Fitness is not about being better than someone else... It's about

The soft light of the café’s overhead lamps bathed the room in a warm glow, the world outside blurred by the drizzle of a gentle rain. The faint sound of people talking and the occasional clink of coffee cups filled the space. Jack sat, his posture slightly slouched, staring out the window at the world passing by. Jeeny, sitting across from him, was lost in her own thoughts, her fingers tracing the edge of her cup, her expression quiet but thoughtful.

Host: The soft rhythm of the café had become a background hum, as if the world outside was waiting for them to speak. Jeeny finally broke the silence, her voice gentle but carrying a quiet strength.

Jeeny: “I came across a quote from Khloe Kardashian today. She said, ‘Fitness is not about being better than someone else... It’s about being better than you used to be.’ What do you think about that? Do you believe fitness is more about self-improvement than comparison?”

Jack: His lips curled slightly into a smirk, but there was a certain curiosity in his eyes. “That’s a nice thought. It’s easy to say, isn’t it? ‘Be better than you used to be.’ But what about those who need to be better for someone else? Competition can drive you, can’t it?”

Jeeny: Her voice didn’t waver, though her eyes held a quiet understanding. “I get that. But maybe the point is that we’re not meant to compare ourselves to anyone else. The only person you should be better than is who you were yesterday. Fitness isn’t just about how you measure up against others; it’s about your own journey, your own growth.”

Host: The atmosphere seemed to shift subtly, as if the words hung in the air, transforming the space between them into something deeper. Jack’s fingers paused on the edge of his coffee cup as he considered her words, his gaze still on the window.

Jack: “Yeah, but don’t you think we’re wired to compare ourselves to others? To see how we measure up? It’s easy to say fitness is about self-improvement, but when you’re constantly seeing people around you who look a certain way, it’s hard to not feel like you’re falling behind.”

Jeeny: Her eyes softened, and she leaned forward slightly, her voice gentle but with a quiet conviction. “But that’s the trap, isn’t it? Constantly comparing yourself to someone else only pulls you further away from your own progress. Fitness, like life, isn’t about perfection or fitting a mold—it’s about being the best version of yourself, no matter what anyone else is doing.”

Host: The rhythm of the conversation had slowed, each word weighing heavily in the air, like a shared truth slowly unfolding. Jack shifted in his seat, his fingers now still on the cup as if he were absorbing what she had said, something shifting inside him.

Jack: “I guess there’s truth in that. But what if being better than I used to be still feels like not enough? What if I can’t see the progress I want, or it doesn’t happen as quickly as I think it should?”

Jeeny: Her voice, now soft but reassuring, met his concern head-on. “Progress doesn’t always come in the form we expect. Sometimes, it’s not visible right away. But that doesn’t mean it’s not happening. Fitness, like anything worth pursuing, is about the journey—about staying consistent, showing up for yourself, and not letting those comparisons pull you away from the small wins that build over time.”

Host: The soft rain outside created a gentle backdrop to their conversation, like the world was supporting their words. Jack’s expression softened as he absorbed her message, his shoulders relaxing as the tension he had carried seemed to ease.

Jack: “Maybe it’s just a matter of shifting how I see things. Not measuring my progress by anyone else’s standards, but by my own. Focusing on the little improvements, the moments where I’ve done better than I did before.”

Jeeny: “Exactly. Fitness isn’t about perfection or competing with others. It’s about growth—how you evolve, how you push yourself to be better than you were yesterday. It’s the small steps that lead to big changes.”

Host: There was a quiet peace that seemed to settle between them, the soft hum of the café around them almost blending into the stillness of the moment. Jack’s eyes met Jeeny’s, a slow smile tugging at his lips as if a small revelation had dawned.

Jack: “I think I get it now. It’s not about where I stack up against others—it’s about how far I’ve come from where I started. And that’s something to be proud of, no matter what.”

Jeeny: Her smile mirrored his, warm and understanding, a quiet acknowledgment of the shift between them. “Exactly. You’re not in competition with anyone else. It’s just you, and how much you’re willing to grow.”

Host: The café felt quieter now, as though the world had faded into the background, leaving them with the understanding that fitness, like life, was about the journey, not the destination. The rain outside had softened, leaving the air fresh and still, as Jack and Jeeny sat in the quiet realization that the most meaningful progress was the one they made, not in comparison to others, but in the growth of their own selves.