Is love worth it?

[Thaibox]

No one can answer this for you big brother.

I believe this is a very serious topic.

I am of the same frame of mind as yourself. I actually am sort of relieved to hear someone else say this very thing. I think I told you b about my med condition as well as my myriad of injuries that should at least 'slow' a reasonable person down. The way you feel about lifting is the way I felt about fighting. Then it was my commitment to the guy next to me in the military. Since I've been a civilian, unable to be there for the 'other guy', I've felt worthless; like I have failed and am no longer deserving of a place on the planet. Since I was medically discharged years ago, that dedication(love) has somehow translated to lifting. Just as I would happily die for the soldier next to me, I would rather not exist than not lift. It sounds odd, in a sort of mentally derranged way. However, when I objectively think about the things that are TRULY significant in my life(aside from a few people), lifting dominates my thoughts. My entire day is planned around lifting. From the time I get out of bed and hit the kitchen, to the time I go back to bed, I am weighing every single action and decision by its effects on my training. Everything I eat is fuel not food. At night, its recovery not sleep.

I can't seem to explain it any better than this. I mean, its just a bunch of iron right? Like yourself, my answer to your question concerns me.

At 27, I have found the love of my life in my fiancee. It goes without saying that I would not hesistate to die for her, not for a second. However, if I had to choose between her and lifting...well, my answer concerns me.

The thought of watching my body become catabolic and eat away years of my heart and soul would destroy me. Knowing that the bar full of weight that use to quiver with fear as I approached it would now laugh at me because I couldn't touch it.



Its not just muscle, because it was made from my heart. How can I live without that?



My answer is yes, I would die for it.

 

[TerraNoble]

I was talking with a woman the other night that I have never met. I have only seen a pic of her and she has no idea what I look like. We have "mutual friends." I have talked to her on the phone just a few times about different things that we do and people that we know in school.

After my Nationals I spent a lot of time in and out of the hospital having tests run and such. About a week went by and she called again to say hello and to see how my contest went. I told her about me getting sick and of course I got the general response..."I am so sorry to hear that, are you going to be ok?".

Well, my doctors, cardiologist included, suggested that I not be lifting much less trying to compete anytime soon. I know the consequences...I know them.

I tried to explain to her that I love this sport and I am "injured" so to speak. I also can not quit. It is something that I love and I can not stop.

She asked me..."Clint, it it worth dying for? Is training in this sport and competing worth dying for?"

My response was a little shocking to myself and to her...
"Well it sounds strange but yet, it is worth dying for. I do not know if I could even breathe tomorrow if I could not lift anymore. I do not know if I could even live. I might just cease to breathe and exist if I was not allowed to train anymore... Yes, yes any love that I have is worth dying for."

I don't love very much in my life but the few things that I do actually LOVE deep in my heart...I would die for...completely.

Would you?

B True

There is no panacea answer for your dilemma!
If I were you , I would listen to other fellas, analyze their inputs, but listen to my inner self ,digging deep for an answer and follow my heart!

I am sure that you are the only one who could take the best decission ,therefore would be nobody else to blame if your decission was not the best...Hopefully good things would come to good people!

I dont want to use anymore cyber space as too many words may be worthless and confusing for such a deep dilemma.
Much luck to you BF!

 

[jeremys]

It sounds odd, in a sort of mentally derranged way. However, when I objectively think about the things that are TRULY significant in my life(aside from a few people), lifting dominates my thoughts. My entire day is planned around lifting. From the time I get out of bed and hit the kitchen, to the time I go back to bed, I am weighing every single action and decision by its effects on my training. Everything I eat is fuel not food. At night, its recovery not sleep.

this is exactly how my life is

 

[Drunken_Weasel]

It sounds odd, in a sort of mentally derranged way. However, when I objectively think about the things that are TRULY significant in my life(aside from a few people), lifting dominates my thoughts. My entire day is planned around lifting. From the time I get out of bed and hit the kitchen, to the time I go back to bed, I am weighing every single action and decision by its effects on my training. Everything I eat is fuel not food. At night, its recovery not sleep.

this is exactly how my life is

I wasn't this way before, but I have become this exacty way. I just couldn't word it well...

 

[b fold the truth]

" Yes, yes any love that I have is worth dying for."

I don't love very much in my life but the few things that I do actually LOVE deep in my heart...I would die for...completely.

B True

Yeah...I still feel this way.

B True

 

[Fatty4You]

Dude, i remember last year i injured my knee and couldn't do any kind of squats of leg extensions. Then a few weeks later [before my knee healed] i hurt my shoulder and was unable to do presses of any kind [upper body]. It was the most depressing time of my life. I felt that one by one, everything that gave me happiness in life was being taken away from me. I spent many nights at that point just laying in the dark in my dorm room. Sometimes i would sit there and just start crying.... yeah, its sad, but that how happy the gym makes me. I can't imagine a life where i wouldn't get to lift. The whole rush of blood, and sound of the weights, the pump, but even more, the comradery of guys in the gym, the team work, the whole life style: its just great.

I can't imagine what it would be like to have to give all that up. But, i do know that there are other things in life that are great. If i had to, i would rather quite than die. I know i could never "replace" lifting, but i am sure i could find other stuff to love as much.

Plus dude, if you died, who would all the people on this board mentor???

-Fatty

 

[b fold the truth]

As far as my health...I am feeling better. Heck...I can't do a lot of cardio work at the moment but I am getting stronger (I think).

My point was simply this...

The things that you love in life...TAKE THEM VERY SERIOUSLY and do NOT let them pass you by!!! My very few loved ones in this world and on this board...I would give my life for theirs in a heartbeat. I'd die trying to save them from all that I could...always.

If you have passion for something (lifting, family, friends, lovers) then never let a day go by without sharing that passion with them...ever.

B True

 

[skaman607]

no truer words have been spoken


Good luck at Boston

 

[Spectre]

While I don't stand in your shoes nor am I aware of your condition B, IMHO your being a little short sited. Regather, regroup and live to win many more. This is a battle not the war, win the war.

Perhaps take this time and write a comprehensive training book for the dedicated lifter. Maybe volenteer at the High School and train future lifters, redirect and focus this energy temporarily.

Regardless, I will stand right beside you in your decision.

 

[TerraNoble]

BFold,


My virtual friend Bfold, please use common sense;common sense and conscience are like a muscle. If you don't use a muscle it gets weaker and weaker....

You are going thru a transient phase in your life right now; like everything else in life that will become past tense soon.
I had a similar moment in my life-not as dramatic as yours -when while I was reading a book I stumbled upon this wisdom quote that made me think and think and reevaluate the situation.

There is the quote:
Romance is like a game of chess - one false move and you're mated

Guess what: My next move was the right one..Never got mated.....

Moral: Always move forward....

Just my humble opinion!