As a society, we love heroes. They are everywhere – on TV, in movies, and in the sports we watch. The idea of someone swooping in at the last minute to save the day is something that has long been romanticized by our culture.
The pandemic has lasted almost a year-and-a-half now. It has been long, and it has been physically, mentally, and emotionally hard on a lot of people. Many of us probably feel like we are not at our best. Maybe we have gained weight, maybe we don’t feel mentally sharp, maybe we’ve lost touch with people who are important to us, or maybe we feel worn down, tired, slow, and unmotivated. If this is you, it’s okay; we have all been there. I have been there at times over the last year-and-a-half, but here is the truth: no one is coming to save you. Read that again. No one is coming to save you. You are going to get back in shape, lose the weight, improve your mental game, reconnect with people, and feel better because YOU are going to make the choice to do it.
You are the hero of your story, this is your movie, and this is your time. There is not a person on this planet who can magically make everything better; the trainer at your gym, the person whose book you read, the influencer on Instagram who promised you could lose 20 pounds in two weeks – they cannot save you.
I have worked in this industry for almost 20 years and I can honestly tell you that I cannot save you. I can help you – if you need help, reach out. I am happy to help in any way that I can, and I truly, sincerely mean that. In the end, though, you will not make it because I or anyone else saved you. It will be because you made the choice – you made the choice to exercise, you made the choice to eat better, and you made the choice to reach out and seek help.
You are the hero; you are the only one who can save yourself. Can we lean on others? Absolutely. Having a support system is extremely important, but remember; they can help, but they cannot do it for you.
There is a common misconception that motivation precedes the action, but it does not work like that. If we wait for the motivation, we will wait forever.
Just start – the action comes first. Start even if you do not feel like it, and once you start, keep going. Even if it feels like you are crawling some days, keep going and the motivation will come. Once a little progress is made, then the motivation comes. The more progress, the more motivation. Keep going and you will become unstoppable.
If this pandemic has been tough and you find yourself down in a hole and in a place you do not like, do not wait. No one is coming to pull you out. I cannot pull you out. I can help. I can throw down your cape, but you must make the decision to put that cape on and be the hero that your life needs. You’ve got this; I believe in you. Afterall, you are a hero.
Until next time,
Strength, Courage, Hustle, Commitment
AJ Zeglen
This article was originally published in the Game On magazine – Manitoba’s hockey community magazine.
