Never Quit

I didn’t have an idea in my brain jumping up and down to be noticed to be blogged about today, but what I was thinking about was how we often need cheerleading in our health and fitness journey.

I currently have clients preparing to compete in our fall classic show in several different categories, women’s physique, men’s physique, bodybuilding, figure and bikini. No matter what division they’re in, they’re about half way through their preparations and it’s one of the toughest parts of the contest prep. They’ve been at it for what seems like forever (almost two months) and have another two months to go. The excitement of beginning the prep has worn off and it’s still too far from the show to really be excited for the big day. They must trudge through the strict diet, intense workouts and cardio training even when they don’t feel like it.

At this point, I usually send them this poem to encourage them. It helped me a great deal when I was competing and it doesn’t just apply to competitors. The last two lines hit me the most and I hope it helps you as well. Please, never quit. Follow your dreams, reach for your goals and be the best you can be!

NEVER QUIT

WHEN THINGS GO WRONG AS THEY SOMETIMES WILL

WHEN THE ROAD YOU’RE TRUDGING ON SEEMS ALL UPHILL

WHEN FUNDS ARE LOW AND DEBTS ARE HIGH

AND YOU WANT TO SMILE BUT YOU HAVE TO SIGH

WHEN CARE IS PRESSING DOWN A BIT

REST IF YOU MUST BUT NEVER QUIT

 

LIFE IS QUEER WITH ITS TWISTS AND TURNS

AS EVERYONE OF US SOMETIMES LEARNS

AND MANY A FAILURE TURNS ABOUT

WHEN HE MIGHT HAVE WON HAD HE STUCK IT OUT

DON’T GIVE UP, THROUGH THE PACE SEEMS SLOW

YOU MIGHT SUCCEED WITH ANOTHER BLOW

 

OFTEN THE GOAL IS NEARER THAN

IT SEEMS TO A FAINT AND FALTERING MAN

OFTEN THE STRUGGLER HAS GIVEN UP

WHEN HE MIGHT HAVE CAPTURED THE VICTOR’S CUP

AND HE LEARNED TOO LATE, WHEN THE NIGHT SLIPPED DOWN

HOW CLOSE HE WAS TO THE GOLDEN CROWN

 

SUCCESS IS FAILURE TURNED INSIDE OUT

THE SILVER TINT OF THE CLOUDS OF DOUBT

AND YOU NEVER CAN TELL HOW CLOSE YOU ARE

IT MAY BE NEAR WHEN IT SEEMS AFAR

SO, STICK TO THE FIGHT WHEN YOU’RE HARDEST HIT

IT’S WHEN THINGS SEEM WORST THAT YOU MUSTN’T QUIT