Two Eyes

A question I get repeatedly these days, especially when I share that my first show isn’t for 5-6 months, is “why aren’t you competing now?” My reply usually includes the sentiment of “what’s the rush?” Isn’t this a journey, and one with no end at that? There’s always more to do, improvements to make – I want to be able to focus on each element fully with two eyes, sans rushing, and enter competitions with a bang.

24/7 Sport

Bodybuilding is already a 24/7 sport, 3 sports in one as I previously wrote about. Compared to my ultrarunning workouts, I spend much less time doing actual workouts, but my focus on nailing nutrition is 24/7, and posing practice takes extra thought and attention. Each of these parts takes time to develop.

Workouts

Muscle takes time to grow. I add the 1% each day, two eyes fully focused on the work – it is a process that cannot be rushed and adding muscle is my primary goal. My conditioning is there, which is why I am constantly asked why I am not competing now. BUT – this sport isn’t a leanness contest! I want to get this right.

Nutrition

Nutrition requires time to take effect. That’s basic biology. Each week my coach assesses my progress and tweaks things, helping match my every increasing metabolism to my results. Two eyes on my progress, nothing else in the way.

We are laser focused, like this beautiful boy. I want to hug him, too!

Posing

Posing, well that takes a lot more than two eyes! This is the hardest part, hands down, and the most important to get right. As a lifelong professional musician, I understand the process of long-term practice with meticulous attention to detail. Patience, repetition, this is where the ability to enjoy the journey shines.

Two Eyes

Aiming towards a goal is about enjoying the journey, sinking into the process, and setting aside the outcome. This is about having two eyes on the daily grind, chopping wood and carrying water, eating elephants, and controlling the controllables.

One Eye

If I were to enter a show now, I’d have to split my vision. I’d have one eye focusing on the push to quickly prepare my posing, tighten up my body for the stage, etc. leaving only one eye for continuing on my overarching journey. This would result in a longer journey overall.

“The reason it takes longer is because with one eye on the goal, you only have one eye for the journey.

If people who climb ice mountains…are focused on the top of the mountain they will not know where to step in front of them. They will slip and die. The key to ice climbing is to focus on one solid step at a time. “No man climbs a mountain all at once. He climbs it by making one solid step at a time.”

– Joshua Medcalf, Chop Wood Carry Water

Patience

Learning patience can be a difficult experience, but once conquered you will find life easier.

– Catherine Pulsifer

Yes, oh, yes yes yes! Ask anyone from my younger years and they will tell you that I was a notoriously impatient person. Now, I am 180º different and absolutely love the tasty savoriness of patience. I love the anticipation of holidays, birthdays, surprises, watching my kids grow up (please slow down!), and now the journey of the work, and, can you believe this – the wait for my body to heal. This is a time that is delicious, vibrant, and alive.

Two Eyes on a Mission

For me, this pursuit is much more than a goal – it is a mission with so much attached to it. This isn’t something that I will get to the end of and then wonder “now what?” This has purpose separate from the outcome. I’ll dig into that more deeply in an upcoming post, but for now, understand that I am passionately enjoying every mundane step of the journey, fully supported by my family, and when the time is right to compete, the time will be right. For now, I have my two eyes focused where they need to be.

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