You’re Not Starting Over, You’re Picking Back Up

Back after a break? Read this.

We all fall off the wagon from time to time. Or maybe we take time off for other reasons. Whether that be with our training, nutrition, stretching… ahem, or some other thing that you’re doing.

It happens, it’s not the best, but it’s not the end of the world. Often we can frame it in our mind as starting over, but I do like to think of it as picking back up. No matter ho

w long a break you may have had form something, if you were doing it before then, you’re not really starting from scratch or the beginning, you’re picking back up that habit or thing you did for yourself.

It’s been a pretty long while since I picked up my guitar. Every time I think about it or look at it’s beauty, I get those feelings of guilt. The thing I used to do for hours and hours a day, now just gathering dust. But when, and it’s definitely a when, I [pick up the guitar to play again, I won’t be starting from the beginning. 

Amazingly, I did pick up the guitar again after probably over a year, maybe more. I can’t even play anywhere near the standard I used to but, I tell you what, it’s pretty incredible what muscle memory is still there. I could play some simpler songs, still hold and tune and rhythm, but I guess my speed and endurance to play were certainly not there. Similar to training for sports funnily enough, they’re often the first things to go. 

I don’t know where the quote came from but, you only fail if you stop trying. So pick it back up.

Anyway, falling off the wagon is part of any process, it’s rare to find anyone who’s 100% dedicated and doesn’t have some form of break due to a variety of reasons. 

If that’s you, It's ok. Trust me, it’s ok. I’ve been there many, many times, with different things. So you re-frame it. You pick back up the thing. You enjoy doing the thing, and you can take it to an even better level than before.

I’m certainly aiming to be in the best shape of my life before I hit 40, and then just try to improve. 

If you’re needing a nudge to pick back up, or need support, or even just a chat. I’m here for you. I get not much of a greater feeling than watching clients boss it in the gym, so yeah. I guess I know it’s hard, but as Glennon Doyle popularised, we can do hard things. 

Lawrence x