Effort (and nothing but)

I remember it well and yet I'd forgotten...

I'd wake up to the sound of my alarm clock radio at about 6am. I'd get up and go downstairs to lace up my running shoes and go for a run. Nothing too far, just anywhere from 1-2 miles. Then, I'd go home to shower and eat a breakfast.

I'd get to school before the first bell. After 6 periods, with a break and a lunch worked in there, I'd hit the courts around 3pm with the team. Donning tennis shoes and wielding strung graphite, we would work on anything from drills, serves, and anything else that came up. Once practice was over, I'd go home to to lift weights or skip rope.

Once dinner came around, I'd eat like a vacuum cleaner. I'd even go for a second bowl of rice to chase it all down. Then its off to homework until about 11pm. Then, I'd do plyometrics or some abs. Then I'd go downstairs to to eat my 4th meal of the day: a toasted bagel with cream cheese followed by a glass of milk. Then I'd go to sleep to start this process all over again.

One of my life's lessons was learned here in high school. Effort can whatever shortcoming you might have had in the beginning. You may have "natural talent" or you may not. Whatever the case, its really the work you put into it that helps you surpass obstacles.

Somehow, I lost some of this ethic in college and in the working world. How this came to pass, I'm not even sure. Its funny how times like these can really make you you think about it.

I need to get back there somehow.

At a Standstill (almost)

First off, I'd like to apologize to everyone I haven't spoken with in a long time. Thanks for the concern. Recently, I've suffered a setback in life. It was very traumatizing for me and with the shame that I felt (not that I even did anything wrong), I found it hard to tell people about it, even my parents.

I could go on and on about how it wasn't fair and debate how messed up it happened. However, I'm done with the bouts of feeling depressed or holding my own silent vigil of rage. It really is time to move on.

As of now, I'm re-applying and hoping for the best. I seem to have a sort of fire in me right now. The kind that will pretty much steamroll anything that gets in my way. I'm gonna be back.

On another note, you'd be surprised how much you can bench press if you're angry.