I am very sore today.  

My back is cracking bark; my legs shaking steel; my chest whines as I stretch, and my arms feel heavy.  Sleep calls, and rest beckons.  But I must persist.  I must exist.
  And this pain is beautiful.  I cannot wait to feel it again - knowing that I just pushed my body as far as it could go, and I'm still standing.  I will rest, grow, and heal, ready to do it all over again.

Every time I do one of these entries, I like to come at it from a reflective state.  A LOT has changed in my life plan and routine, and I want to share the lessons learned from the journey so far.  

  My home gym is not very extensive.  I have a bench, a curling barbell, a straight barbell, and a set of dumbbells from 25-40 lbs.  Add in a dip station, pull-up bar, and a punching bag, and that's it.  The majority of my weight training is free weights and (no spotter) chest presses with control over weight - my toughest workout days are majority bodyweight; tons of pushup variations, squat variations, and many grips of pullups.  Kickboxing once or twice a week, and running twice a week...and I'm doing well for myself.
  Recently, my wife and I found ourselves back on a cruise ship.  The Anthem of the Seas - a "high-tech" vessel with a robotic bar, wave pool, bumper cars, and a teens-only extravaganza deck.  They also have a Vitality Fitness Area, with rows upon rows of dumbbells all the way up 80 lbs, and a plethora of machines for any manner of exercise.
  Our first night on the boat...I took 2 hours to myself and lifted as much as I could on every one of these machines.  It's a powerful thing to be able to report the following:
Chest Press: 170
Leg Press: 350
Shoulder Press: 160
Tricep Pulldown: 65
Lat Pulldown: 150
Bicep Pulldown: 110
...and then many others that I failed to record.  It was also great to happily curl 55 lb dumbbells.  
​I'd never have space for such things, but it's a great ego boost to know that it's working.  ;)

  This remains from the last big Buff DM post, and I'm still doing it.  Starting my day with 5-10 minutes of meditation, then stretching, and making sure that I move.  I need to spend more time on my feet than on my seat.  :)

I am the strongest I have ever been, and I hope to be able to say that each time I do an entry here, but I want ALL OF YOU to feel as awesome as I do now.  So, I've been talking it up here and there, but filming has finally begun, and with the advent of a fitness center under our control (wink, wink), it's time to build up The Forge: Level Up Fitness for the Athletic Nerd.  Bodyweight exercises with Milestone progression, actual attributes for yourself as a D&D character, and a boss fight every tier.  Let's get to work, nerds.

See you at the table.  And maybe the gym.
-Adamus

  I have only just returned from a 7-day respite in a far away land.  A land where the drinks flow readily, the food is exquisite, and the magic is there as long as you are looking for it.  What is this long-forgotten civilization of artisanal glass-blowing and dwarven rations?  It goes by a name only whispered in dark corners and seedy taverns.

BERMUDA.

  And what, pray tell, did I accomplish while in this dark city state; a secluded island of rich history, crowded busses, and a vibrant night life all wrapped up in the thin coating of tourism and mini golf?
 
Nothing.  I did nothing.  And it was the greatest Nothing I could have hoped for.

  It was in this nothing that, for the first time in nearly three years, I was truly "away."  My mind could rest, and it could wander.  It could take note of my now practiced ability to easily make conversation, to make new people feel at home, and rejoice in new connections forged through such friendliness and courtesy.  I got to meet many new people, some of which will remain friends beyond this experience, and all of which are accomplished nerds (including a pair of leather workers and armorers).  I was immersed in a culture of ease, where tastes could be explored, conversations organic, and sheer existence celebrated.  
  I haven't been on a cruise in some time, and now that I am home, it is safe to say that was the best one yet.  It wasn't the ship, or the food (though it was amazing), or the staff (they're pretty cool people), but it was company we kept - the people we met, the conversations we built, and the strong connections we made, that would define this experience. 

And, of course, this got me thinking during the 3-hour drive home from Jersey - on the importance and significance that rest serves in a D&D campaign, and in life, and I think I broke it down into four main elements.

  We need alternative views to grow as people, and these require time to process for each person that remains open to them. You ever get so wrapped up in a problem that you feel like you're going crazy, only to take a moment - a deep breath, even - and discover the solution the next moment?  Yeah.  That.  Take a moment, give yourself a break, and come at it from a new angle.  Everyone is healthier for it.
  In game terms, this works precisely the same way.  Combat, puzzles, and social challenges can be augmented and creatively solved the more angles you can work, and the more ideas you are open to.  Considering the ideas and perspectives of others, while allowing yourself time to process said avenues, expands your imagination and problem-solving.  So do it.  Please.

  Not all those who wander are lost, and this is most true when we allow ourselves space to roam.  Too often in life, we become stuck in our path, locked into our chosen lane.  Rest allows us to wander outside of that lane, open ourselves to new experiences - often outside of our comfort zones.  This is a good thing.  It keeps us flexible and moving toward a global literacy.  Try things that are scary to you, try the road less traveled, and give space to new thoughts and ideas.  Let them evolve and change, and open the door to revisit them to see what new facets of your being have now surfaced.
  In a game, this is best represented by "side quests."  Whether it be for a rare item, a shred of character background, or as a natural consequence to a poor decision...the best side quests are often more fulfilling than the main story.  They could last a few days in game, a few months, or represent a brand-new arc of the story.  Often, we learn much more in our wanderings and can grow tremendously just by venturing off the beaten path, so that once we return, we are forever changed; stronger, faster, more skilled than ever before, making our return that much more triumphant.  Not that the main quest is somehow diminished, and, in fact, it only strengthens our desire to return to it at the close of our wandering.  It bolsters our resolve, and equips us to move forward.  Which reminds me...

  Often referred to as "downtime activities," extended stints of rest offer up opportunities to build elements, infrastructure, resources, and education for the challenging road ahead.  In game terms, this is when players accomplish feats of extended research, business connections, stronghold building, magic item construction, SHOPPING, and, ahem, personal side quests.  It helps to provide the players with not only a chance to breathe, but a means to point forward toward their personal and group goals, with the opportunity to prepare appropriately.
  In life, rest - TRUE REST - allows our minds and bodies the valuable time to be "away" from it all.  Then, we can return slowly, reintegrating the elements of our lives that we actually miss...and begin to build the tools necessary to augment and expand upon what we ACTUALLY want out of our lives, while leaving the excess behind.  For me, it was a hard look at where I am and where I want to be; recognizing the elements of my life that I no longer need or want, and the elements I want more of; creating a clearer work/life balance separation for my own peace of mind and to help fight fatigue; FINALLY building a business model that not only supports the pursuit of my dreams, but keeps me sane on the way.
  We need this facet of rest the most, yet so little of us have the opportunity to experience it.  Even if we LOVE our jobs (and I do), we all need to get away for a bit to recognize all that we can do - all that can become possible - when given the time to prepare.  And in case you're wondering, THERE IS NO LIMIT.

I'll see you at the table.  I'm off to build a castle in the sky.
-Adamus