Ah mate, I'm getting vertigo just looking at the pics. Lovely views, but I'd 100% become a statistic if I found myself up there and looked down.
As for the bod pic, phwoaaar! Ticket to the gun show!
I've come to notice that a lot of my childhood mates, now that we're in our 40s, take any opportunity to share a photo showing off the gym work. I'm no exception, by the way. Maybe it's a beach pic. Maybe just holding the pint glass with tensed arm. Here's the thing though, I also dislike (overt) vanity. But so long as the frequency is kept to a respectable level, I find myself thinking "Good for him/her!" whenever the person in the pic is 40 or over, because we all understand the work it takes, and also the feeling of seeing ourselves getting older in the mirror every day. We all know the struggle is real. So in a way, it's almost like we're on the same team, if that makes sense.
I think you’re saying, as long as this doesn’t become a regular feature, I’m not some narcissistic ass … and I’ll happily take that. After reading comments like yours, I’ll cut myself some slack. But I will be posting more mountain pics, cuz I’ve got high aspirations this year.
Definitely my wife and daughter! For so many years I had this hard and fast rule that no man over 40 should take off this shirt … And yeah, getting down is always worse than going up because you have to look into the space, not into the rock.
When my son was little, like kindergarten or first grade, we had a guy living with us who would take his shirt off to work on his car or kick the soccer ball around. Thomas was like, whaoooooo you can DO that?! And he started walking around proudly with no shirt on.
Bryan NEVER walks around without a shirt on, not even when he was younger, so my kid concluded that it was just something you didn’t do! 😂
That’s great! And on this topic, when my son was very young (early in the verbal stage, not sure the age) he saw me walking around without a shirt and exclaimed “I don’t like upper body!” It’s stuck with us ever since! Maybe it’s part of why it was such a meaningful event to take my shirt off in a very uncrowded public setting.
Unfortunately, my age related health issues have put hikes like this out of my reach, but I never get tired of driving I-90 over The Pass and need to learn more of the mountains' names.
I’ve been exploring this little section of the valley this spring and early summer, so I’ve gotten a lot better at these. McClellan Butte and Mt. Si are definitely the easiest to identify (and the hardest to climb I guess, though Putrid Pete’s Peak has easily got the worst trail.)
Great read, great reminders. As I venture off to a girl’s rock climbing trip next week I am grappling with the feelings of mid life. You wrote this piece so well and it calmed me to read it. My recent thoughts: I am no longer invincible like I felt I was before having kids. It takes twice as much work to retain the muscle definition I am used to. While farm chores keep me a shape, it’s no replacement for the workout necessary to feel ready to climb again. I worry about the fear.
As for the vanity, as I read your words and felt your inner dialogue manifest, I think it’s safe to say you should be proud of what you have built. Strong mind, strong body, and strong family. ☀️
South of Montrose in Colorado! A group of us go on a girls trip every year and this one is a new area for me. I don’t venture out of Montana very often… ☺️
Oh let me tell you, there’s not much room for pastries in my diet! I do my best to allow myself one pastry per shift that I work, but when those twice-bakeds come out of the oven and little pieces of them fall apart, I’ll admit I break my rule.
Tom, this resonates on many levels. When you first started on Substack and reached out to me I didn't respond because I wasn't sure how to explain where I was in life in a way that measured up. By now I can't remember the specifics of that (which makes the idea of "measuring up" seem pretty silly). Congrulations on your progress and thanks for sharing your journey.
Tom, you look like a beast! Great working losing the weight, gaining the strength, and of course the confidence that comes with it, that you absolutely deserve to feel. Take that shirt off buddy (when appropriate) and enjoy yourself. Give those young bucks something to motivate them.
The greatest single physical compliment I ever received in my life was in a men's locker room around 15 years ago. I was simply changing into or out of my gym clothes and a much older man (who I knew) looked at me and said "you know, if I looked like you with a shirt off, I'd never put a shirt on". It certainly made my day at the time, but looking back at the compliment years later it probably made my whole decade.
Celebrate yourself my friend...you truly deserve it!
Louisa is not wrong. It's a weird thing that girls, and women, do. I've often wondered why. Where did we learn this? For my generation it might not be as clear, but today's generation I believe social media plays a huge role. And you know it goes well beyond our bodies. It goes into just about everything we do. Good job on the summiting.
As usual Tom , you served up a seven course story, I felt the fear the excitement and could almost see the view. Ya buddy your looking pretty damn good, permission to be vain. Being proud is not vanity. Of course Aimee likes to send me sheets of music for the Piano. I will never figure out why she sent me the song , Your So Vain.
Thanks for Sharing that hike. You give us all courage to try harder and be better. I will count it as my vertical footage I may never do.
Ah mate, I'm getting vertigo just looking at the pics. Lovely views, but I'd 100% become a statistic if I found myself up there and looked down.
As for the bod pic, phwoaaar! Ticket to the gun show!
I've come to notice that a lot of my childhood mates, now that we're in our 40s, take any opportunity to share a photo showing off the gym work. I'm no exception, by the way. Maybe it's a beach pic. Maybe just holding the pint glass with tensed arm. Here's the thing though, I also dislike (overt) vanity. But so long as the frequency is kept to a respectable level, I find myself thinking "Good for him/her!" whenever the person in the pic is 40 or over, because we all understand the work it takes, and also the feeling of seeing ourselves getting older in the mirror every day. We all know the struggle is real. So in a way, it's almost like we're on the same team, if that makes sense.
I think you’re saying, as long as this doesn’t become a regular feature, I’m not some narcissistic ass … and I’ll happily take that. After reading comments like yours, I’ll cut myself some slack. But I will be posting more mountain pics, cuz I’ve got high aspirations this year.
