The New Ego

Day 16 – A New Connection

Mason woke up feeling… lighter. The loneliness from the previous day still lingered, but it felt less oppressive. He stretched, got out of bed, and headed to the kitchen.

Mason grabbed a quick breakfast—a protein shake and a banana. He wasn't in the mood for a big meal, but he knew he needed the energy for the gym.

"Today's leg day," he muttered, lacing up his sneakers. "Let's get it done."

At the gym, Mason spotted Tina on the treadmill. She was running at a steady pace, her ponytail swaying with each stride. He hesitated for a moment, then walked over.

"Hey," he said, trying to sound casual.

Tina glanced over and smiled. "Hey, Mason. How's it going?"

"Good," he replied. "Just getting started. How about you?"

"Same," she said, slowing down to a walk. "Trying to stay consistent, you know?"

Mason nodded. "Yeah, consistency's key."

They chatted for a few minutes—about workouts, routines, and life. Tina was easy to talk to, and Mason found himself opening up more than he usually would.

As they moved to the weight area, Mason asked Tina about her routine.

"I usually do cardio first, then weights," she explained. "And I try to mix it up—yoga, Pilates, even some boxing."

"That's cool," Mason said. "I've been sticking to the basics, but I want to try new things."

Tina smiled. "You should. It keeps things interesting."

Mason hesitated, then took a deep breath. "Hey, uh… do you think we could work out together sometime? I mean, if you're okay with it."

Tina looked surprised but pleased. "Sure, that sounds fun. I usually come here around this time, so just let me know when you're free."

Mason nodded, feeling a mix of relief and excitement. "Cool. Thanks."

As they continued their workout, Tina mentioned something that caught Mason's attention.

"I've seen a few guys here who are really dedicated," she said. "It's motivating, you know? Like, if they can do it, so can I."

Mason felt a pang of insecurity but pushed it aside. "Yeah, it's inspiring. I want to get to that level."

After the gym, Mason sat in his car and thought about Tina's words.

"I need to step up my game," he decided. "I'll start my routines earlier, push harder, and try new things."

He pulled out his phone and updated his schedule:

Morning: Gym (1.5 hours), Python (2 hours).

Afternoon: Writing (1 hour), Content Creation (1 hour).

Evening: AI Project (2 hours), Automation Planning (1 hour).

"This is going to be intense," he thought. "But I can handle it."

Back at home, Mason dove into his daily grind. He spent the afternoon studying Python, working on his novel, and filming a TikTok video about his workout with Tina.

"Day 16 of the grind," he said in the video. "Trying new things, meeting new people. Progress is slow, but it's progress. Keep going."

At dinner, Mason sat with his family, picking at his food. He realized something: he hadn't eaten lunch.

"I've been skipping lunch," he thought. "But I don't even feel hungry. Maybe I don't need it anymore."

He made a mental note to adjust his meal plan:

Breakfast: Protein shake, banana.

Dinner: Balanced meal with protein, veggies, and carbs.

Snacks: Nuts, fruit, or yogurt if needed.

"Less time eating, more time grinding," he decided.

After dinner, Mason checked his dropshipping store and bank account.

Dropshipping Sales: $50 this week.

Bank Balance: $550.

"Not bad," he thought. "But I need to automate this."

He opened his computer and started researching automation tools.

"I'll start tomorrow," he decided. "With my current knowledge, I can at least set up basic automation."

As Mason lay in bed that night, he reflected on the day.

"I talked to Tina. I set new routines. I realized I don't need lunch. And I made a plan for automation."

It wasn't a perfect day, but it was progress.

"The New Me is still here," he thought. "And I'm not giving up."