Favorable Conditions Never Come

Just get down to work.

We are always falling in love or quarreling, looking for jobs or fearing to lose them, getting ill and recovering, following public affairs. If we let ourselves, we shall always be waiting for some distraction or other to end before we can really get down to our work. The only people who achieve much are those who want knowledge so badly that they seek it while the conditions are still unfavorable. Favorable conditions never come.

- C.S. Lewis

Reflecting

Lewis was right. And when he spoke against waiting for perfect conditions, the immediate imperfection he referred to was getting bombed by Nazis. So our distractions mostly pale in comparison. To really get down to our work, we need to first anticipate unfavorable conditions and pre-commit to tolerating them.

Imagine rough seas, cold rain, and the bruises and scrapes along the way. Picture a ragged, muddy, bloody effort. If it isn’t worth that, then don’t start. If it is, then don’t worry when the unfavorable conditions inevitably arise. Find a life worth it. There’s no perfect time to go for a PR, have another kid, start a new business, or take a shot on a relationship. I love order, but know that life is messy. So don’t wait. Get down to work, imperfectly, then tweak things following each mess.

Training

Being big and strong is never toxic.

- Sean Waxman

Today’s whiteboard —

Every minute on the minute for 20 minutes of (one of the following evolutions per minute for four circuits):

1. 15 GHD sit-ups

2. 50 crossovers

3. 20 push-ups

4. As many reps as possible calories on the rower

5. Rest (walk back to the GHD machine from the rower)

Then from my desk “no sweat” exercise:

50 each arm wrist strengthener.

Finally, too many adventures are endurance oriented versus strength or martial arts; here is an exception: a Royce Gracie Training Camp in Cyprus. I haven’t been yet so can’t endorse, but Royce is one of the all-time great fighters (and men) so it looks auspicious.

Fueling

Grow or raise as much of your own food as possible. Ideally raise your own steak and eggs. At least grow your own produce. My plan for spring is to take advantage of our sunny yard to plant the fruit my family eats. I ordered from my favorite source a cherry with a pollinator and apple tree with a pollinator as well as a blackberry, raspberry, and blueberry bush.

Supplementing

If you’re supplementing with topical testosterone, don’t toss the containers when they appear empty. Crack them open with a screwdriver and you’ll find plenty left after the last click.

Measuring

I’m loving blood flow restriction cuffs two weeks in. The app tracks and calibrates the compression and exercise timing. My joints are healing better with lower weights while my muscles are still getting blasted. These will be great to travel with if I’m ever stuck in a hotel gym with tiny dumbbells trying to squeeze in a workout.

Recovering

I just started using a reactive Sling Shot for bench press. I’m getting used to it. This is a great tool for keeping up with bench while dealing with any type of shoulder injury recovery.

Closing

More Lewis?

Since it is so likely that they will meet cruel enemies, let them at least have heard of brave knights and heroic courage. Otherwise, you are making their destiny not brighter but darker.

- C.S. Lewis

I’ve been wary about how modernity generally and Disney movies in particular preach that evil is ruthlessness and righteousness is vulnerability. In one of many examples of how they turn children into soft targets, a movie scene portrays a girl getting assaulted in her bedroom by a large armed man intent on murdering her. She has the ability to defend herself. Disney’s message:

Don’t be the monster they fear you are.

My message to my daughter: if you’re ever in that situation,

Be the monster they fear you are.

An antidote: if you home school or supplement your kids’ education, the Congressional Medal of Honor Society has an excellent elementary school program on courage, sacrifice, integrity, commitment, patriotism, and citizenship. Their ranks include many men who were righteous without being vulnerable and were not evil but were ruthless when that was called for.

From imagination or experience, children know about cruel enemies. It is up to us to let them know that heroic courage can defeat them. If these cruel enemies speak and act to spread fear, then there are times to speak their language and make them fear us.