Perspective: Sine Qua Non
“Taking charge of your own learning is a part of taking charge of your life, which is the sine qua non in becoming an integrated person.”
― Warren G. Bennis
Sine Qua Non
Today I took a solo trip to a gym I had never been to. Paid $20 to workout with people I didn’t know/who didn’t know me, who quite frankly shouldn’t give a rats ass about me.
It all started yesterday when working out at my usual gym. Regular day, nothing too special. Then my training partners arrived. Less than 3 weeks out from my first Weightlifting meet you would think that they would take on more of a Coach perspective rather than rival. Don’t get me wrong, competition is great, but having the people you’re counting on to help you get through the storm, belittle you and point out all your problems with no real direction towards a solution fucking kills. Maybe it’s because us as a group, we’re not much of the “Hey bro help me out” type. We lift, we yell, you do better or you don’t. Yeah I could ask for help, but knowing them, they’ll say “do it again but better….. again but better…. that was shit, I need better” I completely understand that that method would work for some, but not all, not me. Seeing how much of an ego is built up at this gym it gets to me. I feel it in my bones. The idea that they never saw me on par with them because I didn’t magically sprout a 100kg snatch/120kg clean and jerk.
But then again I never had as much passion for this sport as they did. Not until now.
You know as of right now, I’m jobless and I’m a 22 year old freshman in community college. This is the last “summer” before I begin the rest of my life. But when I look back, I’m so fucking happy with how far I’ve come.
With my life coming to a start, this meet is the only thing left for me to do, for everyone who stuck with me during the ride, for my mom, for bagel, for Reign, for the lady at Whole Foods who asked for directions to Great America. I’m gonna finish this because I believe in myself as the best in the fucking world. A year ago I didn’t know who the fuck I was or what I was gonna do, but it’s clear now. Rip the head off the fucking lion, wear it, show the world who the fuck I’ve become.
Sine Qua Non ~ an essential condition; a thing that is absolutely necessary
Going back to the story about the other gym, I apologize for straying away.
Anchored Strength & Conditioning.
Everyone here at this gym. They didn’t have to support me, they didn’t have to help me. They didn’t owe me shit. But holy fuck, this was probably one of the best workouts I’ve ever had. Right from the start
“Hey I’m Rikki, I love your shoe laces!”
“Steven nice to meet you, always great to see another oly lifter”
“You’re looking fast bro, don’t change anything right now”
The members at this gym didn’t have to coach me or anything but they offered to help me with every single thing with this session down to loading the weights. Honestly so much better than my normal training partners. They dissected my lifts piece by piece leading into a PR of 120kg Clean. Like what the fuck dude, the hospitality was amazing.
It opened my eyes to what Sine Qua Non to this meet prep that I've been getting wrong all this time. Proper Environment.
Don’t get me wrong, working out at my boys house with his guidance has done wonders to my lifts, but it took working out at this gym for me to realize why it worked so well. These people upon 1 hour of meeting me, supported me and helped structure me to be a better lifter/person without knowing who I really was or what I've been through. Finally I was surrounded by Pack Mentality and not Ego. My goals became theirs and theirs mine. For once I felt like I was really on a team, and none of that lone wolf bullshit.
Let go of that stupid fucking daddy complex. Let go of you who you used to be and start becoming who you’re meant to be. Let go of the past and accept this moment right now with the people striving to help you become you. Surround yourself with people who want you to become better than them. Let go of your ego.
