Exposing Yourself

 
Hi Everyone!
 
No this isn’t a post about flashing my man junk at poor onlookers because let’s face it, no one wants to see that. No no no. This is a post about putting myself out there because, ultimately, that is something that I do on a regular basis. The funny part about how much I put myself out there is that before all of this started, I was surprisingly shy. I mean I have always been quite confident and enjoyed public speaking. But going through some of my own posts here on my blog as well as the photos I have shared on Instagram, 2 or 3 years ago, I never would have dared.
 
The reason I wanted to start this blog was once I started to get a bit faster at triathlon people started to ask me questions. Lots of questions! It made me realise that maybe people were interested in what I had to say. I have always liked to write and thought that if I could put my thoughts down somewhere it might help to answer the questions I was getting asked to people who like me, were too afraid to ask them. I literally had zero expectations when I started this site and am constantly humbled by the number of people who read my random thoughts and ramblings and who reach out to me with their kind words.
 
If you have been reading my posts for a while now you will be aware that is hasn’t always been positive. I have been accussed of some horrible things and had people say things about me and to me that have left me hurt and shocked. But to be honest, this experience has turned into one of the best things I have ever done. Early on, one of my good friends Jo Jo told me that my blog had become a sort of journal for me and she is exactly right. Writing these posts is something that helps me to vent my frustrations, realise my stupidity, look at my own faults and appreciate the things I have done well. I have lost count of the number of times I have written a post and decided it was no good or too angry or too sad to post and deleted it. The very few times that I have forced myself to publish an article I wasn’t completely comfortable with the response has reminded me how fantastic this community of healthy, active people I am proud to be part of really is.
 
When I started this blog I made a promise (mostly to myself but also to you the reader) that I always wanted to be as honest as I can. I have strived to keep the bullshit to a minimum and to call it as I see it. It might not always be the popular opinion or choice but hey, I am who I am. I mentioned before that there has been some negativity and cruelty directed my way. The first time it happened to me it had a real impact on me. I thought I was just trying to pass on my experiences and opinions to others to help people realise that to live healthy isn’t unobtainable. But that cruelty also taught me an important lesson that has made me a stronger, more confident person today. I have now realised for quite some time that no matter how hard I try, I am never going to make every person happy. So I gave up trying. Instead I try to make one person happy (two if you include my wife) and that person is me. Now I am not saying I go around disregarding the thoughts and feelings of other people. I mean that as long as I am confident that I have good intentions and try to be the nicest person that I can be then that is all that matters.
 
This is where my next endeavour comes into it. Unless this is your first time reading one of my posts or you have never seen any of the posts I put on Instagram you will know that I have started a new podcast. To me, even writing this stuff down is relatively safe. I am able to edit things, correct the spelling and if I need to, make changes. Podcasting however is about as real and raw as you can get. I mean, yes technically you can edit the bejesus out of the audio but as I have tried to explain, that isn’t my style. I want the podcast to be real and honest but I also want it to be a really good opportunity for people who read my posts or know me online to get to know me a little better (without the help of spellcheck and all the swear words that I use.)
 
I couldn’t have picked a better person to start the show with. Robo is a guy who I am so grateful that I have had the opportunity to meet. We have so many things in common but still so many differences. Now while this may sound like another blatant attempt to get people to listen to the show it isn’t really my intention (but seriously, please do listen!) I just want to explain why I have decided to do this . It is like my blog but in audio and much much less polished.
 
So yes, if you do like the things that I write, even if you don’t normally listen to podcasts, give the show a go. If nothing else it might give you a little more insight into who I am and why I do and love the things that I do. As always, starting something new is quite scary and I have found myself a little too obsessed with watching the download numbers. But as I mentioned, putting myself out there has led to so many positives (and a surprising amount of negatives) so what is the worse that can happen?
 
But that’s enough of me patting myself on the back about what a legend I am (really not what I am going for here.) I just think it is important to take the time to acknowledge all of the strangers who have taken an interest into a kid from Sydney who never thought he would be able to get skinny. So from me to each and every one of you, thank you. and remember to TRI!

If you click here you will be taken to ITUNES to download the podcast
 
 

My pretty sweet 'studio'

The worst part of putting yourself out there is all the bloody posing!