Two people describe seeing someone in a wheelchair and someone with a walker at the gym, both showing up despite physical limitations and fear of being watched. The real inspiration isn't excellence, it's confronting fear. Acknowledging someone's courage matters.
Chapters
A woman in a wheelchair at a gym with her 2-pound dumbbells because her legs don't work, but she went in there anyway. And you know how insecure she was about going in there? She's the only person in a wheelchair. She doesn't know what she's going to see, how people are going to react to her. She's not in shape. She's never full makeup on and her little, you know, halter top like the other girls in there. She's right in there. She was right in there working out right next to them, right? I left what I was doing. I walked over. I said, I just want you to know something. You're inspiring me. This is wonderful. Her face just lit up because you know how sad she— how insecure she was about being in there. Most inspiring person is overcoming the fear of doing something, not the person who's excellent at it. That's wild.
There's a dude in my gym, he has one of those like walkers. He's in there all the time working out. It's really— it's cool. Never said anything to him. Maybe one day I should, because it is cool as shit. I watch him and I'm like, I got no reason to bitch. This dude has a hard time. I don't know what he's had. I can't tell if it's an accident or something. He's pretty young too. But dude, he's at the gym all the time lifting what he can. It ain't a ton of weight, but he's moving. It's super inspiring to watch what some people can overcome and get through.