Push-ups and the meaning of life

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Why are so many young people obsessed with their bodies? They put on T-shirts that fit their biceps and stare at the growth of their shoulders in every washed windowpane. They do not hesitate to show on Instagram the muscular mountains of their forearms. The six-pack selfies are also receiving applause. One can hardly see the self-deprecating, subversive look at the muscle obsession that defines their daily lives. Against.

With great seriousness and the habit of specialists, the guys explain in detail in which order which part of the body is trained most effectively and how much of which type of proteins is best to use and when. The mind is challenged along with the body: “You’re the boss when you focus on your goals / And motivate yourself in front of the mirror every morning / When you train hard to strengthen your muscles,” sang German rapper Kollegah. back in 2014 and today’s youth agree: Discipline, fight a weaker self, surpass yourself, no pain no success, no success without diligence.

But in their unconditional hope for enthusiastic followers, tough men also have something of a baby who dares to take his first steps – and constantly squints at the enthusiastic approval of dad and mom.

So this is an insecurity, a “crisis of masculinity”, which is supposed to be compensated by muscle mass? Or is it a desire to distance themselves from the Awakened, who are limp from the total rejection of meat, fear of the climate and talk of LGBTQIA? A muscle-bound revolt against body positivity that claims that everyone is beautiful and that indiscipline masquerades as individuality?

Or muscle madness, perhaps even some sort of substitute for God? Man still aspires to heaven, but now the path, truth and life are no longer outside of himself, but in the ideal ego imposed on himself. It is no longer about being a model Christian, a useful member of society, but about giving yourself the best shape possible: training your body, making it dynamic, modeling it.

Biceps and triceps, alive like a cobra, serve no one and nothing. A muscular body is quite enough for itself. He enjoys his upgraded version but never reaches his goal. Because he will always find something that could be optimized. He is never threatened by the achievement of the ideal and the loss of the meaning of life. Everything will be fine.

Ursula von Arx describes her workouts as gymnastics and tells herself she only does it to stay flexible. And yet, she is amazed at how satisfied she is afterward. Von Arx writes to Bleek every second Monday.

Source: Blick