Monday, October 31, 2022

This week’s newsletter is a bit of a wild ride. Enjoy!

“A mask tells us more than a face.” -Oscar Wilde

We are, or will become, what we think of ourselves. We are, or will become, how we present ourselves. We get to decide. Decisions aren’t limitless. They are actually quite rare. We don’t get to decide our level of athleticism or intellect. We don’t get to decide our facial structure or height. You might be thinking, “Well, some people take steroids, earn multiple degrees, or get plastic surgery.” Let’s peel the mask off and explore what lies underneath.

Steroids enhance physical capabilities. Earning a bachelor’s, master’s, doctorate, and beyond means someone worked hard and is smart. Lip injections and facial reconstructions will literally change the structure of your face. But all of these examples are masks, and some present more negatives than others. They are temporary solutions and they require additional maintenance over time.

Steroids are injected in cycles, with great health risks and waves of effectiveness. Cycling off means loss of muscle mass and training production. A common mistake that people make is thinking that a supplement or performance enhancement drug will do the hard work for you. It is actually the opposite. These substances allow people to work harder. It is a misconception that things get easier. Instead of agreeing or disagreeing with the use of steroids, consider the pros and cons, and unveil the reality of the mask.

The long list of academic credentials speaks for itself. Is a bachelor’s enough? Might as well get the master’s too. And a doctorate is a terminal degree, you can’t go higher than that in terms of commitment and intellect. I tend to agree that degrees and intensive academic learning are very valuable. The experiences associated with critical thinking alongside peer networks is difficult to recreate in other settings. But they also cost money. A lot of money. Scholarship or not, there are additional costs for living, class materials, and more. It’s a funny comparison, but like steroids, earning a degree sets you up for opportunities to work even harder. Earning a degree is something I am proud of and others should be too. Understand it does not necessarily qualify us for the job we have after graduation. The work does not end with the injection or the completion of one, two, or three degrees. It begins.

Finally, reconstructive surgery often requires follow up surgery or injections to maintain the desired aesthetic of the “perfect” jawline, for example. You will heal from the operation(s). You will most likely succeed in changing your appearance for the “better”. However, it does not make the process and commitment to a healthy lifestyle easier. Your body will still react to poor sleep, diet, and exercise, which typically leads to weight gain. And the process begins again.

This may not feel like the most optimistic newsletter to date. I am not criticizing the choices people make or trying to invalidate the reasons behind our decisions. Sometimes these choices make sense. But behind these masks are people who were originally very strong, smart, and/or beautiful. Regardless of their reasoning for enhancing certain traits they already had, it is important to emphasize that who they were and who they are should make them happy.

The first person you meet every morning is the newest version of you. Yesterday is gone, so I challenge you to believe that the possibilities of today are endless. Be proud of what you have accomplished or what you are working towards and work hard to understand them fully. Optimism usually feels good, but we also have to push past the fluff of motivational quotes and feel good phrases. Before you commit to things, consider a wide range of pros and cons. You might look good with steroids or plastic surgery, and you might feel accomplished from earning several degrees. But make sure you always appreciate your current strength, beauty, and intellect and consider both sides of the equation.

A question to start your Halloween right:

When you wake up, what do you do first, who are you, and what do you change about yourself before you head out the door?

My Answer:

When I wake up, I check the time. I make sure my family is still asleep. I get out of bed and change into the workout clothes I organized the night before. I also think to myself:

“I am grateful for good sleep. I am grateful for another workout. I am grateful for another day.”

Our thoughts and actions at the start of our day can make or break our mood and relationship with ourselves and how we handle things. On this Halloween, I of course am reminded of candy, costumes, and staying up late on school nights. But I am also conscious of the masks I wear and what I am grateful for before I put them on. You should be too. Don’t trick yourself, treat yourself. (ha-ha) Happy Halloween!