As I write this, I’m 33, and thinking back to around the age 16 or 17 years old, and why I began working out in the first place.

I remember being in my High School gym with a bunch of guys and everyone was seeing how much weight they could lift. Of course it was all about muscles and looking good in those earlier years, and I believe an old friend of mine and I were a bit competitive when it came to looks and strength.

It’s interesting to sit here, thinking back and figuring out why I stuck with it. Sure the vanity is always relevant, but it wasn’t the main reason.

If I recall correctly, one reason was I remember my girlfriend at the time making a comment that I was getting a little chubby, and though I thought the same thing, it definitely stung a little more coming from her, {and before anyone reading this gets all, “Oh my God I can’t believe she’d say something like that!”, relax Karen, it was true!} I was eating a lot of fast food, and that was just what I needed to realize that I needed to take a break from the garbage food I was eating regularly. We all could use a little brutal honesty in our lives, especially nowadays.

When I was 19, I moved to Vancouver for a short period. I was only there for about 3-4 months but I remember it being one of the times in my life where I genuinely felt good. While I lived there, I had a solid routine and I was quite disciplined. Where this discipline came from, I don’t know, but I recall one rule I had for myself was, no video games unless I worked out that day. I also ate well (or at least avoided fast food) and I was regularly reading The Bible. It might sound weird but I thought it was a good idea at the time, which it was. So when I break it down, I had a healthy barrier between me and video games, I was working out everyday, I was eating well, I was reading and I was working 5 days a week.

After moving back to Edmonton, Alberta, I wasn’t as disciplined. My routine turned into drinking with friends, partying, video games, etc. I did, however, maintain an on-again-off-again relationship with the gym throughout the years.

As I got older, more mature, more self-aware, more aware of what troubled me, I noticed that I would feel my best when I was working out regularly and taking care of myself. And whenever I would stray away from that and try other things like, drinking or smoking weed, I would feel worse. Throughout those years, though I was pursuing becoming a DJ (that’s a story for another time), I would find myself watching YouTube videos about fitness and diet and how to build muscle and get strong, rather than working on music. So I guess there was a deeper interest there.

Shit has happened to me on and off throughout my life. A lot of shit. A lot of shit I probably didn’t deserve {and maybe some I did because I had my moments of being a shithead too}, but it’s safe to say it’s been an uphill battle. Family stuff, friend stuff, relationship stuff, as well as my own mental battles. To this day I have my struggles.

Fitness and the discipline that comes with it, has really been my only option for a better life. Without it I would probably fall apart, or at least not keep it together as decently as I do. I noticed in my mid 20’s that when I would workout regularly, my mind would be more at ease, I’d be a little more ahead of my demons, and my mind would remain a little more clear. It took a long time for me to consider doing it as a profession, but it definitely was a thought I’d have regularly.

In my late 20’s came a major breaking point in my life, including being laid off from a job I was actually miserable at (take the positives with the negatives!). So, things were a little dire for me, but something magical did happen out of all of this. I took huge steps to become a better version of myself. I made vision boards, I journaled, I read, I started meditating, working out regularly again, and I took advantage of my free time and EI to give this Personal Training thing a try.

I upgraded some classes of mine, and I took a course to get my Personal Training Certificate. After I got my certificate, I applied at a gym where I for sure thought I had it in the bag. Turns out, I didn’t. Then my Auntie put me in touch with someone she had worked with when she had previously done some Personal Training herself. I went to meet her at her privately owned gym called Exist Fitness. The next day, she basically handed me a key and said welcome aboard! No intense interview, just the simple willingness to give me an opportunity.

I shadowed her, took notes, while simultaneously coming up with my own business ideas and vision. She gave me my first client and then some others as well. I was getting experience and living a great life. Through this process, little by little, I figured out I still had a lot to learn when it came to fitness. I thought I was a natural and had a good idea of how to workout, which I did, but looking back now, I had a long way to go. I’m still learning everyday about fitness and being the best trainer I can be, and it really has been a great journey.

So why fitness?

It’s really the only thing over the years that’s kept me living a positive and better life, even when I didn’t really recognize it and when things got tough.

It’s something that has taught me many lessons.

It’s something that has helped me stay calm and kept the demons at bay.

It’s something that’s helped me stay strong, mentally and physically.

It’s something that’s helped me become more self aware.

It’s something that’s taught me delayed gratification and discipline.

It’s something that’s helped me have a different relationship with “suffering”.

It’s something that’s kept me connected to God.

It’s something that’s kept me patient and helped me understand hard work.

It’s something that’s taught me gratitude.

When you take it seriously, it’s something that can improve every aspect of your life beyond just looking jacked for the beach (though that is a great bonus).

It’s also something that has taken me places and led me to meet people and make friends I never would have expected to. My life is drastically different for sticking with fitness.

Not that my life is what most would consider glamorous (although it is in some ways), and I’m not a millionaire (yet!), I still have problems like everyone else.

But I’m 100x better off and far more equipped to take on life’s challenges because of it.

So, that’s why.

Joshua B

DRUID Fitness