Yet the spell of solitude after exercise, as the remaining sweat receded with the speed of an ebb tide gave him a sense of vitality more satisfying than of any other time.

Yukio Mishima

Clarity by way of conquering self..

Perspective via perspiration.

Triumph as a result of trying again and again.

And again…

All of which can only be earned by way of effort because effort, the only ticket worth accruing, is the ticket to entry.

Upon entry, there is no energy for pretending. When every fiber of your being is fully engrossed in the task in front of you, that is all that matters. All of these distractions that come with a 21st century existence quickly become background noise. As they should.

In that place, you conquer yourself, and, in doing so. you lose. In this case, loss is what you leave behind: the parts of you that yearned for something less than your best or, in other words, your worst. There is no greater gain than to lose a sliver of that which holds you back.

For any of this to be possible, you must first listen. The path ahead begins with a murmur; soon enough, you will realize it is less of a want and more of a need. If time passes without it having been satiated, the gnawing pulsates. The static grows louder.

Do you have to answer that call?

No.

Must you?