#sweat equity

There comes a point during a summer workout when pride gives way to practicality.

The shirt is soaked through. Every breath feels heavier than the last. Sweat runs into your eyes, your grip starts to slip, and the old warehouse gym feels more like a furnace than a place to train.

You could call it a day.

Or you could strip off the shirt, chalk your hands, and finish what you came to do.

Strength isn’t built in perfect conditions.

It’s built on the days when the air won’t move, the iron feels twice as heavy, and every muscle is begging for a break. Sometimes the strongest thing a man can wear is the determination that got him through the door in the first place.

The sweat, the flushed skin, the aching muscles…those aren’t the goal. They’re simply proof that the work was honest.

Stay safe in the heat, gentlemen.

Drink your water.

Take care of yourselves.

And if you’re going to train…

Finish the set.

Hard work, man, I’m telling ya. It’s the best.

We built one of these last year and it took 3.5 hours. Today it took 2.5. We are stronger and we’ve done it before, but most significantly, I am more confident than I’ve ever been about understanding the instructions and working half or one step ahead so it becomes an overlapping joint effort. So awesome.

Kitchen Renovation is entering the final stretch.

Ordering the additional doors and cover panels this week.

(Before shot for context)

A series in which I learn to art using fics I’ve read as inspiration whilst also being able to support and share the author’s work.

Today’s fic: Sweat Equity by @silhouetteofacedar

01 – May – 2021 | International Workers’ Day

Courtesy: Curated by Kirupakar .S

6 hours in the field yesterday. After been sick the previous couple of days I really thought I wasn’t going to make it through all the work we had. For real the first few hours was a nonstop struggle/internal pep talk. I felt like garbage.

But we did it. Feeders - ground and hanging - built, replaced, or relocated. All six filled with corn or protein. Cameras adjusted and batteries replaced. Multiple mineral sites set up for springtime nourishment.

Steve and I make the best woodsy work partners. In the field, our rhythm is just unbeatable. We always know what the other is doing or thinking or how we need to work together efficiently to get things done. We love it so much.

We had chef salads I packed for lunch but I ordered dinner out (I added the avocado to the salmon roll and egg and peas to the side of fried rice). Total treat. I also made chocolate chip pecan banana bread Friday night so we had way too much of that for dessert.