Post by bodyelectric on Feb 17, 2012 21:34:12 GMT -7
Dear Mr Jeffers, I’d say that normally I’d just email this, but normally I don’t write fan/whatever letters. However I felt compelled to write this one. It was pure chance that brought me here, someone pointing and laughing “And that’s why bodybuilding’s gay.” But I thought to myself, sure I could laugh at the tight yellow spandex, or I could look and say to myself “Holy ****, did you see those arms?” and then I saw the rest, and concluded that, gay or straight, that man has no reason to be ashamed wearing anything. So I watched a couple of those training videos, and that was impressive, so I wanted to find out more and looked up the wiki article, which led me to a couple of interviews, and *that* was really impressive. I mean a lot of guys have built up impressive bodies, but what really impressed me was that you came out as a completely level-headed, normal person, who knows what he wants and goes for it, and a person who knows what they want are safe in who they are, in their looks, their masculinity, their craft, their identity.
In my early teens I was interested in bodybuilding, but I was “weird” enough as it was (you don’t worship at the altar of soccer, there’s something seriously wrong with you), since I didn’t have the competitive edge or co-ordination for team sports (especially the much-hated soccer), the nasty comments combined with all of that made me withdraw from it. Not to belabour the sob story, I was easily disheartened, being a late bloomer it took me quite a while to get over that attitude. I got my exercise mostly from walking, taking the stairs instead of elevators, hiking when I got the chance (our family vacations especially, since they were never about hanging lounging on the beach, even when we went to the beach). Don’t even get me started on PE, that was a joke; in elementary school it translated to: here’s a soccer ball, now let me read my paper; in high school the same, only it was volleyball rather than soccer. And readings some threads here, I realize probably that the only reason I’m not a tub of lard is that my taste-buds violently reject most of the worst foods.
But enough about me. Though others – like gym teachers – have their faults in this situation (up until last year I didn’t know how to do a proper push-up, and only found out I’ve been doing squats all wrong from these boards; by the way, that moment when I did them right was oh-my-god), anyway I know most of the fault lies with me. But what’s different now, I think, is that I understand it, and you inspired me. Not to pursue professional bodybuilding, aside from some other things I doubt I’d ever have enough courage to stand there and be judged, or face the rejections, I think it’s really brave to be able to put yourself out there like that. It’s about the confidence it gives you in every aspect of your life – the confidence you get from having a body that you’re happy with. I think that at 28 I know well enough who I am (at least in this point of my life), not to be disheartened by the fact that most built up guys I see are gold chain-wearing, Mercedes SUV-driving, raging d-bags (who listen to the worst excuse for music know to man and beyond), I know you don’t have to some obsessed beast to care about your old-school masculine body, and you reinforce that. So even if I let someone bug me about that, I can point and say “This is Rusty Jeffers, now read what he has to say.” And shut them up.
You’ve inspired me, and that’s the reason I wanted this message here; the place looks a little ghost-towny, but I’m hoping that maybe someone else will read it, and maybe they’ll be inspired too, about this or anything else in their lives. I’m afraid that at this point I can’t do more to repay you than this. I want to congratulate you on all your successes, and wish you luck in all your future endeavours. You’re a testament to what one man can accomplish with a clear head, self-knowledge, and the support of good people – family and friends. Maybe in a year, I’ll be able to come back here and add to this long and tedious letter, with sincerity, “Rusty Jeffers changed my life!” Thank you.
In my early teens I was interested in bodybuilding, but I was “weird” enough as it was (you don’t worship at the altar of soccer, there’s something seriously wrong with you), since I didn’t have the competitive edge or co-ordination for team sports (especially the much-hated soccer), the nasty comments combined with all of that made me withdraw from it. Not to belabour the sob story, I was easily disheartened, being a late bloomer it took me quite a while to get over that attitude. I got my exercise mostly from walking, taking the stairs instead of elevators, hiking when I got the chance (our family vacations especially, since they were never about hanging lounging on the beach, even when we went to the beach). Don’t even get me started on PE, that was a joke; in elementary school it translated to: here’s a soccer ball, now let me read my paper; in high school the same, only it was volleyball rather than soccer. And readings some threads here, I realize probably that the only reason I’m not a tub of lard is that my taste-buds violently reject most of the worst foods.
But enough about me. Though others – like gym teachers – have their faults in this situation (up until last year I didn’t know how to do a proper push-up, and only found out I’ve been doing squats all wrong from these boards; by the way, that moment when I did them right was oh-my-god), anyway I know most of the fault lies with me. But what’s different now, I think, is that I understand it, and you inspired me. Not to pursue professional bodybuilding, aside from some other things I doubt I’d ever have enough courage to stand there and be judged, or face the rejections, I think it’s really brave to be able to put yourself out there like that. It’s about the confidence it gives you in every aspect of your life – the confidence you get from having a body that you’re happy with. I think that at 28 I know well enough who I am (at least in this point of my life), not to be disheartened by the fact that most built up guys I see are gold chain-wearing, Mercedes SUV-driving, raging d-bags (who listen to the worst excuse for music know to man and beyond), I know you don’t have to some obsessed beast to care about your old-school masculine body, and you reinforce that. So even if I let someone bug me about that, I can point and say “This is Rusty Jeffers, now read what he has to say.” And shut them up.
You’ve inspired me, and that’s the reason I wanted this message here; the place looks a little ghost-towny, but I’m hoping that maybe someone else will read it, and maybe they’ll be inspired too, about this or anything else in their lives. I’m afraid that at this point I can’t do more to repay you than this. I want to congratulate you on all your successes, and wish you luck in all your future endeavours. You’re a testament to what one man can accomplish with a clear head, self-knowledge, and the support of good people – family and friends. Maybe in a year, I’ll be able to come back here and add to this long and tedious letter, with sincerity, “Rusty Jeffers changed my life!” Thank you.
