As we look back on the close of another year (and decade), many of us chose to set resolutions for ourselves to make positive life changes for the future. While many people pick one that will attempt to increase their level of fitness, many of us strength athletes are already happy with our physical situations.
Therefore I propose to you a mental challenge; use your discipline from years of sports’ dedication to become a better person.
Now, I see too much of the same garbage in strongman groups that plagues the world in which normal humans live. Competitors having public spats over who said what on a nutrition article that more or less is meaningless. The bashing of ideas, lifestyles and beliefs of others in our community. If we begin behaving that way within our still small group, I can’t imagine how this would translate to the outside world.
So let’s get back to where we belong, because we are weirdos, misfits, and most likely, deeply wounded people. And let’s face it, what sane person would train so hard at something so difficult?
So let us turn that energy into something positive and perhaps try and do one of the following to grow the sport of your choice in 2020.
4 Great New Year’s Resolutions for Strength Athletes
1. If you are a contest promoter, consider attaching a charitable component to your contests.
Canned food, clothing or toy drives will get you a mention on the local news and do a great service for the community. You can also find a family in need and reach out to them. I personally did a deadlift meet for a four year old with cancer this summer. They raised thousands of dollars in just a few hours and we got to meet new people in the community. We all came together to support a united cause and helpfully make some of the burden easier to bear on people who themselves weight train.
2. Sponsor some kids or even young adults from the neighborhood and let them train for free, giving them an outlet and maybe a chance to do something positive with their future.
You can strengthen the neighborhood around you and directly impact the lives of people who live in your town. This regular personal connection with young adults will help both you and them to gain some new perspectives on life.
3. Use the energy and health you gain from training to be calm and confident when someone challenges your views, and then calmly explain to them why you believe what you do and move on. We do what we do to help become physically and mentally fit. By wasting energy on needless anger you do nothing to shine a positive light on strongman and may even let it impact your day and training negatively.
4. Have a few pieces of equipment in your garage that you can use with your family.
You may be gone for hours at a time lifting and I am certain your kids may want to try it with you and experience what you love. I know just a few strongmen who have shared their sports in this way with their family. The ones that have built strong confident children. Your husband or wife may even become interested and they can do more than spectate your next contest but participate themselves. If you have a family being lucky enough to share this powerful way to improve your life is a gift you will enjoy giving to them.
As we enter 2020, you should also take a minute to review your training protocol and make sure it lines up with your goals. It may even be time to try a new style of training. Whatever you do this year, realize life is a much bigger picture than the myopic one in front of you. Live, lift and love with your heart fully engaged. Forgive and forget, pick it up and put it down, and leave santa some protein powder to go with his milk and cookies this year.
Editor’s note: This article is an op-ed. The views expressed herein and in the video are the author’s and don’t necessarily reflect the views of BarBend. Claims, assertions, opinions, and quotes have been sourced exclusively by the author.
