I am the world's greatest underdog! Dont you dare forget it!

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I DID IT!! I DID IT!! ! I DID IT!! !

Today is a great day. An amazing day. A new and happy day if I do say so myself. After years of injuries, setbacks, defeats and feeling like life keeps on screwing me over, after being hit hard by the wringer of life over and over and over again, after suffering an injury this week, and before, and before, and last year; after having my dreams shattered by an injury in 2017, then another injury in 2020, then even a major injury last week, it felt like my efforts weren't giving me the results I wanted and I was becoming deeply overwhelmed. Naysayers told me to throw in the towel, "You had a good show in your prime but now your prime is over, just give up and accept defeat"; on this forum well meaning good intentioned supporters told me I work too hard, that im too stubborn, that I should lower my expectations, and that I should find a new passion; even a few days ago some stupid and fat EMTs tried to diagnose me with OCD because of my obsession with hard work and training, and they tried to put a label on me to pathologize and diagnose as a problem the grit to go after one's goals, just because those mediocre EMTs are afraid of greatness and success. They told me not to exercise again and like every other incompetent loser in the American Obesity Medical Industry System, they tried to threaten me with labels and patronize me for choosing not to be a docile sheep etherized by mediocrity like they are.

I didnt listen to them, nor the naysayers, nor the well meaning people on this forum telling me to accept my prime is over and to not work as hard.

I proved them all wrong.

Because today I set a weight lifting record that I worked so hard and long for that im crying right now because it feels too good to be true and that this is a dream come true, only this isn't a dream but reality forged by the tenacity of lots of blood, sweat, and tears.

While lifting today I attempted to use my unbroken arm to dumbbell bench press 100 lbs. Back when I used to weight lift my maximum as far as the dumbbell press was 90 lbs per each arm for 5 reps. Today in a miraculous feat I did 5 reps with the 100 lb dumbbell, which means today I surpassed my old pre-injury weight lifting record!! !

Now a caveat. This feat was accomplished by the side of my body that didnt sustain the injuries. Obviously if I try to put a 100 lb dumbbell in my injured side of my body, my left side, id break it. However that doesnt make this feat any less impressive. Because of the injuries I suffered in 2017 I stopped weight lifting, exercising and training altogether for a long time, and because the body uses symmetric compound muscles while executing a movement having even 1 side weakened or injured can have consequences that weaken the rest of the body.

Today I proved to the whole world and everyone who doubted me that hard work, grit, and a stubborn refusal to alter one's goals and expectations is the key to victory. Had I listened to the people telling me to adjust my goals, do therapy with some incompetent quack who'd probably just try to medicate me and use some BS and scientifically unproven DBT radical acceptance hogwash to make me accept mediocrity, had I followed the crowd instead of my own heart and inner voice refusing to shut up I wouldn't be here today celebrating a victory and triumph that I am right now.

To those of you with goals and big dreams, whether its finding a girlfriend like you Marknis, or getting that dream job, or anything that everyone tries telling you is outside of your reach so you need to adjust your goals, then here is my advice:

Yes, in life there are times when adjusting goals and expectations is the recommended advice and there is reason to it. However if you know you cant live life without your goals, if that voice in your head can only be satisfied one way and only one way, dont let anyone ever try to tell you to quash that soul and life inside of you and make you accept what you have the power to change. If I can do it, so can you.

To sum up it I end with a quote from my favorite series, Naruto, about the story of an underdog which motivated me in my underdog journey:

"Even a caged bird was smart enough and will be able to figure out how to open the door to its cage with its beak. It's too great to resist. The chance to fly and soar the skies free."

I won't pathologize you with a label. I just wanna say, you're nuts.

!	magz wrote:
	You know perfectly well it's inappropriate in The Haven - but as the OP seems fine with your comment, you're granted an exception.

Last edited by magz on 31 May 2021, 4:01 am, edited 1 time in total.: moderational note added

I say this as nicely as possible, but I think working out with a broken arm is dangerous.

As a David Goggins fan I take that as a compliment, sincerely.

Here are 2 messages from David Goggins that encapsulate articulately how I feel about being called nuts for choosing to strive for my goals even if its beyond belief:

I don't watch videos, salad, no offense. I just don't.

