Theme: I Can
Acknowledging our inner skills and strengths
Chapter 1: Strength & Abdominal Muscles
Everyone is amazing or the best at something to somebody. Whether they know it, or are able to believe it, or not. I knew a guy briefly over the years who had a lot bad happen to him and around him. And he no longer found value in life last year, and so he left his. Willingly and with clear eyes. I don’t fault him, and I’m sure there was nothing I could have done to change his mind. I was barely a blip in the saga of his life, but he always stood out in my memories as just unbelievably kind, and, like, so cool cuz he was a couple years older than me in high school, and had lots of friends, and played sports and had the nice muscles to go with that. And what kinda guy like that in high school was also a nice, friendly person? I was fortunate enough to get to spend some time with him again later at our 10 year reunion, and man that guy gave the best hugs. Just these full bear-hug, lift-you-off-the-ground, doesn’t-see-your-faults, just cares about you, giant hugs that make all your troubles drift away. I was really looking forward to my 20 year reunion, and hoping to see him again for a day played a part in that. And when covid hit, and plans started getting cancelled, life started taking more and more effort, and more plans got cancelled, and the reunion was cancelled, and then news of his death made the rounds, I wished more than anything I could just tell him that his life was a bright spot in my memories. That he mattered to me. That I still desperately crave his hugs.
Strength
A huge part of our self esteem can get wrapped up in our appearance. What we think other people see in us. Our six-pack goals and photo shoots with perfect lighting. I don’t know that any of us ever fully stop feeling like that nerdy freshman that really appreciates one cool older kid being kind. So if I choose to work hard to build up my core and have super strong abs, I’m going to do it so I can pass along what someone else gave me until he couldn’t give anymore: the world’s best fucking hug.
Below are some different ways to take care of your core. Whether any of us ever see the effort of the six-pack underneath, we all know the strength it takes to keep on trying.
Jet Tries 