Summer Journal entries (Active)

Unlike others, my mind goes blank when I am asked what my hobbies are. The truth is that I have tried several sports but for the moment none of them is my passion, for example, I was in the soccer team and I must admit that it was for the people not the sport, I was in swimming and I have more than clear that that is not my forte, years ago I tried to learn the art of hula hula but …. didn’t go well. I have decided to focus on my physique and hope to get healthy in all ways possible. I have heard and read the experience of many with the gym, it has helped many in hard times and is a safe place for others. I have to agree that I hope it ends that way for me too, I am just starting and I must admit that the beginning is… complicated, difficult. My parents decided that my sisters and I should go to the gym with my mom to avoid being on the internet all vacations. I feel intimidated because most of the people I’m surrounded by in the gym have bodies that show the years of hard work. I feel that many judge me or disappoint several for the little weight I can lift. It is certainly a process in which determination and patience are needed, consistency, perseverance. At first I felt ashamed of my strength but I have learned to be patient with myself. I started to comprehend that in the process of being better, I will have more criticism than compliments and support. That my small achievements are proof of my effort. I learn to understand that my journey is not the same as others. I was a little hurt because I can’t do more than 4 pull ups and I need band support. But then I remember when I started I couldn’t do one and I hope in the future to keep improving. It’s all about having a different mindset. This vacation we were going to the gym with my mom but she claims that the gym is her time, and she likes to be there by herself, when we get back to school I’ll be going in the morning before school with my dad. 

Reflection:

Through this active activity, the gym, I did over the summer I showed commitment to and perseverance in CAS experience. Giving an opportunity to physical health in my life is a way of understanding the importance of balancing different aspects of my life. It helped me understand that in order to be physically healthy I also need to be mentally healthy. I changed my sleeping schedule and working out made me feel much better about myself. This experience helped me grow, learn and differentiate the meaning of “motivation” and “discipline” which are concepts that I believe are extremely important to understand. Motivation is what gets you started, is what got me going to the gym at the beginning but discipline is what keeps you going even when there’s lack of motivation. And that’s part of growing up, accepting that we have to do things for ourselves even when we don’t feel like it, wanting to develop discipline because it is more important than motivation. We have to push ourselves through hard times. This way of thinking made me realize that I’m growing, maturing, and being very reflective about life. It’s like I’m giving myself the key to success. It makes me so happy to understand this, discipline makes me commit and persevere when I want to give up.