What a view! I’ll let you guess which one I’m talking about. 😂
I would have been terrified trying to get back down after summiting. 😬
Definitely my wife and daughter! For so many years I had this hard and fast rule that no man over 40 should take off this shirt … And yeah, getting down is always worse than going up because you have to look into the space, not into the rock.
When my son was little, like kindergarten or first grade, we had a guy living with us who would take his shirt off to work on his car or kick the soccer ball around. Thomas was like, whaoooooo you can DO that?! And he started walking around proudly with no shirt on.
Bryan NEVER walks around without a shirt on, not even when he was younger, so my kid concluded that it was just something you didn’t do! 😂
That’s great! And on this topic, when my son was very young (early in the verbal stage, not sure the age) he saw me walking around without a shirt and exclaimed “I don’t like upper body!” It’s stuck with us ever since! Maybe it’s part of why it was such a meaningful event to take my shirt off in a very uncrowded public setting.
What a shit post. More pictures with more shirts off or don't even bother writing.
The other request was for no shorts either, so I’ve got some spicy pictures coming just for you buddy.
That's what I'm talking about, Pendergast After Dark.
Unfortunately, my age related health issues have put hikes like this out of my reach, but I never get tired of driving I-90 over The Pass and need to learn more of the mountains' names.
I’ve been exploring this little section of the valley this spring and early summer, so I’ve gotten a lot better at these. McClellan Butte and Mt. Si are definitely the easiest to identify (and the hardest to climb I guess, though Putrid Pete’s Peak has easily got the worst trail.)
I really enjoyed this. Thanks!
Great read, great reminders. As I venture off to a girl’s rock climbing trip next week I am grappling with the feelings of mid life. You wrote this piece so well and it calmed me to read it. My recent thoughts: I am no longer invincible like I felt I was before having kids. It takes twice as much work to retain the muscle definition I am used to. While farm chores keep me a shape, it’s no replacement for the workout necessary to feel ready to climb again. I worry about the fear.
As for the vanity, as I read your words and felt your inner dialogue manifest, I think it’s safe to say you should be proud of what you have built. Strong mind, strong body, and strong family. ☀️
Good to hear from you Jessica! Where are you going climbing?
South of Montrose in Colorado! A group of us go on a girls trip every year and this one is a new area for me. I don’t venture out of Montana very often… ☺️
So that's what a diet of chocolate croissants looks like. Sign me up; you are shredded bro!
that summit looks terrifying; I would not have made it down. Just looking at the pics made me pee a little bit
Oh let me tell you, there’s not much room for pastries in my diet! I do my best to allow myself one pastry per shift that I work, but when those twice-bakeds come out of the oven and little pieces of them fall apart, I’ll admit I break my rule.
We humans are a conundrum, especially to ourselves.
Isn’t that the truth!!!
You only live once take life and be free with mind body and spirit. Peace
That’s a really nice comment!
Tom, this resonates on many levels. When you first started on Substack and reached out to me I didn't respond because I wasn't sure how to explain where I was in life in a way that measured up. By now I can't remember the specifics of that (which makes the idea of "measuring up" seem pretty silly). Congrulations on your progress and thanks for sharing your journey.
Yeah, measuring up does seem pretty silly doesn’t it? We’re all so damned different. Glad it worked for you.
An evolving work in progress to redefine what's important.
You've raised a helluva kid :)
Good for you being healthy and thoughtful and having (by all accounts) a great time in the world. Very happy for you.
Thanks so much Cass. Louisa is the bomb.
Tom, you look like a beast! Great working losing the weight, gaining the strength, and of course the confidence that comes with it, that you absolutely deserve to feel. Take that shirt off buddy (when appropriate) and enjoy yourself. Give those young bucks something to motivate them.
The greatest single physical compliment I ever received in my life was in a men's locker room around 15 years ago. I was simply changing into or out of my gym clothes and a much older man (who I knew) looked at me and said "you know, if I looked like you with a shirt off, I'd never put a shirt on". It certainly made my day at the time, but looking back at the compliment years later it probably made my whole decade.
Celebrate yourself my friend...you truly deserve it!
I figured you’d relate to this one Steve, knowing how you take care of your body. It’s a satisfying pursuit, that’s for sure.
Louisa is not wrong. It's a weird thing that girls, and women, do. I've often wondered why. Where did we learn this? For my generation it might not be as clear, but today's generation I believe social media plays a huge role. And you know it goes well beyond our bodies. It goes into just about everything we do. Good job on the summiting.
It’s weird, isn’t it? I think Louisa is just amazing: beautiful, smart, strong. And yet she feels this way. Strange.
Well done Tom! I can’t wait to hear Sara’s experience on the mountain. Very impressive!
As usual Tom , you served up a seven course story, I felt the fear the excitement and could almost see the view. Ya buddy your looking pretty damn good, permission to be vain. Being proud is not vanity. Of course Aimee likes to send me sheets of music for the Piano. I will never figure out why she sent me the song , Your So Vain.
Thanks for Sharing that hike. You give us all courage to try harder and be better. I will count it as my vertical footage I may never do.
“You’re So Vain”! now that’s a blast from the past. I should come pick you up and go do a hike out near you. You done Haybrook Lookout?
Tom , i have not hiked anywhere a kayak or boat does not take me to. I would love that. Date and time . Any suggestions on shoes
Is it vanity or self love? It’s ok to be proud of your accomplishments including physical ones.
I have absolutely no desire to climb anything but hubby. Hehe.
Congrats on this feat!
I came here to say that, too: being proud of your accomplishments.
Good on you, Tom!
That’s funny, your comment sounds a lot like my wife’s. Thanks Carissa.