Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Merry Christmas, Bob - by Chris Shugart

It's an article that worth to keep in mind.

"So, what are you doing for a living these days?" Bob asked me. We're sitting on the couch at one of those tedious holiday get-togethers, you know, the ones where you're supposed to be nice to family members you never see except during major holidays and funerals. I think Bob is my wife's brother-in-law's second cousin or something.
"I'm the assistant editor and a writer for Testosterone magazine," I say. Bob looks at me with a blank expression on his face, as if I'd just told him I sell handmade testicle warmers beside the freeway and was looking to open franchises across the nation.
"It's a bodybuilding magazine," I say.
Blank expression. Deer caught in the headlights. Ronnie Coleman doing trigonometry.
"Oh," Bob finally says, "I heard you were, like, one of those bodybuilder guys or something. So, what's that like, you know, working out every day and stuff? I just don't have time to lift weights all day, but I have been meaning to get rid of this beer belly." He takes another sip of beer. "What do you suggest?" Sip.
At first I was a little offended. I wanted to grab him up and say, "You can't tell I'm a bodybuilder?! Look at my ass! Now, if that's not a nice round squat-built piece of sirloin, I don't know what is! You think that comes naturally? I can crack walnuts with this puppy! Wanna see? Huh, punk? Do ya? Do ya?"
Then I realize this just might cause a scene and could cost me several Christmas presents. I was planning on returning any presents I got and using the money to buy a power rack, so I didn't want to jeopardize this gift getting opportunity. I also realized that old Bob probably had a certain preconceived image of a bodybuilder and I just didn't fit that image. I'm not gorilla huge; I weigh about 205 at 5'11" right now. (When I first started lifting I was a pudgy 159, so that's not too shabby.) Also, I wasn't wearing clown pants, a fluorescent string tank top, a hanky on my head and one of those little fanny packs. And isn't that what real bodybuilders are supposed to wear?
Bob continued to sit there drinking his Natural Light, smoking a cigarette and waiting for an answer, oblivious to the fact that he'd come this close to seeing some serious walnut- crunching ass power. I tried to figure out how I could explain to the average guy what the typical T-Man does and why he does it. How could I get him to understand what it is we do, how we feel, how we live? So I took a deep breath and told him something like this:
"Well, Bob, I guess you could use the term bodybuilder if you really need a label for what it is we do. Most of us actually don't stand on stage and compete, though. We lift weights and manipulate our diets so that we'll look good naked. Sure, it's healthy too, and we'll probably live a longer and more productive life than the average guy, but mostly it's about the naked thing. Truthfully, it goes beyond even that.
"Let's be honest here. We do it because of people like you, Bob. We look at you sitting there with your gut hanging over your belt and we watch you grunt and groan just getting out of a chair. Guys like you are our inspiration, Bob. You're better than Anthony Robbins, Bill Phillips, Deepak Chopra, and Zig fucking Ziglar all wrapped up into one. We love it when guys like you talk about not having time to exercise. Every time we see you munching on a bag of potato chips, you inspire us. You're my shot in the arm, Bob, my living and breathing wake-up call, my own personal success coach.
"You want to know what it is we do? We overcome. We're too busy to train, too, but we overcome. We're too busy to prepare healthy meals and eat them five or six times a day, but we overcome. We can't always afford supplements, our genetics aren't perfect, and we don't always feel like going to the gym. Some of us used to be just like you, Bob, but guess what? We've overcome.
"We like to watch 'normal' people like you tell us about how they can't get in shape. We smile and nod sympathetically like we feel your pain, but actually, we're thinking that you're a pathetic piece of shit that needs to grow a spine and join a gym. You smile sheepishly and say that you just can't stay motivated and just can't stand that feeling of being sore. (For some reason you think that admitting your weaknesses somehow justifies them.) We listen to you bitch and moan. We watch you look for the easy way out. Because of people like you, Bob, we never miss a workout.
"You ask us for advice about diet and training and usually we politely offer some guidance, but deep inside we know you won't take our advice. You know that too. We smile and say, 'Hope that helps. Good luck,' but actually we're thinking, 'Boy, it would suck to be you.' We know that 99% of people won't listen to us. Once they hear that it takes hard work, sacrifice and discipline, they stop listening and tune us out.
"We know they wanted us to say that building a great body is easy, but it just isn't. This did not take five minutes a day on a TorsoTrack. We did not get this way in 12 short weeks using a Bowflex and the Suzanne Somers' 'Get Skinny' diet. A good body does not cost five easy payments of $39.95.
"We like it that while you're eating a candy bar and drinking Mountain Dew, we're sucking down a protein shake. You see, that makes it taste even better to us. While you're asleep we're either getting up early or staying up late, hitting the iron, pushing ourselves, learning, succeeding and failing and rising above the norm with every rep. Can you feel that, Bob? Can you relate? No? Good. This wouldn't be half as fun if you could.
"We do it because we absolutely and totally get off on it. We do it because people like you, Bob, either can't or won't. We do it because what we do in the gym transfers over into the rest of our lives and changes us, physically, mentally, maybe even spiritually. We do it because it beats watching fishing and golf on TV. By the way, do you know what it's like to turn the head of a beautiful woman because of the way you're built? It feels good, Bob. Damned good.
"When we're in the gym, we're in this indescribable euphoria zone. It's a feeling of being on, of being completely alive and aware. If you haven't been there, then it's like trying to describe color to a person who's been blind since birth. Within this haze of pleasure and pain, there's knowledge and power, self-discipline and self-reliance. If you do it long enough, Bob, there's even enlightenment. Sometimes, the answers to questions you didn't even know you had are sitting there on those rubber mats, wrapped up in a neat package of iron plates and bars.
"Want to lose that beer belly, Bob? I have a nutty idea. Put down the fucking beer. I'll tell you what, Bob. Christmas morning I'm getting up real early and hitting the iron. I want to watch my daughter open her presents and spend the whole day with her, so this is the only time I have to train. The gym will be closed, so I'm going out in my garage to workout. You be at my house at six in the morning, okay? I'll be glad to help you get started on a weight training program. It'll be colder than Hillary Clinton's coochie in there, so dress warm.
"But let me tell you something, Bob. If you don't show up, don't bother asking me again. And don't you ever sit there and let me hear you bitch about your beer belly again. This is your chance, your big opportunity to break out of that rut. If you don't show up, Bob, you've learned a very important lesson about yourself, haven't you? You won't like that lesson.
"You won't like that feeling in the pit of your stomach either or that taste in your mouth. It will taste worse than defeat, Bob. Defeat tastes pretty goddamned nasty, but what you'll be experiencing will be much worse. It will be the knowledge that you're weak, mentally and physically. What's worse is that you'll have accepted that feeling. The feeling will always be with you. In the happiest moments of your life, it'll be there, lying under the surface like a malignant tumor. Ignore it at your own peril, Bob.
"Don't look at me like that either. This just may be the best Christmas present you'll get this year. Next Christmas, Bob, when I see you again, I'm going to be a little bigger, a little stronger, and a little leaner. What will you be? Will you still be making excuses? This is a gift, Bob, from me to you. I'm giving you the chance to look fate in those pretty eyes of hers and say, 'Step off, bitch. This is my party and you're not invited.' What do you say, Bob? Monday, Christmas morning, 6am, my house. The ball's in your court."
Okay, so maybe that's not the exact words I used with Bob, but you get the picture. Will Bob show up Monday? I don't know, but I kind of doubt it. In fact, Bob will probably take me off his Christmas card list. He probably thinks I've got "too much Testosterone," like that's a bad thing. I think Bob is just stuck in a rut, and as the saying goes, the only difference between a rut and a grave is depth.
The way out of the rut is to make major changes in your life, most of which won't be too pleasant in the beginning. The opportunity to make those changes seldom comes as bluntly as I put it to Bob. Most of the time, that opportunity knocks very softly. What I did was basically give Bob a verbal slap in the face. You can react two ways to a slap. You can get angry at the person doing the slapping, or you can realize that he was just trying to get you to wake up and focus on what you really want and, more importantly, what it'll take to get it.
If you're a regular T-mag reader, I doubt you need to be called out like Bob. But maybe you've caught yourself slacking a little here lately. Maybe you've missed a few workouts or maybe you started a little too early on the usual holiday feasting, like, say, back in September. Just remember that the time to start working on that summer body is now. The time to get rid of those bad habits that hold you back in the gym is now. You want to look totally different by next Christmas? Start now. This isn't because of the holidays or any corny New Year's resolutions either. The best time is always now.
Christmas day I want you to enjoy being with your family and friends. I want you to open presents, sip a little eggnog and have a good meal. But if your regularily scheduled workout happens to fall on December 25th, what will you be doing at six o'clock that morning?
That's what separates us from guys like Bob.


