Funny question, When was the last time your muscles ached?

I remember a friend of mine who took over my training for a brief time.

I can clearly remember a day he took me out to park to give me a workout. After running around the park for awhile, he told me it was time for pushups. (oh yay!)

Being a decade or too younger than I am now, and considerably fitter, I peeled off a respectable twenty pushups. My back was straight, my wrists strong and I lowered down to my nose and back like I was a marine.

I started to stand up. Whoa !

Come on Dave, give me five more.

I slowly lowered myself to do five more, but not quite so steady. I slowly ground out my 4th, and he had his hand on my back holding me there, two more Dave, just two more.

Those two ground out even more slowly, and again his voice – JUST two more Dave, and I grit my teeth and pulled those two out of somewhere,

that darn hand, and that darn encouraging voice, One more Dave, just one more.

I halfway got that one done before I collapsed in the dirt.

You know what? I was proud of those sore muscles the next day. Been proud of your sore muscles lately? Challenges do me good, and it’s good to fall flat, and build up.

remember the poem – The Reward is Within.