Topic: Knowing when to retire

[JOHN BROZ]

Shaun, I couldn't help but to laugh when I read your post!!! Not because it is funny, it's just so familiar!!  I don't know how old you are but I am 39 now.  UUUUH!  I was in the same boat as you a few yrs. ago.  I didn't take job promotions to make more $$ and move up the corp ladder simply  because there was no OL gyms close to where I was going to move to.  Stupid? At the time probably. Quitting that 6 figure job and getting a gig working part time as a parking lot attendant so I could sit down and not have to do much so I could spend all my energy and focus on lifting. Putting a platform in my living room for over 5 years and having the cops come to my house because the vibrations were upsetting neighbors 7 houses over.  Selling 2 brand new cars and buying a 10 yr. old beater truck to haul weights in with no payments - all not the smartest moves (based on what NON-LIFTERS think).  So what!  Hindsight tells me it was the perfect thing to do!  I wanted to medal at the SR. Nationals.  This was my goal.  I was finally had my shot in 05 in front of my hometown crowd and I choked so the quest continues!!

I too like you started early and didn't have the focus and direction of someone to keep me going during the "prime years".  After piddling around doing other things- coming and going from lifting, I eventually always kept coming back to the sport.  at 29 I decided to take a stand and not let those other silly things in life get in the way - money, relationships, family -you know those goofy things.  After the last 10 yrs there has been many times I have thrown my shoes across the room and lay in bed and ask myself WHY??? Why do I keep doing this?? The answer is very simple.  Because I HAVE TO!  No other way to put it.  my desktop on my computer is Ediev (Russian 85 kg who won silver at 37).  IT IS POSSIBLE!  When I accomplish what I set out to do then and only then will I quit trying.

The journey has been out of the ordinary for sure but I have no regrets.  I met tons of cool people along the way and met my wife because of me following my heart.  The one thing that I learned more than anything else during this journey, chasing a dream is this: when we stop dreaming or chasing what we want what else is there to live for?  There will have to be something to take its place, but what?  When you have another obsession as strong as the one you have now for lifting then and only then can you even CONSIDER changing focus to something else.  Don't make the same mistakes again like we both did as kids and waiver to and fro. Throw logic out the window and follow your heart.  Commit and don't look back.  You will not be sorry.

http://www.usoc.org/19578_32790.htm

[Gary Deal]

 YOU BIG JOHN BROZ ARE SO RIGHT, NEVER LOSE YOUR PASSIONS OR DREAMS, I RE LIT MY IRON GAME PASSION AFTER THIRTY FOUR YEARS OF ABSENTEE, BUT HAD OTHER PASSIONS THOSE YEARS, NEVER NEVER LOSE YOUR PASSIONS OR DREAMS FOR THEY NOT ONLY ARE A GOOD THING, BUT THEY ARE THE BEST THING, GOOD LIFTING IN NEW YORK NEW YORK, MAYBE I WILL SEE YOU AT MASTER NATIONALS IN 2008.