Boston Show Reflections
After all the hustle and bustle after a show, such as, cheat meals,
playing catch up with laundry, listening to feed back, seeing pictures, and
mentally replenishing myself, I always find myself reflecting. I not only
reflect on the show itself, but also on my preparation leading up to the
show. How did I feel? How did I train? Did I do everything that I could to
be my very best? Thankfully, I am usually pretty pleased with the answers I
come back with.
This time my reflection was not so much focused on me, but on the people
around me. As I was recalling my preparation, I couldn’t help but to
remember the feeling of anxiety I had getting ready for this show. In
hindsight I think a lot of that came from wanting to do well for the people
that support me. Being that it was close to home, everyone I knew would be
there.
Getting past the preparation I began to remember how great it felt
standing on stage. Standing there knowing that I gave it my all to be there
and realizing that it didn’t matter what place I came in because I knew that
I did everything in my power to be the best that I could for that day. I
also remember looking out into the audience and becoming emotionally aware
of the people sitting in the 4th and 5th rows. Seated there were a group of
people who just stared up at the stage with anticipation of hearing the
placings, while gazing at me (me?!) with so much pride and admiration. I too
was anxious to hear the placings. I felt good, like I had done my best, but
I was nervous because I wanted to good for them… and I wanted them to be
proud of me, but I was also nervous…in general! Now, in retrospect, I am
much more aware of those people that were seated there and how lucky I am to
have them all in my life. I know, now, that no matter what place I came in,
they would have been proud of me just the same. All of these people are
brutally aware how I prepared for my show and what I did to get there.
I honestly don’t think that someone on the outside really knows all that
goes into preparation for a Fitness Contest. Sure, there are the everyday
gym goers that read Muscle and Fitness and Oxygen or the people that play
recreational Basketball or soccer on the weekends, that think, “training is
training”. Well, when it comes to Fitness (and Bodybuilding) it is a
different kind of training, it is lifestyle. And I don’t think that anyone
would understand it unless they’ve done it themselves, lived with a
competitor, dated a competitor, or been around a competitor on a personal
level on a daily basis. Even then, if the other person decides not to get
fully engaged in it, they just don’t get it.
I have been lucky enough to have my family, who not only supports me, but
also believes in me and do what they can to help. If I were to thank them
for everything I would be here forever, so I will just say this…no
explanation needed!
Aside from my family who puts up with me (like they have a choice?!), I
have the most amazing people in my life… they call me on a regular basis to
“check in”. At the drop of at hat will meet me to reevaluate my diet, push
me through a work out when I feel like I have nothing left, or just listen
to me vent about something that in the big picture is probably nothing…
except of course when you are on 1100 calories a day!
Though everyone close to me plays a huge part in my success, this time
around my sincerest gratitude goes to that one person, that when I wanted
company, but didn’t want to do anything, came and sat with me and watched TV
with little conversation on a Friday night, (or any other night for that
matter) no questions asked, and snuck out after I fell asleep. The person
who put their all into helping my vital elements of my routine and never
thought twice about it. The person that laughed at me and brought me back to
reality when I was having a meltdown, but also comforted me when they knew
that I was really upset. The person that was interested in everything that I
was doing from my suit to my food, but knew nothing of the sport, and made
it a point to learn. Didn’t understand what a Fitness Competition was, but
did everything they could to try to understand.
And when the day of the show came, and that person was there from
beginning to end said “…Now I get it…one word, UNBELIEVABLE”. That person,
is the person you need. I hope everyone is lucky enough to have people in
their life who ‘get it’.
Some people just do things, and they have no idea the lasting effect that
it has on another person’s contest preparation or life and soul for that
matter.
So, I say to “that person”, THANK YOU… and you know who you are.
