Trying, Failing, Sweating, Repeating

A beginner’s take on fitness, discipline, and not letting it take over your personality.

I’ve never been the “David Goggins” or the newly famous Insta influencer “Ashton Hall” type — the wake-up-at-4am, run-till-your-knees-collapse, beast-mode machine. Honestly, I probably never will be. And I don’t have any desire to be. I’m not built like that and frankly, most of us aren’t.

But I do believe in showing up. Not perfectly. Just enough. Maybe even barely enough. But still — showing up. Fitness, for me, has never been about becoming superhuman. It’s been about trying. Failing. Sweating. Then trying again the next day — or at least trying to try.

Playing squash, swimming, and hockey through school taught me one thing: motion makes things better. A day that starts with movement feels like it has more rhythm to it. It’s not always about chasing six-packs or the infamous 220-pound bench press. Sometimes it’s just about that little endorphin hit that tells your brain: “we did something today.”

Of course, there are slip-ups. There always are. That’s what makes us human. Some days I oversleep (like today). Other days I lie to myself about “active recovery”... and skip again. But the key isn’t in never slipping — it’s in not letting one slip-up turn into a streak. If I miss a workout today, I try not to let it happen again tomorrow. That’s the deal I make with myself. Doesn’t sound too hard, right?

Discipline and motivation both matter — one gets you started, the other keeps you going. Scientifically speaking, regular exercise boosts dopamine and endorphins, which not only improve mood but also build that “stick-to-it” muscle over time. Stack that with decent sleep and mindful eating, and you’re already building momentum.

But here’s what no one tells you: Don’t let fitness become your entire identity.
Don’t let it swallow you and spit you out as a walking protein-shake quote. Let it sharpen you, not define you. Let it stabilise you. Let it give you discipline you can carry into everything else.

I’m no expert. I don’t have an athlete’s body or a three-hour workout routine. I’m just like a lot of people out there — trying to feel a little stronger, look a little better, and stay sane while doing it.

This isn’t about becoming someone else.
It’s about becoming extraordinary enough to shine — just a little.
That’s all I’m chasing right now.

And if you’re reading this, maybe you are too.