The first time I went to the gym I was definitely excited, and definitely an idiot.  I did the typical bench/curls and that’s about all I did.  I think I got pinned as well.  My parents eventually bought me a full squat rack and some weight and I started lifting in my basement during high school with a bud, again mainly just benching and being an idiot as most high school kids are prone to do.  I’d lift at practice (rowing) as well but mainly just a lot of bench pulls.  I was excited but not passionate like I am now.  I get much more excited now, almost 12 years later, when I get to go to the gym or do any training session for that matter.  I don’t get nervous so much anymore except at meets.  I think making mistakes is part of the process and I’m glad I can say I was an idiot in high school.  I’m glad that in college I thought I knew it all and now know that I still had much to learn.  I love that now I have come to the acceptance that I do not know everything and that I am continuing to learn more.  Even when I get my world record squat (which will happen this year or at the April 7th meet) I will continue to learn, continue to evolve in my training and nutrition.  My goal is to be smarter than I was the previous year ever year, and better then I was the previous year, every year.  If you can’t say “I was an idiot” about your past then you need to assess.  It’s when people accept this that they can really start learning and making strides.  I was fortunate to start out young making mistakes, that didn’t destroy my body and prepared me for the journey ahead.  I hope everyone can find the passion and excitement that I have NOW about my training, even after doing it for so long.