Today, on Student’s Spot, I’m not gonna discuss tips, hacks, or any guides. Today is a day of thanksgiving and commemoration for me. Today’s article will not aim to articulate, it is meant to inspire. May 27th, 2022, the transformation of the new person began.
I think a person has two lives. The first is when he is physically born, and the second is when he realizes he has one to take full responsibility for. Exactly a year ago, I began my first gym session. And exactly a year ago also, Student’s Spot was born. And these two changed my life forever. As such, I will first off offer my heartfelt gratitude for the fellow reader that you have been, because taking a chance to listen to what I have means a LOT to me. So, thank you for one.
Now I just want to summarize my self-improvement journey for you fellows out there, because while I am nowhere near the best, I pulled myself out of a pit of insecurity, laziness, procrastination, weakness, and complacency. And I hope this piece helps some souls out there to rise like I did.
About 2 years ago, I was a prideful, self-absorbed, complacent, and lazy individual. Right now, I still am, but to a much lower extent. The first year of my arc, I studied hard to improve my grades. It was nowhere near easy, but I’m grateful for my past self that chose to sacrifice instant gratification to improve his life. Then, exactly a year ago, I hit the gym for the first time in my life. It was the most compulsive decision I ever took. If there was one thing I was good at, it was making fast decisions. The need to hit the gym entered my mind, and I didn’t think twice. Packed a water bottle, and a towel and headed straight for the gym, intending to pay with coins for the entry fee. That’s how compulsive it was. I had to phone my father to transfer money into my public gym account on the spot. I was just that impulsive.
And it was the best decision of my life.
I stumbled around the gym, using the machines wrongly, trying to do some of Arnold’s moves, and it was embarrassing. But also absolutely rewarding. The blast of dopamine from that workout session was astounding. My brain was clear and sharp as it had never been before. And there was an unshakable sense of peace in me. The neurochemicals exercise releases do that to you. And as I’m writing this article, I’m also getting ready to go to the gym I had my first session at.
Over this year, I’ve lost about 15 kilograms of fat and gained 12 kilograms of muscle. Big change. Not only did every session help me "fight my demons", but my brain was sharp as a sword after each session, which catapulted my productivity by miles. And I absolutely loved it. Not only that, the confidence of having a more physically aesthetic, capable physique is a feeling everyone deserves to have.
"It is a disgrace to grow old through sheer carelessness before seeing what manner of man you may have become by developing your bodily strength and beauty to their highest limit,"
-Socrates
So if you don't have a good exercise routine, find one that works for you.
Now just a small recount on my experience running this website. I absolutely love it, thanks to you, the reader. Every time someone texts or tells me they found this helpful, I just feel so immensely proud and grateful for the opportunities I have had. And every time I feel stressed or sad, it's the first vice I come to. Putting my experiences into order, and calming down my mind to extract the wisdom from it is something that keeps me focused, in flow. Not a second has this website felt like "work". It's probably the only thing I genuinely enjoy doing and expect nothing in return. And I've also found meaning in writing such articles because helping others and serving your community is one of the ways you can find meaning and purpose. So you need to find yourself something so meaningful and fulfilling, and you will find it when you want to serve. So serve.
Exactly a year ago, I changed my life. If you are reading, I wish to receive a message from you in exactly one year from now that you managed to change your life. And I say with 100% certainty that it would be the happiest moment of my life.
The fellow student will be back.
Signing off
Your fellow student.