30-Day Blog Challenge: Day Two—The meaning behind your blog name
The story begins way back in 2008, I believe. I was indulging in one of my favorite obsessions—watching YouTube videos. At the time I was beginning to become interested in meditation, so I was looking for videos that dealt with that subject. That’s where I came across the YouTube channel for YogaGarden. The video for zazen was hosted by a guy named Patrick. It was informative, understandable, and humorous. I decided to view some of the other topics he addressed and became a fan. I noticed that the studio had a website, so I decided to follow the link and see what other information was there. It looked like a yoga studio I would have liked to visit, however it was just a little beyond my means. Traveling to Japan for yoga and meditation classes wasn’t something I could afford or manage.
Skip to a few months later. My interest in zen was growing and I was starting to get interested in the podcasts offered by iTunes. So I searched for anything with the word “zen” in it. One of the results was this podcast called Zen is Stupid. At first I was a little insulted that someone really though zen was stupid, but I have this little streak of curiosity in me that wanted to see what the podcaster had to say about it. So I downloaded one and began to listen. I immediately recognized the voice of one of the podcasters—it was none other than Patrick from the YogaGarden YouTube channel! Since I loved his presentation style from the videos, I downloaded all of the podcasts. And amazingly enough, there was a website dedicated to the Zen is Stupid podcast.
Skip ahead a few more months. It’s now 2009. Somehow between the YogaGarden YouTube channel and the Zen Is Stupid podcast, I come across Patrick’s blog. (Unfortunately I don’t think the one I read is in existence anymore, which explains the lack of a link to it.) I don’t usually read many blogs. They really have to click with me before I stay around. It wasn’t difficult with Patrick’s blog—and I wasn’t surprised since I liked the prior two endeavors I encountered.
Skip ahead a few more months. Summer 2009. Over the prior ten years I had gained weight. I was out of shape, unhappy, and, although I had become a vegetarian in January of 2008, I was still eating pretty unhealthily. That was when I found another of Patrick’s endeavors—The Peak Condition Project—a 90-day wellness program. After a few days of dithering and trying to decide whether on not I wanted to do it, I finally got the courage to send an email to Patrick. His response was quick—well, as quick as you can get from being half a planet away—and I went for it.
The Peak Condition Project is more than just an exercise program and far more than a diet regimen. It’s all about wellness. Yes, there is exercise. Yes, there is a diet plan. However, it also teaches you how to eat better—how to live well. You get to encounter people from all over the world who are going through the same program you are, and you lift each other up and help each other through it, and you become friends with many of them. Patrick is there every step of the way with daily emails and you can chat with him if you need to.
Over the past year, I still kept in contact with Patrick. Sometimes it was a quick email, sometimes it was a half-hour chat. Then in October I happened to mention to him that it had been one year since I had been on the Peak Condition Project. He asked how I was doing and I responded that I was still going strong—exercising, eating well, still could swim in my old clothes. He then requested that I send him a current picture of what I looked like. So I did. A few days later, I received this photo:
The picture on the left is what I looked like at the start of the Peak Condition Project. On the right is me one year later. Amazing, isn’t it? I think I shall always be eternally grateful to Patrick and his guidance to helping me become a more healthy person, and to a Universe that kept making sure I would cross his path over and over again. It has been an incredible journey.
Which brings me back to the initial question that started off this whole blog entry down memory lane: What is the meaning of your blog name? Well, as I’m sure you have guessed by now, “Beyond the Peak” originally referred to what life was going to be like beyond the Peak Condition Project, but over the past year the meaning has changed into something else.
I reached my objective and made it to the peak of the mountain. As I stood there and looked out, I saw other lands stretched out before me with other mountains in the distance—and it was then that I realized that my goal was not where I stood. It never was. The goal was in the journey, not the destination. And the journey continues, always going beyond the peak.
