Separate Is Not Equal

Do you give the same intensity that I do? In my real world, and always in my gym or fitness related world that is all that separates any of us from one another. I don’t care how many plates are on the bar. If I am pulling 800 and there is a young lad next to me trying for his first 135, If he is giving the same intensity, focus, drive and passion as me that’s all that matters, he has my respect.

There are simply too many variables to measure things any other way. Any other way would have you comparing apples to oranges. Jill may be into marathon running, Jack into highland games, Tommy is a bodybuilder, Cheryl is into Olympic weightlifting, Billy is a powerlifter and Joanne is a fitness model. Add onto that each of these people is at a different stage in their development of their respective goals. Then as well let’s say Jill had this injury, Jack was born with this defect, etc. etc. we all have our own hurdles. In the end they are all equal if they aim, shoot, strive, and pursue their passion each and every day with the same intensity as one another. (Just so it is said, to actively and purposely pursuit rest and recovery, and do so intensely, is also part of the game. Many people forget this and you are missing the boat if you don’t. Billy the powerlifter, or Jill the marathon runner may be actively sitting on their butts, eating,and getting massage for a week. That doesn’t mean they are slacking. They are making advances to their goals. Maybe Billy just got done with an intense cycle of training that saw him hit his first 500lb deadlift, and Jill just ran a 50K. Both of them need, and their bodies demand, rest and recovery to advance.)













The sad thing is you won’t see this across the board in the industry. Not from the trainees, athletes, and sadly not from all coaches and facilities. What you sadly see in most is segregation. Segregation not just among the emphasis (ie. Bodybuilder, powerlifter, thrower, crossfitter, runner etc.) but also segregation within a group by skill or strength level. You will not however see this at the facilities that are producing the most astounding results and individuals in mass numbers. The best facilities and gyms I have been in there is a collectiveness, not a segregation. The physically strong are side by side with the weak, the bodybuilder with the runner, the ying is with the yang. You all can learn, grow, and feed off one other. In my mind the perfect facility in much like the ones I trained in during my time in Thailand and much like many I have chosen to call my home since. A facility not of sheeple, not a facility where everyone is trying to fit a singular mold, or a facility of segregation and separatism, but one more akin to an ant colony. A facility full of individuals. ( ie worker, drone, gatherer, soldier, caregiver, all different but all equal) Individuals with goals as varied and wide as our own tastes and passions, and yet a facility where everyone, as long as they are striving passionately toward their own goals at bettering themselves, is held in the same regard, and is seen as someone to look up to, respect, and learn from. It breeds an atmosphere that’s has everyone excelling, everyone accepting and giving constructive criticism for further growth as well as positive praise. An atmosphere that weeds itself, those who don’t have the drive and will power to push to their goals with the same passion, or those who are full of themselves to the point of it being harmful are self weeded.

















What happens when you throw Daniel in the lion’s den? He steps up and becomes stronger than ever. The same happens to Johnny 95lb deadlift when he is thrown in, accepted as an equal, and trains side by side Jimmy 800lb deadlift and Sally 700lb squat. He gets stronger, more confident, and does so in leaps and bounds. When there is a collective nature everyone benefits. When I see an endurance athlete push themselves to their limit in search of their goal it pushes me, it pushes me as a strength athlete to keep doing the same toward my own passion even though it is far different





























In the end we have much more in common with one another than we have apart. Over my years I have lived and learned from all walks of the physical trade. I have been mentored and taught by those physically weaker and stronger than me. I have trained and excelled in facilities that’s work as a collective whole, and seen the passion, education, growth, and community it bleeds across the spectrum. As well I have been in and trained in facilities that shun and segregate those weaker or those of different sects, closing their windows and doors to further growth and seen the mediocrity they produce even among their internal elite. (think globo gym with their segregation of anyone strong enough to pick up a weight that will make a noise when its set down regardless of how much you try to lay it quietly to rest)

Those who grow and excel don’t dismiss, they accept others, others of difference and learn what they can from them, draw from them, grow form them and take what they can use. They breed a positive and proactive demeanor to all they come in contact, and surround themselves with the same. As well, the best and strongest are also the most humble of their ability. The most kind and giving. The most confident and full of pride and first in that’s self comfort to accept others even those of a different feather knowing they can help and learn from them.






















Lose the separatism, lose the chip on your shoulder, realize no matter how damn good you are there is someone better, and no matter who much different someone is or how much stronger you are than the other they just may have faced something that’s gives them the ability to help you learn and grow. Be an ant, not a sheep.