Friday, July 26, 2013

你在哪里

笑容
你在哪里

诚恳
你在哪里

坦诚
你在哪里

你在哪里

I will always remember the special one &
No way to forget any single thing of us

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

我们的欢笑之旅- Pulau Perhentian

15/7/2013 - 19/7/2013

看似长长的一趟旅程,但对大家而言,却是短短的.. ...
看似贵贵的一趟旅程,但对大家而言,这是值得的... ...

第一次自己努力工作赚钱让自己静一静心地去旅行,感觉非凡。

这趟旅程,将会是几只瓜的毕旅,
这趟旅程,也可能是舞者们或游乐园同伴唯一同在一起的一次旅行

12 个小时,漫长的火车车程,虽说屁股隐隐作痛的说,
但在这12小时里头,正是大家互相了解,分享音乐的喜悦。
这12个小时,
看着大家爱睡但又因为火车很吵的关系睡不着的样子;
看着大家非常期待踏入 Tanah Merah 火车站的样子,还蛮好玩的



15/7, 祝我生日快乐!
好特别的生日礼物,好特别的一次经历
感谢妈妈与爸爸,点了个头让我有机会踏上火车,船只,一路到达停泊岛
感恩妈妈与舅舅,载着几只大小猴子到 KL Sentral, 一路上有说有笑,好好笑

想回来,还蛮想念的
看着妈妈和朋友打成一片的样子,
看着妈妈和朋友一起欺负女儿的样子,我看傻了。
好可爱

间中快乐的回忆,我相信那会是永远的烙印在大家的脑海里,
深深地刻上欢乐的记忆

Board Game & Music Time ! 

