This morning, I attended the funeral for Ken, a beloved member of our community. His son delivered a powerful homily, and one phrase in particular stayed with me: “We’ve got a lot of work to do.” It was a simple yet profound reminder of the life Ken lived, constantly moving forward, always working toward something meaningful. His words resonate not only with life in general but with our fitness journey as well. There’s always more to do, and it’s up to us to keep pushing.

Over the weekend, I found myself in a bit of a negative space—struggling to see the trees through the forest, only focusing on the things that weren’t going well. I’d hit PRs last week too. Really BIG ones. Up 15 LBS on both my Deadlift and Back Squat, hitting the 400 and 300 clubs. However, I was consumed by the bad and had completely lost sight of the good. I focused on some family dynamics that have been failing forward since school started again last month. I felt disconnected from my kids in the hectic life we live. This happens to all of us from time to time, but it’s moments like these that make me appreciate Bright Spots Friday even more. At BattleGrounds Fitness, we celebrate our victories every Friday, no matter how big or small, because those moments matter. Celebrating your wins reminds you that progress is happening—even when you’re not feeling your best.

Too often, we let the setbacks and struggles overshadow our achievements. We focus so much on what went wrong, or what we haven’t yet accomplished, that we forget to celebrate the good we’ve done. But if we don’t take the time to highlight those wins, we risk losing sight of why we’re here in the first place. Whether it’s setting a new PR in the gym, sticking to your routine, or simply getting through a tough week—these moments are worth celebrating.

Ken’s life, and the message shared at his funeral, reminded me that we are all on this journey, and it’s not easy. We all have work to do, whether it’s in our personal lives, our careers, or our fitness goals. And that work requires two things: perseverance and consistency.

Perseverance and Consistency in Fitness and Life

Perseverance is about showing up, even when you don’t feel like it. It’s about pushing through when things get hard, staying committed even when progress seems slow. Fitness, like life, isn’t about overnight success. It’s about putting in the work day after day, knowing that each step forward—no matter how small—is progress. Sometimes, you’ll stumble. You’ll have bad days or even bad weeks. But consistency is what matters most. Keep showing up, and the results will follow.

In fitness, we talk a lot about consistency being the key to achieving our goals. Whether you want to lift heavier, run faster, or simply feel healthier, it’s the small, consistent efforts over time that lead to success. That’s why Bright Spots Friday is so important. It helps us recognize the small wins that, over time, build up into something much bigger.

When you look back at your journey, it won’t be the perfect days or the easy workouts that define you—it will be the times when you showed up, put in the work, and persevered through the struggles. It’s about pushing through the difficult days because you know that’s where the growth happens.

To help restore the family dynamic I felt was slipping, we set aside time on Sunday night to pray the Rosary together for 20 minutes after dinner. It felt like a much-needed reset for the week. We’re committed to getting back to our weekly family Rosary. Praying with your children regularly is so important—not just the quick prayers at meals or bedtime, but intentional moments like this that remind all of us to live with purpose and mindfulness.

Reflecting on Our Journey

As I reflect on today’s funeral and Ken’s life, I’m reminded that we all have a lot of work to do, both in and out of the gym. But that’s okay. The journey is what makes us stronger, and celebrating our wins along the way is what keeps us moving forward. We owe it to ourselves to recognize the progress we’ve made, even when we feel overwhelmed by life’s challenges.

So, take a moment to think about your wins this week—whether it’s a PR in the gym, sticking to your routine, or simply pushing through when you didn’t think you could. Celebrate those victories, because they are the building blocks of something greater.And remember, as Ken often said, “We’ve got a lot of work to do.” But with perseverance, consistency, and the support of our community, we can take on whatever comes our way.

Let’s keep showing up, doing the work, and celebrating our wins—both in the gym and in life.

To learn more about Ken:
https://royalexaminer.com/kenneth-scott-ken-reuwer-1963-2024/

Finally, thanks to DFH (the McCoid Family) for being our first official 2024 Battle Buddy Brawl Sponsor! https://www.dfhcommercial.com/new/