I'll probably be banned for my previous post (Hey, I can read rules as well as anybody else) but I compelled to say it anyway. I was pretty sure you wouldn't feel bad from it.

you're talking to a David Goggins fan, the same David Goggins who ran 100 miles with a broken knee in 18 hours. With only 2 days prep. As his 1st marathon ever in his life.

BTW for the record I didnt use my broken arm while working out. I'm determined, but not stupid. I used my unbroken arm while lifting and thats the arm I used to pull off my weightlifting record today.

Being called nuts and crazy for going above the norms and choosing to accomplish great feats is a compliment, like really, you dont even know that im feeling happy by your comment.

Being told im average, mediocre, common, etc. now thats what I take as an insult and thats what haunts me.

I'd gladly be called crazy because im succeeding against odds that no one can fathom overcoming - which is also why nearly all of the legends in history were called crazy - than be deemed normal for choosing to stay amongst the herd never choosing to go above and beyond the limits I know I can break.

To those who upon reading this post feel the urge to call me crazy, nuts, etc trust me when I say im not even bluffing when I say I take that as a compliment. To me hearing those words means im in the same caliber and tier as the other legends in history who were called crazy and labelled for going above the norm in pursuance of their goals even at a cost that was heavy, sometimes including death.

Frankly, running with a broken knee is stupid. You’re damaging your body for....a goal? People can do what they want but that’s just winning the Darwin awards.

I know you didn’t use you broken up, but still working out obsessively with an injury like that can only cause more issues. Especially if something else happened and you have one arm you can use.

Just don't hurt yourself now. You'll hit bigger goals once your not injured because the injury impacts the mechanics even if it's not directly involved.

Dont worry boss im playing it safe. However I still couldnt help but attempt a new weightlifting record and I broke it and now I feel unfettered!!

This victory is more psychological than physical. As someone who feels like im fettered by the bad circumstances life dealt me, this new record lift was about defying circumstances and sending a rebuff to the universe that wanted me to stay down while I wanted to show I still have more left in the tank.

I have no intention of playing it stupid and injuring myself. But that doesnt mean im not proud of myself for defying "instinct" telling me to wait and play it safe by choosing to go for a record lift even when all odds were against it.

"Instinct is a lie, told by a fearful body, wanting to be proven wrong." Quote from Zaheer, Legend of Korra.

Lol, I used to say the same about driving fast.

You say what David Goggins did is stupid, but tell me, if he succeeded and billions around the world hail him as a success and an icon of inspiration, did he really fail? The only award he's won so far is the billion gold medals from marathons he ran even while injured, which has inspired people like me recovering from my own injuries that I dont have to be chained by life circumstances that are unfavorable

even my workouts I do it smart. sure today I attempted a record, but that was only 1 time since 2017 after years of building up for this moment. I dont try to hit records every day, which would be stupid, but attempting a record with an unbroken arm after years of building up for this moment, sure its stupid from one POV, but its still legendary from another

Also remember this: name to me a legend and I promise you there is something in their biography that would earn your derision and insult of "winning a Darwin Award". The thing is none of them won any awards but the awards they won in life through greatness they pursued even at the cost of being called crazy.

You want examples?

David Goggins is only the most extreme case.

Sylvester Stallone trained so hard for Rocky 4 he had to do headstands to keep the blood reaching his head or else he would have been hospitalized

Every UFC fighter considering how common injuries are in the ring and training before matches

Oda Eicheiro, the creator of "One Piece" who has been hospitalized multiple times for lack of sleep working on his Manga which has become an international bestseller and the most sold manga in HISTORY

Movie star and legend Dwayne the Rock Johnson

And so many more people I cant even name a fraction of them. If to you these people would win a Darwin Award, know that none of them did but are killing it in life

I mean if you plan on joining NASCAR, I think the police won't mind a couple miles over the speed limit or 2 as practice.....

More like WRC, and when your commute home at 3-5 am looked like mine did police weren't the main worry. Especially in the winter.

If you texted while doing that then you might be as crazy as I am....key word being "might" be