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How Tall is Your Tree?

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What do you guys do when your bored? When I’m bored, I NEED to find something to keep myself busy or I’ll eat the entire pantry. NO, seriously. The ENTIRE pantry. Yes, even the stale Cocoa Puffs, I don’t discriminate. These days, I’ll just study for my CPT exam or work on my blog when I’m bored, however I also love to read Reddit Fitness. Not only is it extremely interesting, some of these guys are also hilariously witty. You should check it out. Every once in a while, something someone says really sticks out to me, and I actually learn something. That happened a few days ago, and I wanted to share it with you guys here.

I was reading a thread about how this guy in his mid 20’s wished that he had started lifting when he was 16. He wondered where he’d be now and how much different he would look and feel had he started 8+ years ago. His original post was followed by many others agreeing with him and wishing they could go back in time, too. I kept scrolling when I came across a quote one of the guy’s had posted after saying he should have started lifting years ago too. He said he has to remind himself, “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is right now.” To me, that SCREAMED blog post. Some of the guys began to debate why the second best time would be right now and not 19 years and 364 days ago, or 19 years, 364 days and 23 hours ago and so on. Well, that’s easy. While that’s true, you STILL can’t go back in time which would make RIGHT NOW the second best time that is STILL POSSIBLE. And now. And NOW.

So, I can relate to this thinking. I’ve thought it, many times. But, atleast I started 3 years ago. I could look back in 8 years and say man, why didn’t I worry about my health when I was still only 24? Well, I won’t have to. With that being said, you can literally apply this way of thinking to practically any subject. I’ve applied it to school many times. I’ve thought to myself, “why didn’t I just pick a major when I was 18 and stick with it?” or “Man, I wish I had finished college.” (I have my AA but I’m talking actual degree.) I’ve also thought, “I wish I had done this CPT thing right out of high school, I’d have been doing it for 6 years already…”

As I sit here contemplating this statement, I realize there’s no reason to harp on the past. What’s done is done, right? We can’t travel back in time. We can’t change the choices we have already made. We tend to play this “what if” game with ourselves that will literally eat us alive from the inside. I’d also like to mention that I’m a firm believer in “Everything happens for a reason.” I used to hate it. People would say it to me when I wouldn’t get into a school program I wanted, when my mom was diagnosed with cancer, when job opportunities didn’t pan out and yadda yadda yadda. I’ll be the first one to tell you that is totally frustrating in the moment. As time passed, however, I realized that there really was a reason for every door that shut. Don’t let that stop you from planting your tree. It definitely won’t happen if you don’t even try.

My advice? The best thing to do is to plant whatever tree you’re thinking about RIGHT NOW. What do you wanna do? Where do you want to go? Who do you want to be? Don’t put it off any longer. DO IT. Plant that freaking tree, water the heck out of it, give it plenty of sunshine and watch that sucker grow! Your future self will thank you AND it will save you from tormenting yourself in 10 years! That’s my two cents for this week 🙂 Back to studying!

Until Next time…

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I'm an NASM Certified Personal Trainer and Corrective Exercise Specialist. I worked in a gym setting back in Florida for over 2 years, training one-on-one clients and leading group fitness classes. I absolutely loved it, but once we moved across the country to Colorado, I decided to take the opportunity to pursue a slightly different career! My obsession with exercise and love for writing collided, which is how I became a fitness lifestyle writer.

4 Comments

  1. Lori

    May 21, 2015 at 10:32 am

    Great advice Erin! I planted my tree 4 months ago when I decided I really needed to get healthy and in shape. Since mid January I have lost 15 pounds and although I have not yet adopted the “Macro” way of eating, I really watch what I eat. My husband and I have been enjoying long marathon bike rides on the weekend (either Saturday or Sunday. One day, according to his Odometer, we went 30 miles. I belong to a gym also but lately work has been a little crazy, but will get back to it again soon (work, my excuse always). Look forward to another post.

    Lori

    • Chinups_and_Cupcakes

      May 21, 2015 at 10:55 am

      Thanks MOM! (You are allowed to let people know that you’re my mom, you know?) Anyhow, you guys have done a great job! It’s clear, just by looking at you, and DAD, that you have lost weight! I’m glad you guys have found joy in bike riding. It’s a great form of exercise + if you find it fun it’s even better. It’s extremely important to enjoy what you do. Keep it up!

  2. Dave

    May 21, 2015 at 6:01 pm

    I agree with that Lori lady 🙂
    Great advice Erin, it took me many years to realize that things do happen for a reason, even if we don’t understand or agree with it at the time. I love reading your blog, keep up the good work!

  3. Linda

    May 22, 2015 at 7:35 am

    This blog really hit home for me. It seems every summer comes so quickly, and I think…”Why didn’t I get going sooner!” How does that song go….”If I knew then what I know now”. I would have planted my tree for my health,not for the summer beach season! I started the IIFYM about three weeks ago. I really love it and I can see this is a more doable and permanent way of eating! Thank you so much for sharing your passion! 🙂

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