Here it is: my final upload of a busy week of uploads, and probably my last ever sampler style video - a compilation of all of my best clips from training and competition over the past decade or so.
I started compiling this video back in 2019 - I have spent hours upon hours sifting through old videos, finding my favourite clips and editing it all together in the best way possible to create the final project. This has been a massive project and a huge labour of love for me - and I have put more time and effort into this video than any other video I have ever made before; I hope that it can be appreciated for that.
The theme of the video is very much the idea of doing something because you LOVE it and because you have a deep, internal DESIRE to do it, rather than for any external gain. Doing gymnastics has not put a single penny in my pocket, and in many ways it has probably held my life back because I have been so tunnel vision focused on it that I haven't given other aspects of my life the time and attention that they probably needed. And yet, I have still spent at least 12 hours a week for the past 10 years choosing to do it.
More so than anything else, gymnastics has given me a sense of purpose. The journey has been long, frustrating, and lonely at times, and although I may not have enjoyed every second of every training session, I have always had an underlying feeling of satisfaction that I was pushing myself towards a worthwhile end goal. Even now as I type this, knowing that this chapter is over, I am still filled with satisfaction, knowing that I did it, and I have no regrets in making the choice to pursue my passion to the fullest. I am exicted to pursue all the other things which I have neglected for the past few years moving forward into the future, whilst always carrying the satisfaction that this mission has gifted to me, close to my heart.
I think that deep down, this video is my attempt to capture a moment in time, and turn it into something which I, and others, will be able to look back on for many years to come. Who knows how long the internet and youtube will exist for, but at the very least, this video will stand as a semi-permanent reminder of my gymnastics acheivements, which will no doubt become more and more special to me as I grow further and further from my active training days.
As cheesy as it sounds, I want to dedicate this video to everybody who has had any involvment in my training at all, no matter how big or small. Whether we met at Worcestershire Gymnastics Academy, Redditch Trampoline Club, University, Woodward, Huntingdon, met at a competition, or a course, or whether you are a friend or acquaintance from another walk of life who has followed my progress anyway, or whether we have never actually met and you have just followed me online - I thank you. I hope that you enjoy the video, and that you take some inspiration away from it.
All audio for the video is taken from 'The Incredible True Story' album by Logic, an album who's words and sounds have been a big source of motivation for me over the past few years. The intro monologue is an excerpt from the title track, and the following tracks are 'Lord Willin'; Run It' and 'Never Been' - 3 of my favourite songs from the project.
I strongly recommend watching the video with sound on, full screen, on a desktop or laptop if possible; this kind of video will never hit the same on a small phone screen.
Please feel free to share the video or send to anybody else who you think might appreciate it - my videos don't get nearly as many views as they used to, so every view is massively appreciated.
Finally, I invite you to let me know your thoughts, or share a happy memory or moment of us to do with gymnastics; I would love to read your comments and relive some happy feelings and reminisce on good times over the next few days.
Much love, until next time...
Nath
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