Discovering your inner beauty.

   As of recent, my family and I have been afforded the opportunity to enjoy an odd winter with warmer weather. Because of this, we decided to take an impromptu family trip out into the desert and go looking for geodes at a nearby geode bed.
    We got to discover old historic locations of western Utah that we had never seen before, and when we finally arrived at the location of the Geode beds, what we came upon to me appeared to be that of the remnants of an old rock quarry. To say the least, I was a bit shocked at what we came upon. However, I decided that I needed to look on the bright side and make the best out of the opportunity. I was away from the house, I was away from work, I was spending quality time with my family, and we were all getting to experience something new together.
    We got our buckets, our digging utensils and we got to work. Digging for geodes isn't really all that difficult. However, if you want some of the nicer, more ornate geodes, you have to really work for them. Not only are you digging through compacted sand, but compacted rocks, trying to figure out which rocks are just rocks, and which ones will have a geode in them. But you are also having to try and find different colored geodes aside from the ones you have previously dug up over and over again.
    Once, we dug up the rocks that we thought were geodes, and had our buckets full, we then took the rocks home. Then we washed off the residual dirt that they were encrusted in, and then got to hammering them w/ a flat head screwdriver to break them open. That is where the true beauty of these geodes came forth. Each one had a different coloring on the inside. Each one possessed a different marking, and each one, in it's own unique way contained it's own beauty. That is where the reward from all the arduous work came from. To see the true beauty of what was inside of that dirt encrusted, hardened outer shell rock.
     So, how does this all apply to what I normally talk about... weight lifting, dieting, goals, etc etc? Well it's rather quite simple if you think about it. All of us have some kind of outer, hardened shell. In order to see the true beauty that not only do we find for ourselves that we possess on the inside, but for others to see as well, we must work hard to get to that point. Much like the digging, and the cleaning, and the hammering away the facade of the rock was the work, so too must we work to chisel away the hardened exterior,  and work to bring out the inner beauty to show to everyone. With dieting, we must break the exterior of our old eating habits, and lack of exercise. Whether we want to get into shape, or be healthier, or just be able to do more than we currently are, we must work for it.
      It is my opinion, that in this experience of digging for geodes, it was very symbolic of the work that myself, and others before me and after me have experienced and will experience. Through all the hard work, the determination of getting to the geode, and then scraping away the rusty, dirty exterior; then was the true beauty able to come forth. When it comes to dieting and fitness, no reward is paid off by taking the easy road. It's hard work, it will continue to be hard work, and only then when we get to the core, will we finally be rewarded with the end result.
       It is my belief that we each possess an inner beauty that is just waiting to be shown to our friends, our family, and the rest of the world. It may not be in physical form, but regardless, we each have something to show and give to another to make our beauty resonate loudly into another person's life. What matters individually, is just how much hard work are we willing to exert to find it.

2012--Pay it forward.

    So here we are, a new year, and I finally decided to get to writing a blog. Not because I haven't wanted to, but honestly, because I've just been that busy.
    As many of you know, I participated in a video contest back in January for Nutrex. I truly do appreciate each and everyone of y'all that took a moment out of your day to vote for my video. It was a great expierence, and I have already come to the decision to do another video later this year. I have some training to do for my next video, as for what I have planned is going to be something truly incredible at my level.
    So, what has the past few months been like for Shane. Well, I have been surrounding myself with some great people and organizations that I am excited about. I am still a fanatic about Nutrex, and that will not change. But I have recently been getting to know the people at Savage Sports Performance, and FatGripz. Though I haven't started to use any of the products from Savage Sports, their knowledge and training expertise is un-matched. They are extremely helpful and professional. The people at FatGripz are just simply amazing. I have been using their product in my training for the past few months, and the product is just an absolute gem. It is one of those products that actually delivers what it promises to. They even back it up with a 60 day guarantee.
     I've also gotten to know a wonderful individual more and more recently in the past few months. His training, his knowledge, and his professionalism is un-paralleled. His name is Chris Pluhacek and he goes by the moniker of Iron Spartan. He is a sponsored athlete at Nutrex, and is just simply amazing. Check him out at his facebook page. He has helped take me a new level in my training, and has pushed me to a level I never thought or dreamed to ever try for. So to him, I owe a debt of gratitude.
      However, the bottom line still remains: Without the support and strength of my loving wife and dear friends, I still would not be where I am at today, and where I am heading to this year. 2012 is going to be a major milestone for me, and I don't want to hype it up much too early in the year. I would rather save it as a surprise.
     So, how does this all apply to the overall scheme of the title headline? Simply put, if you get an opportunity to surround yourself with  people who make you want to be better, to push yourself harder than you thought you could do, make sure you not only thank them, but try and pay it forward. Show the same kind of love, and help someone else out. We can't succeed in life on our own, and it is only respectful to show credit and appreciation to whom it is due. Not only will it make us feel good for acknowledging those that have helped us, but it makes those we acknowledge feel good for receiving the recognition. Knowing that your help and time invested into someone is appreciated makes us be more willing to help someone later on down the road in life.