I’ll admit it openly that I have fallen off of the exercise wagon this summer. Grandiose hopes of more time and fewer distractions turned into shut off alarms and Netflix watching. Although there were spurts of activity, I have fallen short of my own standard for acceptability in both frequency and duration of exercise. Today I began the climb out of that hole.
After completing my run and heading for the gym, I walked by this structure on the right. I’m not really sure what it is. It is on the site of an old fish hatchery. So it might have held feed at one point or possibly it is a type of water tower. Regardless of its function, I can pretty honestly say that I have never noticed it before. Despite having many activities as a youth and an adult less than a hundred yards away, it was invisible to me. If I had noticed it at a younger age, it might have been something that I would have climbed or pretended was a fort or bunker. Now it is useless to me.
In many ways this experience mirrors that which happens to all of us at one point or another. We discover things about ourselves which were in plain sight for most people to see. However we become so accustomed to ourselves that we don’t notice. We don’t notice that we can be confident, intelligent, funny or courageous until that trait is covered with rust and overgrowth. It seems useless to us because it would take so much effort to change it, repair it and use it. It is not too late.
The rust and neglect of the past cannot compare with the continuous action of now. The picture that you have of yourself may be old and only representative of your past. Much like when we look at our yearbooks, it is easy to see that we are no longer the same. We are always evolving into new people. That evolution can come about by chance or by choice. So as you look at yourself today, find those things that are hiding in plain sight. Find your passion, your strength, your courage and charisma. It is waiting for you to pull away the leaves and polish off the rust. The same old you is always available if that’s who you want to be.
Enjoy the weekend!
Pete
Huryk Unlimited 