Heavy Words & The Weight of Comparison

Lost In The Algorithms-Odyssey # 34

Teddy Roosevelt said, “Comparison is the thief of joy.” I bet Teddy never had to prep for a bodybuilding competition or wrestle with a novel with more twists than Lombard Street. But the man did leave a mark on the world.

Staring down the barrel 12 weeks from my bodybuilding competition, it’s easy to get tangled in the vines of self-comparison. Each glimpse in the mirror becomes a high-stakes poker game against past versions of myself.

But it’s not just the iron and sweat talking. There’s this other beast I’m wrestling with — a novel proving to be a more formidable opponent than any barbell.

This incessant measuring up against yesterday’s shadow or the fictional heroes in my head — it’s a one-way ticket to self-doubt. But in a moment of clarity or desperation, I reached out for a lifeline — a coach.

Not just any run-of-the-mill Fitfluencer on social media, but a veritable Yoda of the gym. Someone to cut through the noise and recalibrate my compass when the landmarks of progress seem shrouded in fog.

This isn’t just about physical prowess or literary acclaim. It’s about the relentless pursuit of something just beyond reach. Whether chiseling my physique into a Greek statue or weaving a…