When you work out I doubt the first thing you think about is America, but stop for a minute and think about it. America is the greatest nation in the world. It is due, at least, to the amazing attitude of Manifest Destiny that this nation has.
It’s the get-up-and-go that inspires this nation and motivates us to strive for something more. Every bodybuilder shares this attitude. If America was a person, it would be the most pumped-up buff person alive. It’s in honor of that indomitable spirit that I think going to the gym might be one of the most patriotic acts someone can commit.
Working out is about as American as it gets. The American dream is all about starting from nothing and working to better yourself and improve your situation. When you think about it, it’s something you do every time you step foot in a weight room. From beginners to professional body builders, everyone who works out began for a reason and that’s what makes this such an incredible concept. It doesn’t matter where you start, everyone can strive for improvement and everyone can aspire to great heights.
Your starting point is irrelevant. What matters is that you are in the gym doing something about it. Some guys are too small and want to build an impressive muscular physique. Some girls want to fit into a smaller dress size. This is like the American dream of starting from the bottom and moving up, just like Drake told us. It’s this drive that is so incredible. The motivation to develop something amazing through intense effort is the same motivation that George Washington felt when he was crossing the Delaware or that Thomas Edison felt when he created light and changed the world, or Henry Ford when he gave people mobility for the first time. Ha.
The spirit of perseverance through adversity in pursuit of something great is a trait in short supply today. That spirit has the ability to do anything from molding an empire of red, white and blue to just shaving a few inches off of your waistline. The idea of improvement through hard work, whether it was Ben Franklin trying to build the greatest nation on earth or Arnold Schwarzenegger trying to get arms so big that he can’t touch his shoulders, is an absolutely American phenomenon and an incredible one. The struggle and difficulties that come with developing a physique just serve to make the eventual rewards even more fulfilling.
Maybe I’m being overly patriotic and drawing connections where there are none or maybe going to lift is one of the most patriotic things you can do. Whatever. The next time you go lift and are feeling fatigued, try a little harder and get that next rep up for America!