Music & Chilling Time !

Snorkeling & Light House You-Jump-I-Jump Time !
*paiseh, aku takut. im on the boat*

Pictionary Time !
TOBY ! YELLOW SUBMARINE! walao eh

Long Beach. Few hours before heading back :'(

A Special Group photo :)

the MEN !

the LADIES ! 


你,我,他
感恩大家让我有机会彼此了解认识。
一趟特别的旅程,拥有独特的回忆。

你,我,他
谢谢大家对我无微不至的照顾
虽说我年龄较小,但我希望我有发挥到巨蟹座常说的母爱精神,把同房的小女孩们照顾好好的:)

有时静静在谈天的时候,
说着说着,眼泪快流了。但不行,忍着啊林羽芳
以后见面的机会,谈天说地的机会,游山玩水的机会,来着来着!

回家途中,思绪上涌
一幕幕飘过脑海,感觉一切太快了

小女孩,旅游完毕
小女孩,快毕业了
小女孩与朋友们,不久将踏入社会大学,看看外面的世界
好希望,我是个长不大的小女孩

虽然电话坏了,照片没了,
但记忆永存
picture credit to See Hau, nice view. 
i miss this. 
the Jetty, the Sand, the Bridge, the Scene. the Us.


这趟旅程,我似乎长大了,但有时又像个长不大的猴子
每个人有不同的特质,我从大家身上学习了不少

苑如 Yen Yee,
单纯爱微笑的女孩,兴趣背景都与我相像
(我们同床,当然!)
凡是迁就大家,大家开心她就开心,这是我要学习的

淑芬 Su Fen,
斯斯文文的女孩,拥有超级大的音乐库存在他的脑里头
美丽又有魅力的女孩,市场不小啊
市场大小我就不必多想,但她斯文又聪明的特质,是我要学习的

敏佳 Min Jia,
可爱的傻大姐,玩笑总是慢半拍
与大家的沟通关系良好,谁都能搭得上话,这是我要学习的

耀鸿 Yao Hong,
老人棒是属于他的了!
傻傻的看着你大笑,总能和大家打成一片
说话技巧好,脑筋又转的快快的特质,这是我要学习的

耀中 Yao Zhong,
有时慌神了一会儿,呆呆的样子看着你
和哥哥一样,傻傻的看着你笑
体贴照顾好每一个队员,这是我要学习的

健傑 Jian Jee,
常欺骗大家的大骗子,又是整组的大阿哥
有他与 YH 在一起的地方,欢笑声就在这开心的氛围下弥漫着
凡是都已规划好好,让大家安心的走走
拥有好好规划一切的特质,是我要学习的

思孝 See Hau,
音乐细胞超级多的说,
常怀颗坚持的心与努力学习的态度,这是我要学习的

当然还有几只猴子朋友!

Link, 深藏不漏的幽默越南孩子!
Ken, 就如 YenYee 所说,常常面带笑容又有邻家哥哥的感觉
Michelle, 一笑惊天地的功利,是大家的开心果啊
Bryan, 开黄腔挺不错的又带幽默喜感的感觉总让大家乐翻天
Kai Qing, 看似小小只,吃起来的分量超惊人的孩子
Donovan, 去到哪里都能倒头大睡的孩子,常与越南孩子来个 International Fight 的时刻超好玩

谢谢你们
好特别的旅程
好期待下次的疯癫之旅


我们还有机会吗?你们会回来吗?

Monday, July 22, 2013

爸妈,谢谢您


21 岁,说大不大,说小又不再是小小孩了

感恩父母
养育之恩,及一切一切

感恩亲人
我爱喧哗热闹的家,温馨的笑声总围绕着我

感恩弟弟
一份特别的礼物,热闹了整个气氛

感恩小经理
抽空出席,谢谢您

感恩大家
友谊永固的感觉,真棒. 





游乐园之日

当我提起:“我要去图书馆啃书啦"
大家都以为我神经病了
一个逃课专家,懒惰专员竟然开口呐喊:我要温习功课啦!

我的游乐园同伴们
一同相处的日子不算多,但了解非浅

我的游乐园同伴们
不停照顾、支持、指导着我

我的游乐园同伴们
与 Zoo Keeper 同心协力地把我关牢牢在座位上,确保我有读书

我的游乐园,就是人人发愤图强的地方 - 图书馆

~ 8.46pm 嫦娥奔月
~ General Knowledge 
~ Dinner Chilling Time
原来,温习功课,是可以很有趣,也可以是毕生难忘的时刻
短短的一个月,让我感触蛮深的

感恩大家的鼓励,我全数及格 :)
虽说没有辉煌的成绩,但过关对没信心的我来说,已是个大大的突破

我开始想念了
以后还会有吗?


2012 与 2013 的我,真舒服 ==