Building a Better Jay

Man, I woke up Friday feeling a bit off.  Within a few hours, my nose was drippy and I was sneezing.  Then came the sore throat.  Then the overall feeling of complete and utter ick.  By the time I got home on Friday, I was ready to head straight to bed.  Needless to say, there was no workout.  I spent most of Saturday in bed except for the few errands I had to run and spending a little time playing games with my son.  Sunday was better - a little.  I actually ate normally and felt better, much better, as the day progressed.  Today, finally, I feel "good".  Not perfect, but good.  I hate being sick.  …why am I always sick over here?  It is getting really annoying (and difficult).  Regardless, I think I’ll make it to the gym today.  Of course, we’ll have to wait and see what other new germs are waiting for me before I get home!

I have always defined myself by my goals.  When I was in HS, I was a runner trying to qualify for States.  When I was in college, I was a student trying to get excellent grades and enjoy the experience.  After college, I was a triathlete trying to complete an Ironman.  After that, I was trying to qualify for IM Hawaii.  Then I was trying to be simply the best man I can be.  A few years went by, and then I was trying to be the best bodybuilder I could be until I moved to Germany.  Then, something happened.  I was forced to give up trying to be anything except a father, a husband, and an employee.  I was taken out of my comfort zone and forced back into providing the basics for my family.  I did what I had to do, made everyone as comfortable as they can be, and now I am able to get back to being a bodybuilder again.  Sure, while we are here the other stuff will require significantly more effort, but it’s at a place now where I feel like I can fit in more time and focus on myself again.  Of course, my priorities do now and will always remain with my family, but at some point one has to remember themselves as well.  Sometimes, it is important to be a bit selfish.  Back to my point.  Goals.  I have lots of them.  Specific to this site, though, let’s focus on bb’ing.    My problem right now is the lack of a concrete goal.  As I said in my last blog, I want to start to look around for a competition.  Well, I haven’t found any amateur, natural comps.  So, I’m thinking I need to at least set a goal for when I get back to the US.  I won’t arrive until July 2010.  No way I can cut during the move and still be sane.  After I get back, I have to settle down a bit and then we can talk about competing.  So, I estimate that will be by the end of 2010.  So, I’ll have to find something in the SC area in 2011, preferably late spring or early summer.  …more research is needed.  The point is, if I set this goal, then I can start setting intermediate goals.  …and I love goals.