Saturday morning Blakley and I (along with a hundred or so others) did the “Polar Plunge & 5K” here in our town.

The premise is simple. Run 5,000 meters, then jump in the frigid creek at the finish line.

Blakley eased into the water and paddled around. I went for the cannonball method. Click the photo below to watch.

I don’t want to get too deep on a Monday morning, but as we were running the race, I just kept thinking about how grateful I am.

And even though it might sound like a pat on my own back, I’m proud of myself too.

I’m grateful because I have no physical limitations that stop me from enjoying my daily life.

If I want to jump off our deck and play chase with the dogs, I can.

If I need to lift a heavy piece of furniture for Blakley, I can.

If I want to hike the Manitou Incline on my birthday or run 3 miles on Saturday, I can.

I’m grateful to God for protecting my health thus far, and especially for protecting me during the accident I had in 2022. Not everyone is as fortunate.

I’m grateful to Blakley for setting the example of making exercise part of daily life.

If it weren’t for her, I would undoubtedly be in an entirely different (aka worse) condition.

If you didn’t know, I was about 40 pounds heavier and grossly out of shape when we got married in 2002. The fact that she fell in love with me should tell you just how hilarious I am.

I’m proud of myself because, well… I’m the one who did, and continues to do, the work.

I’m the one who has lifted the weights.

I’m the one who educated myself about nutrition.

I’m the one who became a person who has health and fitness woven throughout his identity.

That’s the thing about losing weight, getting strong, getting healthy…

No one can do it for you.

You have to earn it.

Sure, you can take a shot that will make you skinny, but modern medicine will never invent a passive treatment that makes you strong, capable, and confident.

The only way you can earn those is to become the person whose daily actions, choices, and habits align with the person you’re trying to become.

And that’s not easy.

Most people want the end result that I’ve talked about in this email.

Strength, ability, freedom, health…

But they fail to look beyond that result and decide if they’re willing to become a different person to have it all.

James Clear says:

“You might start a habit because of motivation, but the only reason you’ll stick with one is that it becomes part of your identity. Anyone can convince themselves to visit the gym or eat healthy once or twice, but if you don’t shift the belief behind the behavior, then it’s hard to stick with long-term change. Improvements are only temporary until they become part of who you are.”

On this Monday, which somehow feels like the first day of the year, ask yourself what you want.

The frustrating and fleeting results of starting another diet or unrealistic workout plan?

Or do you want to become a person who’s grateful and proud of what their body can do for the rest of their life?

The latter is what Digitla Barbell is all about.

Lift heavy, and be nice.

Jonathan