The StoWicks Conversations
by
Carolyn and Seth Wicks
Today's Key Points:
- Do It For The Kids
- Capability Preserves Independence
- Athleticism Is Reliability
Carolyn: When you think of the word athleticism, you’re probably thinking of a professional athlete: Serena Williams, Tom Brady, Tiger Woods. But today, we want to shift that mindset away from them and back to you. What does athleticism look like in your life?
It looks like being able to pick a baby up off the floor without hurting yourself. It looks like having the balance and strength to catch yourself as you age. It looks like carrying a box overhead, climbing stairs without getting out of breath, and getting in and out of a low car. These aren’t extreme scenarios. They’re everyday movements you need in order to live well.
When we talk about athleticism, we’re not talking about six-pack abs or competition. We’re talking about balance, strength, stamina, coordination, and confidence. Athleticism is the ability to participate fully in your own life.
And if making life easier for yourself isn’t motivating enough, consider this: choosing not to build capability often means someone else will eventually have to carry that burden for you. Becoming the best version of yourself, physically and mentally, isn’t vanity. So let’s dive in.
Seth: Building athleticism matters for a lot of reasons. One that doesn’t get talked about enough is parenting. You read that right, parenting. "But Seth, how does athleticism relate to parenting?" you might be asking. Well, I have a few key points for you on this relationship.
First, parents who are active in front of their children produce more active children. I could list 100+ reasons as to why this matters, but you probably understand that being more active is associated with better healthspan and lifespan. As it relates to athleticism, kids who then play in team sports have greater health benefits not only in childhood, but into adulthood as well.
Second, it is the duty of a parent to protect their child. I'm not advocating for violence, but I am advocating for being able to respond when necessary.
- What if your child runs towards the street? Are you able to catch them?
- What if there is a sudden crisis and you need to not only pick up your child, but be able to run with them in your arms? To make it even harder, what if you started on the floor? Could you get up quickly and act?
- In a less dramatic scenario, what about a simple hike up a trail where the ground is uneven and you're forced to carry them for 5 miles?
As Carolyn mentioned earlier, these are all very normal experiences and do happen. They’re everyday moments where life asks how well you can move. You need to have the answer.
Carolyn: When conversations about strength training come up, most people default to talking about men or aesthetics. But women especially lose out when they avoid the weight room. The science is clear that resistance training builds muscle — and that matters. Muscle supports posture and balance, improves energy, and gives you confidence in your body’s ability to move through life without fear. Studies show that strength training during pregnancy can improve mood, lower pain, increase energy, and boost overall quality of life for expectant moms, without adverse effects when done safely. Strength work also targets the muscles that support your pelvic floor and core, which research shows can enhance strength and endurance a foundation many women underestimate until it matters.
Strength training isn’t optional for women who want to live with agency and confidence throughout all stages of life. It’s a decision that pays psychological and physical dividends. The act of lifting weights builds real performance: you move better, you feel stronger walking into any room, and you literally prove to yourself that your body can handle real demands. That confidence translates everywhere, from carrying your kids, to showing up at work, to being present in your life with clarity and resilience.
So if you’ve ever hesitated to step into the weight room, hear this as a call, not a suggestion: women need to lift. Consistently. With intent. Your body, your mind, and your future self will thank you.
Seth: One thing the Stoics preach is personal responsibility and the building of one's character. To me, athleticism is a part of that. Not because fitness is trendy or because performance looks cool (though it does), but because your physical capability is tied directly to how well you can show up in the real world, both for yourself and for the people who depend on you.
At some point in life, your body will be asked to do something meaningful. That moment may come as a parent, as a spouse, as a friend, or simply as a human trying to live independently with dignity. When that moment arrives, will your body be something you can rely on? Or something you quietly wish you had taken more seriously?
The point I’m trying to make is that athleticism is a form of reliability. For those around you, and for yourself. Choosing to build a capable body means choosing not to outsource your strength to other people. It means choosing to take ownership of the one tool you will carry with you every second of your life. It means saying, “I intend to be useful. I intend to be strong enough for the roles I’ve been given.”
To me, that’s Stoicism lived physically.
Carolyn: As Seth mentions, athleticism isn’t just for this season of life, it’s for the ones you haven’t reached yet. Both Andrew Huberman and Peter Attia talk often about this idea: that aging doesn’t take your independence all at once, it erodes it slowly through disuse. What you practice, you keep. What you neglect, you lose. Balance, coordination, strength, and endurance aren’t traits you’re either born with or not, they’re skills that compound when you use them and fade when you don’t. That’s true for men and women alike.
Most people don’t lose independence because they “got old,” they lose it because they stopped moving, stopped challenging their bodies, and stopped preparing for the physical demands of daily life. Athleticism is what keeps you engaged: able to travel, play, carry, react, and participate instead of opting out. It’s the same physical readiness that helps you show up as a strong partner and parent, and it’s the same readiness that allows you to age with dignity rather than dependence. This is the long game.
Seth: At the end of the day, you must be prepared physically for uncertainty. People like to talk about "No one is coming to save you", and they're right. You must save yourself. Athleticism is how you make sure your body is an asset, not a liability so you can take care of the people who matter most.
Carolyn: Athleticism isn’t something you “start” one day, it’s something you practice. It’s built in the small, unglamorous moments: choosing to move instead of opting out, trusting your body instead of avoiding challenge, showing up even when it feels ordinary. You don’t need more intensity. You need more continuity.
Seth: Pick one movement goal this week and make sure to hit it all 7 days. You don't have to be perfect (nobody is), you just need 7 straight days of commitment and consistency. This could be walking a certain amount of steps, doing 15 minutes of yoga, or doing a bodyweight workout. If you need help starting, feel free to reach out. We're here and willing to help.
Both: You don’t need a complicated plan to build athleticism. Start where you are. Build strength you can use. And keep showing up.
See you next week,
Carolyn & Seth
The StoWicks
Quote of the Week:
"No citizen has a right to be an amateur in the matter of physical training."
Socrates
