What The Fu*k Do We Do This For?

Lost In The Algorithms — Odyssey # 45

Facing the final six weeks of a bodybuilding competition, the concept of success intensifies, embodying Pressfield’s notion of a delayed reward, a silent companion to the toil and sweat. It’s an elusive beast, often arriving long after the work is done, more challenging than brain surgery because it demands the essence of one’s soul.

The fight is a daily skirmish with inner demons, a tangible presence I battle with every rep, every word penned, and every moment with my daughter… hoping someday she’ll understand.

Steven Pressfield’s words haunt me as I reflect on success this morning.

Success isn’t about the trophy or the end game; it’s the relentless grind, the dance with darkness, and the shaping of a soul through fire and ink.

A life of pain wrapped up in chains. Fatherhood and writing, my sanctuaries, intertwine with the sinew and spirit of competition, crafting a mosaic of experiences that define more than just a moment of triumph but a lifetime of battles fought and lessons learned.

In the crucible of competition, life’s true success story is written, not in the gleam of gold but in the resilience of a heart that refuses to yield to the specter of doubt.

GK