I overcame major anxiety and shielded myself from everyone. I physically covered up well into my early 40’s. No public showers, no shirt off ANYWHERE. I had body dysmorphia. I received compliments & hid my physical appearance. A fellow male Trainer and great friend, (Fred) 70yo, used to compliment me on how hard I trained and looked. Fred said “you should compete,” I’d smile, and say no thank you. There’s no way I’d ever go onstage. One day, Fred was sitting in the gym lobby and said, Stephen I feel strange. I soon learned Fred had cancer. Fast forwarding, Fred was in the hospital, in bed, weak, lethargic with a traction bar above him. I said Fred, I bet if you wanted, you could pull yourself up toward the bar. He looked up, reached slowly and lifted himself high to the bar and slowly descended.toward the mattress. We smiled at each other and he rested. A few days later, my friend died. Fred inspired me to overcome fear & challenge myself to compete. My first BB competition…1st place??‍♀️