Kaizen is the Japanese word for continuous improvement. It is a theme that is central to “well-centered fitness.” It is a personal philosophy.
I have posted less frequently to this blog than I have in the past because I am cohosting a podcast (“The Aging Well Podcast”) with a former student. We initiated the podcast as a way of informing others (and ourselves) about self-improvement and aging with an attitude of kaizen.
It is my son’s final year of high school wrestling. After a bit of a disruption following a car accident his junior season, be is back on track and improving every time he steps on the mat. There is a saying in wrestling that there are no losers, “there are only winners and learners.” It is one of the many life-lessons from the sport. (It is my hope that my son will continue to wrestle in college, as he has yet to peak physically, as well as technically—and I just enjoy watching his pursuit of success.) I am inspired by his attitude. The goal is to get on the podium at state. Every match until the last is a learning opportunity.
Some will tell us that we peak early in life and that aging is just a downhill slide. I call “bull****!” Yes, we will be our strongest and fastest in our earlier years, but performance (especially physical performance) is relative—what are our peers doing? And for most, who never pursued the pinnacle of athletic performance, there is likely some room remaining for improvement. Challenged by my high school wrestlers who I am coaching in strength and conditioning, I recently surprised them (and myself) when I deadlifted 385 pounds cold (without a warmup)—something I don’t think I could have done in my 20s. (I think I could have pulled more that day.) I turn 60 in April. I don’t want to stop.
Beyond the physical, there should be no peak in our growth Spiritually, Intellectually, Emotionally, and Socially. Kaizen. We may have failures along the way (failure is, of course, part of the growth process), and we must be smarter in how we manage the overload (remember that growth requires a stimulus, and the stimulus follows the physiological principle of progressive overload—i.e., for a body system to adapt, it must be stressed to a level greater than that to which it is accustomed).
Kaizen is an attitude. It is a fruit of grattitude. It is the asymptote of success.
Be your best today; be better tomorrow.
Carpe momento!!