Growth takes time. I was chatting this Sunday with one of my son’s wrestling coach, and I appreciated hearing his projections of where he will be with the sport by high school. Too often with young athletes (and kids, in general), we want to see immediate success. We forget that there is much growth and failure that needs to happen before lasting success occurs. My son is still a boy, though he is fast catching up to me in height. The real physical changes have yet to develop. Moreover, there is much growth that needs to happen emotionally. As a parent, I am learning to be patient.
As adults, we tend to forget that our own growth takes time. Until we are in the grave, there is room for growth Spiritually, Intellectually, and, yes, Emotionally and Socially. Even Physically, there is opportunity to progress.
Physically, unless we are already maintaining a high level of fitness, there is room to progress. True the gains may be much smaller and slower than they might have come in our 20s, but they can come. It is never too late to start. We just can’t expect overnight results—no matter what the fitness trainers promise.
We can add strength and, subsequently, muscle, if we train accordingly. It isn’t easy and the progress is very slow, but it can be done—even into our 50s and beyond. Diet and recovery are important, but the training stimulus must be specific to the desired results.
We can achieve a (healthy) lean physique, if so desired. We just can’t eat like a teenager in puberty and must make healthy food choices.
There is no reason why one has to age according to societal expectations. Age is not a disability. Disease and decline are not absolutes.
At any point in life, we can make the decision to be your best today and be better tomorrow. “Better” is a process. It requires patience.
Carpe momento!