to the latest science-based protocols of today’s bodybuilders and athletes.
In the last couple of years, I’ve also managed to find myself a fantastic circle of trusted friends, advisors and industry leaders to guide me in my pursuit of bodybuilding, people like Adam Bornstein, Bryan Krahn, Sean Hyson, Jim Smith and Dave Dellanave to name but a few. And if that were not enough, the extended network around these individuals is rich in information — so much so, you can never really keep up.
I’ve been training back at a commercial gym in the UK for the last few days and it’s been an eye-opening experience in many ways. And unfortunately, aside from the odd exception, not many of these experiences have been positive, including bro-science run amok, poor to horrible training form and gym etiquette nowhere to be seen.
This scene from Rocky Balboa gets me every time. Every. Single. Time.
Heck, I even have a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes as I proof-read this post!
Yes, I know it’s a movie, and sure, the words are explicitly intended to create a sense of drama and elicit an emotional response from the audience. But there are quite literally thousands (millions?) of movies, books and theatrical works that try to achieve the same result and fail. Of course, one’s reaction to any given dialog or scene is a deeply personal experience. But why is it then, that this speech from Balboa to his son stirs so much emotion in me?