Goals (on Turning 40)

University of California, Los Angeles; UCLA (Photo credit: COG LOG LAB.)

NWA’s ” Straight Out of Compton” turned on, taking me right back to my freshman year at UCLA. I am at the gym, leg pressing 300 pounds, arm curling 50 pounds feeling like a beast. I was 18, a wanna be mustache dancing on my lip, Gangsta rap in my blood. I felt bad ass as I pushed out 10 reps. 2 more circuits to go. That was then, this is now. I push out 540, and curl 100 but the gut sticks out, and my 40 years feels like 400 on me. I am not UCLA Sanjay anymore, more like Useless Sanjay but that’s just my self-pity talking.

A few years ago, I had the same goals as I did today, but the only difference was passion. Whereas, before I just wished to be in better shape, I now WANT to be better. I know I can get to a six pack, the only regret being that it would be 22 years AFTER the fact, but you know what, it’s how it makes me feel NOW that matters. Everything else is just mere whining. Turning 40 can work miracles for someone like me who quite honestly has been quite comfortable for quite a while.

I start each day knowing that one day closer to my goal of being in the best shape of my life. The real reason: I don’t want to die needlessly. I don’t want to die because of something I could have prevented, but most of all I don’t want to die before I really do accomplish all that I want from my life. It really is that simple. I want to live my life not live day-to-day.

Why do you wake up each morning?