Dad, Dad, Dad! Guess what?!
— Tell me, son. What happened?
— Remember I told you I was going to try lifting 200 kilos in a squat?
— Yes, of course, I remember. But I also recall asking you to be very careful; I don’t want you to get hurt.
— Don’t worry, Dad. I inherited your strength, your courage, and determination...
— You’re my son. Of course, I’d worry if something happened to you. But tell me, what happened? Were you able to do it?
— Well, at first, I couldn’t. I tried lifting 190 kilos, but just as I was going up, I felt my legs give out... I couldn’t lift it.
— And you didn’t hurt your back or knees? Were you using a belt? Did you have someone spotting you?
— Calm down. Let me tell you what happened.
— Sorry, but I’m worried something bad might happen, like a hernia or something.
— Let me explain. You see, we get three attempts to lift the weight. If we can’t do it after three tries, we lose.
— So then?
— Then, on my second attempt, I decided to try lifting 195 kilos.
— But why?
— That’s what I’m getting to. When they asked me how much weight I’d be lifting, I said 195 kilos, and you can imagine; they looked at me with surprise and doubt. Maybe because they thought, since I couldn’t manage 190, I wouldn’t be able to lift 195. But you taught me to believe in myself and my decisions. That’s how you did it, and that’s how I learned.
— You were my drive in every battle. You were my oxygen when I struggled to breathe...
— I love you so much, Dad. Did you know that?
— I’ve known since the moment I first held you in my arms, from the first time you said the word “Dad.” But come on, tell me the rest, they’re waiting for me...
— I’ll tell you, but please, promise me you’ll visit us more often. Talk to Him and ask for permission to come down more frequently...
— I’ll ask Him...
— That’s why you’re the best... It was my turn. To be honest, I felt nervous. It had been a long time since I’d tried, maybe a couple of years, but despite the doubts, there was a voice inside me telling me I had to try... I tried. I stared at the bar and knew it was stronger than me... I gripped it tightly, got into position, and the bar rested on my shoulders. I unracked the bar, took a few small steps, positioned my feet, and looked straight ahead. I took a deep breath; I knew I could and had to do it... I lowered myself. It felt good, but as I rose, I felt my legs begin to tremble, as if the bar grew heavier or I grew weaker—I still don’t know what happened... I was halfway up. I thought, “I can’t do it.”... The bar defeated me once again...
— What?! Why did you even want to do that?
— Wait... The bar was now resting on the safety bars, and I was sitting there on the floor, not understanding what went wrong. I didn’t know what had happened. I thought I had studied it all. This wasn’t the first time I had done it...
I went to the room for competitors. I sat down and started analyzing every move, every small action I had just taken out there moments ago...
— And what happened?
— I thought about it. The squat, the deadlift, and the bench press are the perfect analogy for life, did you know? That is, one fights against a heavy resistance trying to impose itself on us, and it’s always when we try to rise that things get most complicated. That’s where many fail... For instance, in the squat: unracking the bar and lowering yourself is easy, anyone can do it, but it’s not until you try to rise that your strength is truly tested. It’s at that moment when your knees feel weakest, when the trembling in your legs becomes most evident, when it feels like your back is splitting in two, and many fears arise: “What if I injure myself?” “Can I make it?” “It’s too heavy.” “I should’ve tried less weight.” “I think I should’ve waited.” Suddenly, you’re stuck at the bottom, and the bar has won. And the same happens with the other exercises. They’re intimidating, but you know, I was scared. I let myself be defeated without truly fighting...
I remembered everything you told me: your dreams, your aspirations, your experiences, even your fears. But at the same time, how, even when you had fallen into the fierce clutches of fear, you faced it and took a step forward when you needed yourself most. How, even with fear, you never let that bar impose itself on you.
I saw that photo I always carry with me... That image that will live in my heart forever... My brother and I, two kids unaware of the challenges that lay ahead. Two kids free of malice and far from fear but very close to happiness and peace... And there you were. In the background, flexing your biceps, looking determined and fearless... Who would’ve thought, right? It’s as if, from that moment, it was already a sign that you would always be there to give us strength, courage, and determination.
So I left that room completely decided. I wouldn’t let that bar defeat me. I walked down the hallway to the designated area. They asked me how much weight, and I said, “202.25 kilos, please.” “Are you sure?” they asked me. “I’ve never been surer than now.” They exchanged glances. I saw the bar. I covered my hands completely with chalk. My shoulders were white from the residue. I stood in front of the bar. “God, help me, please. Give me strength. I promised my father.” I crossed myself. I firmly gripped the bar. Positioned it on my shoulders. Unracked it. Something had changed; I was stronger...
I took a breath. The descent began. I reached the point. I tried to rise... Halfway up, and bam! My legs started trembling again. My knees felt fragile, and my back felt like it was breaking in two... “Will I make it?” I wondered....
The world around me stopped. Suddenly, I wasn’t there anymore. The bar wasn’t on my shoulders. Now, I found myself heading to the workshop on a Saturday afternoon. You were taking a while, and I wanted to check if everything was alright. I entered your office, and there you were, listening to music. You turned to me and said, “Come here, listen to this song.” It was Capitán Tapón by Alejandro Sanz. You told me, “This is our song.”
Everything changed again in the blink of an eye. Now, I was at my high school graduation ceremony. I was about to receive my certificate. I saw you with the camera, ready to take pictures of me. I received my diploma, and you snapped a photo. We walked out, and you told me how proud you were of me.
I closed my eyes again. I returned to that moment when my legs trembled, but now, I took another look, and I saw how much stronger my legs were. Suddenly, my knees felt reinforced. My back had turned into iron. I looked straight ahead, and there you were. Just like in that photo, flexing your biceps as if to show me that now was the time to be my strongest. That in adversity is when we must not let the bar win the battle.
I breathed in deeply, closed my eyes, and felt as though all my strength was concentrated in one place, with one goal: not to give up. I opened my eyes, and there was a crowd in front of me, but my eyes could only see you. You smiled at me and said, “I’m proud of you. I knew you wouldn’t give up.”
They applauded me, but all I cared about was hearing your voice. The world had stopped, and I was able to be with you...
— I love you, my little Jorge, the youngest of my children...
— And I love you... I will never give up...
— Well, son, I have to go. Your grandparents and aunt are waiting for me...
— Will you come visit me again?
— Whenever you need me, I’ll be there... All you have to do is close your eyes and embrace your heart, and you’ll find me... Because now my home is wherever you go as long as you keep remembering me...
— Can I give you a hug?
— As many as you want...
I saw you leave once again, but this time, there was peace...
Thank you for everything, my dear father...