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# Atrophy
- URL: https://justincox.com/blog/2020/09/atrophy/
- Published: 2020-09-22T09:32:22.000Z
- Updated: 2023-06-17T00:17:02.000Z
- Description: Rediscovering my original voice
- Author: Justin Cox
- Tags: Burnout, Life

Today is the autumnal equinox. Besides being fun to say (**go ahead, try it, I’ll wait: aa-tum-null*), it’s one of only two days out of the year where the day and night are equal in length.

The last equinox? Well, it was day three of the national “[15-Days to Stop The Spread](https://www.whitehouse.gov/articles/15-days-slow-spread/?ref=justincox.com)” campaign. That went well, didn’t it?

Anyway, this story has nothing to do with coronavirus. Or politics. It’s all about time.

A lot happened since the last equinox. [I changed careers](https://psiloveyou.xyz/choosing-growth-over-fear-in-a-time-of-uncertainty-545fad5c8c54?ref=justincox.com) and ended up [in the hospital](https://medium.com/justincox/this-just-in-19-386-08-93f762203925?ref=justincox.com). And no, those two things have nothing to do with each other. Pro-tip: punctuation matters.

One thing that hasn’t happened since the spring equinox? I haven’t been to the gym. The last day I met with my trainer was March 4\. 202 days ago.

Through that time, my muscles atrophied. I grew slower. Stretches became tougher.

Last night, [Nicolas Cole](https://medium.com/u/7c10a61aa346?ref=justincox.com) [equated bodybuilding with writing](https://twitter.com/Nicolascole77/status/1308215347028221952?ref=justincox.com). While phyiscal muscles atrophy from lack of exercise, so do creative one. If you don’t create, the act becomes more difficult. Atrophy is a bitch.

The good news is everything is fixable. Muscles, both physical and creative, are repairable. It just takes effort and willpower.

My publication here on Medium is now named [Justin Writes](https://medium.com/justincox?ref=justincox.com) (yes, the name is [**totes cute*](https://writingcooperative.com/how-to-be-a-professional-freelance-writer-invest-in-yourself-c01b1141ff5c?ref=justincox.com)). It’s time to go back to basics. For me, that’s blogging.

Blogging on GeoCities¹ is where my writing career began. It’s where I found my original voice — a voice I’m ready to unearth. Don’t worry, my longer, more in-depth pieces aren’t going anywhere (**psst*, [sign up for This Just In](https://justincox.com/#subscribe) and never miss them). I’m just adding **more* stories.

Why explain all this? Well, **dear reader*, I want you to hold me accountable. Now, I’m not committing to publishing daily, but if you don’t see something for a few days, [call me out](https://twitter.com/justincox?ref=justincox.com).

Part of why going to the gym worked so well (**pre-pandemic, of course*) is my wife and trainer held me accountable. We all need a partner. Want to go to the [#blognasium](https://twitter.com/search?q=blognasium&src=typed%5Fquery&f=live&ref=justincox.com)² with me? Reach out and I’ll help keep you accountable, too. We’re in this together, friend.

What will I blog about? The sky is the limit! But I’ll likely explore creativity, community, entertainment, and technology. Are you ready? Let’s build some muscles. Together.

### \_\_

1: If you know GeoCities, you’re my people. If not, well, you can still be my people. We just need a different connection.

2: I’m **shocked* #blognasium isn’t more wildly used on Twitter.