Getting Stronger
Thoughts on Improving Skills and Fortitude during the Winter
Another thing November reminds me of is the famous training montage in Rocky (1976) when Rocky is running through Philadelphia with “Gonna Fly Now” scoring the scene. When I’d first watched the Rocky movies, I’m not sure I fully appreciated the hard work and tenacity they promoted in each of their stories, warning against falling to things like “over-civilization” or losing a grip on the dreams of the past. I’d taken some sense of those messages away with help from my parents clarifying them. My family has a special connection with the franchise being that we all watched them together, listened to the soundtracks on repeat, and generally used Rocky’s training as inspiration and motivation for our own physical activities. I definitely lost track of how many times I watched the “That’s how winning is done” speech from Rocky Balboa when I struggled through writing my master’s thesis. Only recently have I been able to comprehend the message behind the Rocky films and compare it to other stories that encourage the refusal of shortcuts, disregard modern comforts and distractions, and inspire singular advancement in an art or skill even when naysayers are the loudest ones in the crowd.
While last week’s post was on using writing and storytelling as a means to escape the dour period this time of year can tend to be, this one is about keeping disciplined through physical activity. I’ve mentioned in my post on soundtracks that I regularly go to the gym; I focus on weight training and bodybuilding, rarely deviating from the same workout routine since the beginning of this past summer.1 I've found that I focus best on my writing after I've rested from an intense session in the gym. When I was in college, I seriously started working out in the winter of my sophomore year. While I had done well academically in my freshman classes, I noted a massive difference in my focus, ability to retain knowledge, and general disposition towards life and classes after mere weeks of beginning a challenging exercise routine. I felt more motivated to complete assignments properly and thoroughly instead of quickly, furthermore my own writing benefitted from the sense of delayed gratification exercise and discipline instilled in me. With my head clear and body run through the gauntlet of the gym, the ideas flowed as easily into my mind and fingers as water over stones.
It was one of the first times in my life when I exposed myself to activities my body found uncomfortable—waking up early, exercising muscles I had not worked before, taking cold showers, and detoxing my brain from needless digital distractions. This was years before I saw David Fincher’s adaptation of Fight Club (1999) but I unknowingly began a process similar to the philosophy of “self-destruction” promoted by the film’s antagonist Tyler Durden. Essentially, his interpretation of “self-destruction” is a stance against the seeking of comfort and “self-improvement” in modern society, which includes not relying on saccharine lies peddled by massive corporations and self-professed lifestyle gurus. This method of self-discipline combined with Rocky’s good-natured and inspiring dedication to one’s own calling is something that can benefit us all at any age or season.
The winter holidays, however, we can easily relate to an excess of comfort in food, soft beds, warm showers, new toys and gadgets, and long days of doing nothing. While rest and celebration is important for both recovering from exercise and the stresses of year-round obligations, and overall beneficial for lifting moods, it is often at the tail-end of these celebrations that people begin to regret their choices made in the final weeks of the year and promise to better themselves in the New Year. It’s an eternal, vicious cycle—December comes and we indulge; a few days before New Year’s we’re asked what our resolutions are and we get a gym membership; after partying in the first few days of January we finally hit the crowded gym and try to start a new routine; by February we’ve only been a handful of times; and by March we haven’t gone in weeks; by April we remember to cancel our membership then wait until next December to even consider going back.
This is not to put down anyone who has tried to walk the path of improvement or to make the snide claim that it’s “easy.” It isn’t, and there are still times when my id tries to make deals with myself when it comes to diet, exercise, and general discipline. Promises of self-improvement aren’t bound by any holiday, but it is clear that a lot of people in the Western world lose momentum around Christmas and New Year’s then try to pick up the speed they lost after the haze of drink, rich food, and present unwrapping has faded. It is all too tempting to join in on the excess and I anticipate that I’ll at least be obligated to rest with family and friends by the Christmas tree for a time. It is a challenge for myself and my readers to think about projects, promises, and principles we have and wish to fulfill or remain true to. When winter comes, it’s easy to want to start seeking comfort; rest is necessary and natural for human bodies to crave, but in a world with bountiful comforts and conveniences it’s also easy for plans to get left out in the cold as we build up cozy nests around ourselves. Instead of generating heat within our bodies and brains by way of exercise and hard work on mentally-difficult projects we often rely on heated spaces and screens to satisfy those cravings. I remember the extreme discomfort I experienced this past summer as I ramped up the intensity of my workouts. I began taking pre-workout in the middle of July, but did not realize it was a high stimulant formula—I also had, until then, been a strict denier of caffeinated beverages—so the results hit me like a truck. I was itching like the time I’d gotten poison ivy, sweating like an animal, dealing with a caffeine headache, and on top of that the gym’s A/C had broken, allowing the stiff July air to dominate the space. Instead of going home, however, I felt more motivated than ever to push myself through the extreme conditions I had unknowingly set up for myself, increasing my performance and drive to get the work done. It’s a feeling that isn’t easy to replicate in the winter when heat turns into a source of comfort, although warming yourself up through exercise is necessary in order for an optimal workout. It’s a lot like how in the Rocky training montage, we see Rocky training in grounded, uncomfortable conditions that allow him to focus on the big fight, contrasted by the sterile Soviet lab in Rocky IV or even Rocky’s own “training party” in Rocky III. Strength comes from discomfort and struggling, and only by accepting the fact you’ll always be behind in some way but continuing regardless is the first step to getting stronger. This is true for all arts, crafts, and pursuits, not just purely physical betterment.
This winter, find ways to break from the smothering comfort and excess that comes with the holidays. Do things you know will be uncomfortable but ultimately yield positive results through good habits and discipline. Winter should not be the “pause” season for passions, it should rather be another challenge to adapt to in order to continue the pursuit of goals at any point in the year. Do take the time to enjoy a few nights out with friends and family, but don’t lose sight of the things you want to accomplish in this New Year. Commit to what you envision; don’t put it off until next year, or else you may find yourself nowhere near where you wanted to be after years of saying, “I’ll try again next year.” Remember well the immortal words of Apollo Creed in Rocky III, “There is no tomorrow!” While some of us may be blessed with opportunities to start again, even those are frightfully limited; give yourself a good life, not an easy one, because this may be the only chance we have.
Thanks for reading! Use the button below to leave a comment with what you hope to accomplish this winter. What are some challenges you anticipate? How do you think you’ll overcome them?
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Winter does just seem to naturally lead us into hibernation, and it is a struggle not to succumb to this inclination. The holiday stresses, business, and excesses only exacerbate the condition. You are correct in that strenuous physical activity can help reset your mind, but mentally getting to that place where you can put yourself in that “uncomfortable” position is a daily challenge. Establishing good habits is helpful, but most of us have seen that it is all too easy to just stop following a workout schedule that you may have faithfully stuck to for months. And don’t even get me started about injuries.
That’s one thing Rocky never really had to face (in the films, at least) - injuries from overtraining. And, miraculously his peripheral vision problem just disappeared after Rocky II. Keep up your hard work and exercise regimen for as long as it feeds your quality of life and motivates you in other aspects. Like Rocky, it is inspirational, and something we should all strive for.
And yes, you will be obligated to lounge around with your family multiple times during the holidays, as well as indulge in food and drink. To avoid doing so would be “mental irregular “.
Very good advice, Ethan! This time of year, with the holidays approaching, is especially tough to keep on track; but, as you said, everything in moderation. Enjoy but do not overdo.