No regrets

He’s the kind of guy who knows that time has a way of slipping past us quietly. One day, he’ll wake up and realize he doesn't have those lightning-fast reflexes anymore. The simple truth of the matter is that our bodies change. 

With that, he knows that our memories blur, too. Were we ever really that fast? Was his chest ever that big? He can go through periods where he wonders what he actually, really used to look like. It can leave him feeling a little hollow — not in a harmful way. Just incomplete. It’s a tiny violin for all those good times that deserved to be remembered.

That’s why he takes all the pictures he does now. With a chuckle, he scrolls through his phone's photo feed, watching months pass by in small swipes. These pictures and videos are artifacts of the progress he's made. When he’s feeling a little down, he can pull them up again. They become anchors for his physical and mental health. They remind him of the work he put in, the joy he felt, and the confidence he earned. 

His images are also proof that he fully lived in those moments. 

At some point in the future, a wiser version of himself who will look back with less critical eyes. A frisky picture today can make for a hearty laugh years from now. He pulls one up from last April, when he hit a new personal record for the bench press. He commemorated the day with a triumphant pose and gym towel draped over his bulging crossed arms. It’ll be one thing to reminisce about hitting that weight limit someday, but remembering he celebrated it with his shorts around his ankles — because his friend dared him to — is another.  

Crossing the line every now and then is healthy. It keeps him young.

He can remember the small knot of anxiety that tightened his chest when his clothes hit the floor. It’s almost the same kind of feeling he had the first time he signed up for a marathon, knowing he just made a very bold move. It’s a commitment that wouldn’t be a good secret, given that he’d be spending months training. 

He thinks to himself, “I can’t believe I’m doing this. What if I get caught?"

“Just have fun with it,” he hears himself answer. This isn't fear as much as it's being a little vulnerable - someone may see you. Showing more skin than you’re used to is a risk, but it's harmless, really. Earn some confidence, and know that growth always comes with a little fear. 

Like the race, it’s the same proud feeling that came when he started lifting heavier weights, adding five pounds at a time, wondering if his body could handle the next jump. Or, when he started to push deeper into yoga practice – holding poses longer, breathing through the discomfort, slowly learning what his body could do.

So now, he sees himself with the body he’s moved mountains to achieve. The moment is saying, “This is me right now,” without hiding behind angles or shadows or excuses.

In the picture, he remembers wondering if he should wait for a better day, a better angle, a better version of himself. Today, he looks at the abs, the chest, or the thick calves with a grin. The pictures reminds him that progress never arrives in perfect moments. It's about looking back at where you've been, and where you're going to go next.

So, he doubles down on his advice: take the photo.