Got Strength? By Curt Dennis Jr. Of PlanetRage.com and NGBB
Who do you respect? ok...Does that person have the strength to be who they are? As I sit here and type this, i can tell you that my life in the last year, i truly discovered what it means to have STRENGTH and I'm not just talking about being strong...anyone can be strong...strong has so many definitions today but to me...STRENGTH has only one.
To have STRENGTH means not just to be strong but the STRENGTH to keep on being stronger every day. to shoulder the worries and ups and downs that people go through and never giving up hope. the STRENGTH to keep on keeping on when the chips are down. The STRENGTH you lend to your family and your brothers in iron cause in turn their STRENGTH makes you stronger and vice versa. The STRENGTH to uphold loyalty and honor...the STRENGTH to have the unbreakable will and unstoppable attitude. Knowing that you will do what it takes and what must be done to be what you want to become. The STRENGTH to become what many thought you wouldn't become and believing that you can...that's what STRENGTH is about.
I can tell you that I have seen strong lifters come and go in my eyes. Some that have that unbound potential to be something truly amazing but the STRENGTH wasn't there. I know of a person that has god-given genetics and physical strength to do many things but doesn't have the STRENGTH to be that person everyone knows he can be. He didn't have the STRENGTH to help and support his brothers when the time was needed but wanted their help. In other words, he can be the strongest guy in the world...but won't have a ounce of STRENGTH to keep it. Then you have this other person I know that has the STRENGTH to become something...mindset, will, and attitude...its only a matter of time before his physical strength catches up and when that happens...he'll have the STRENGTH to move mountains simply because he is willing to pay his dues in and out of the gym and sacriface what must be sacrifaced in the name of STRENGTH. He lends his STRENGTH to his brothers and therefore they lend it back in support. Does he have the STRENGTH to be the strongest? Yes he does! he also has the STRENGTH to be patient and know that true STRENGTH is knowing when no to rush things.
Ok...I'll stop capitlizing STRENGTH but you get the idea. Strength is about being the strongest guy in the state/world/etc and having the strength to keep on being the strongest. To take on the world on your shoulders like atlas does. That's the strength i'm talkin about. I believe my fault in finding lifters is the they don't have the strength to be better....to be stronger...to be different. Everyone wants to laugh at the freak but when he does something amazing, they want to be him all of the sudden. What does that tell ya? That tells ya he has the strength to be who he is...instilled with confidence that he's ok with being called a freak...its a badge of honor for him. It means to him that he has greater strength than normal people because he isn't settling for average. To be in the crowd and to be the one the crowd talks about are two different things. To be one of the 100s of 700lb benchers and to be that one freak that benched 700 at 165 are two different things. Settling for average doesn't work for me...it doesn't make sense...i'll always want more...i'll never be satisfied. To have the strength to never be satisfied is to truly be strong...being the strongest is only a matter of time and training with that mindset. Seeing nothing but your goal and having the strength to get there no matter what or no matter how long it takes...having the strength to endure and evolve is strength unbound. repeat it to yourself....it makes sense doesn't it. Remember it when the tough times are around...or when your brother is down...remind him... never surrender...never satisifed! That is true strength. physical strength is only the manifestation of the strength within. That's how it should be represented as.
In the last year of my life and lifting I truly found out what STRENGTH means. I have came across so many lifters that have potential for the sport of powerlifting and some that are doing it but are missing that one important factor...that factor known as STRENGTH. I can tell ya, i'm more impressed with a guy that hasn't benched 600 but is workin his ass off for it and has never known to give up...hell he doesn't even possess the benchin ability at all than a guy that has the ability to bench 800 and is strong enough to do 800+ but doesn't possess the STRENGTH to do it...the ability to do what it takes to get there and beyond and to not let nuthin stop him...
A good friend of mine exemplifies what STRENGTH means. He grew from a boy to a man and stepped out of a shadow and man. He is amazing people right and left and its not just his physical strength. he's lending it to his brothers that train with him over and over again. He possesses the strength to be the top 220 in the sport of powerlifting. Its only a matter of time before his physical strength shows this and does he have the ability to be the strongest 220...yes he does. That friend of mine motivates me everyday and right now i was confused on why he changed so much when he went overseas and now i know why...he has STRENGTH. The Strength of character, unstoppable will, unbreakable attitude, and brotherhood. Its only a matter of time before his physical strength shows this and its already speaking volumes for him.
A true man of strength is never complacent with what or who he is. This goes for the gym and beyond. seein a person evolve is motivating for me and fires me up. Cause it reminds me of the strength i must have to do it as well. I don't want to be doin the same thing next week, next month, next year, etc...its simple...i evolve or i die. The reason why normal people look down on those that are different is because they don't get it. They don't understand why go through the hassle and not realizing that person has the strength to be that person because they never are satisfied and it shows. People ask..."how do u do it?" "how did u get big?"...how this...how that...its all relative to strength. The challenges that person went through to get to where they are was a long dark mile and in their eyes, they aren't satisfied and aren't there yet. TRUE STRENGTH IS ABOUT BEIN NEVER SATISFIED!
"real men of strength speak not of their strength by words but by their actions"
Take a second and reread those words again. To some people, it pisses them off...why? i have no idea...i'm not average. To others like Chad Aichs, its self-explainitory. Anyone can talk big numbers, talk a big game and shit talk to top it off BUT it takes real strength to put it out there on the platform and let your actions do the talkin. I learned that last year and its those words that i won't ever forget. And that meaning can go outside of the strength arena into life itself. a friend of mine told me "It ain't bragging if you can back it up!!"...that's STRENGTH right there bros...nothing else and it makes sense. That comes from someone that's committed to STRENGTH and is willing and able to back it up no problem with or without words. Its matter not what the mouth says...it matters what your actions do.
In conclusion, STRENGTH is about having the power to walk and be who you are with confidence and pride and wanting to become something more than just average. Its having those around you that have that same strength as you do and want it just as much if not more than you. Its about facing what's real...the strength to survive a bombout, embarrassment, humiliation, being owned, whatever and rising like a phoenix from the ashes cause a man with greater strength than a man without it will always be stronger. Its about the strength to lend to those who don't have it and giving them the strength to do the same as well as your brothers in iron and your own family. Having strength isn't selfish...it never should. giving someone the strength to keep going and never surrender and never giving up no matter long the fight. Having the strength to recognize strength in others and respecting that. The people I respect have this and they know who they are. Its also about having the strength that speaks for itself and having the strength to go above ego or arrogance. The kind of strength that even the mighty Hercules possesses. the definition of strength: "having the dedication, determination, desire, and discipline to believe and become"....so ask yourself...
I can tell you that I have seen strong lifters come and go in my eyes. Some that have that unbound potential to be something truly amazing but the STRENGTH wasn't there. I know of a person that has god-given genetics and physical strength to do many things but doesn't have the STRENGTH to be that person everyone knows he can be. He didn't have the STRENGTH to help and support his brothers when the time was needed but wanted their help. In other words, he can be the strongest guy in the world...but won't have a ounce of STRENGTH to keep it. Then you have this other person I know that has the STRENGTH to become something...mindset, will, and attitude...its only a matter of time before his physical strength catches up and when that happens...he'll have the STRENGTH to move mountains simply because he is willing to pay his dues in and out of the gym and sacriface what must be sacrifaced in the name of STRENGTH. He lends his STRENGTH to his brothers and therefore they lend it back in support. Does he have the STRENGTH to be the strongest? Yes he does! he also has the STRENGTH to be patient and know that true STRENGTH is knowing when no to rush things.
