Respect & Validation

I think many lifters of this generation do not understand “longevity.” It’s not just about lifting and competing more, but the respect from the hundreds of thousands of lifters who came before.   When you’re young, you look for validation from those your age or younger. This is normal, but not EVERYTHING.   As we get older we earn the respect of elders. This is not earned by big totals, WRs, gym lifts, strength stunts, likes, comments, shares, or ego. It’s earned by how you represent the sport and the strength industry.   Respect should mean way more that validation because validation is short-lived and respect can last for a lifetime and beyond.