Category: In Deep

• In Deep: March 16th, 2025

  

  Question: “You look terrific, good proportions, what exercises do you do for your shoulders and chest?“

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  First off, I appreciate the compliment!

  I keep my workout routine pretty simple—nothing too extreme, just consistent effort to maintain a balanced physique. Most days, I work out for an hour, focusing on form and intensity rather than chasing crazy long sessions. When it comes to chest and shoulders, my go-to exercises are push-ups, dumbbell bench presses, and incline presses for the chest, along with dumbbell shoulder presses and lateral raises to hit the delts. I like to keep things controlled, making sure I’m getting a good contraction rather than just moving weight around. 
  
  For definition and maintenance, I stick to moderate weights with higher reps, keeping my movements steady and intentional. But when I decide to bulk up, I adjust—heavier weights, more volume, and a little extra time in the gym. Nutrition plays a big role in that phase, too. If I’m trying to gain, I make sure I’m eating enough, with plenty of protein to support muscle growth. On the flip side, when I’m just maintaining, I stay mindful of keeping a balanced diet without overcomplicating it. 
  
  At the end of the day, consistency is what makes the difference. There’s no magic exercise, just putting in the work and staying patient. I also make sure to get enough rest because recovery is just as important as the workout itself. If you’re training, whether for size or definition, my advice is to focus on good form, push yourself within reason, and make sure you’re actually enjoying the process. That’s what keeps you coming back. Stay strong! 
  
  — Zachary Starr

  March 16, 2025

  guidance, inspiration, motivation

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• In Deep: March 2nd, 2025

  

  Question: If tomorrow, the world was ending and you had just enough time to give one final message to your followers—one truth you want them to carry with them—what would you say?

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  If Tomorrow Were the End
  
  If tomorrow the world were ending, if the sun were setting for the very last time, and I had only a moment to share one final truth with you, I would say this: Love.
  
  Love fiercely, without hesitation. Love the world around you—the fleeting colors of a sunset, the way rain taps against the window, the quiet strength of a growing tree. Love the people in your life—tell them, show them, wrap them in the warmth of your affection. Forgive the small things, hold close the beautiful ones, and never leave love unspoken. 
  
  But most of all, love yourself. I don’t mean this in a shallow, self-indulgent way, but in a deep and honest manner. Love yourself in the quiet moments when no one is watching. Be kind to the parts of you that are still healing. Celebrate the victories, no matter how small. Hold your own heart gently, with the same care you would offer to a dear friend. 
  
  If everything were to end, I would want you to know that every moment matters. Every smile, every tear, every whispered dream—you have lived, and that is enough. You are enough. 
  
  And if tomorrow does come, let this truth be a beginning rather than an end. Let it be a reminder to live today with intention, with gratitude, with joy. Chase the things that light your soul on fire, and leave behind the shadows that no longer serve you. 
  
  In the end, all we have is love. So give it, receive it, and let it fill every corner of your world. 
  
  With love, always, 
  Zachary Starr

  March 2, 2025

  guidance, question of the day, wellness

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• In Deep: February 23, 2025

  

  In Deep: With Zachary Starr

  
  This Week’s Question: “You’ve spoken about how your heart belongs to someone you’ve lost. How do you hold onto love while still allowing yourself to move forward? Do you believe love ever truly fades?”
  
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  Loss is not something you get over. It’s not a wound that heals clean or a chapter you close neatly before moving on to the next. It’s a thread woven so tightly into the fabric of who you are that no matter how much time passes, you can still feel the pull of it. 
  
  I know this because I live it. Every single day. 
  
  Loving someone who is no longer here is a paradox. The world moves forward, and you are expected to move with it, but love—real love—does not obey time. It doesn’t lessen because it’s inconvenient, and it doesn’t fade just because the person is gone. It stays. It lingers in old memories, in the echoes of laughter you can still hear, in the spaces they once filled. 
  
  And for a long time, I was afraid to move forward. Afraid that if I did, it would mean letting go. That moving forward meant erasing them. But I’ve come to understand something that changed everything for me: 
  
  Love isn’t something you leave behind. It’s something you carry with you. 
  
  I don’t believe love ever truly fades. Not if it was real. It changes shape, it finds new ways to exist, but it never disappears. It becomes part of you, woven into every decision, every dream, every quiet moment when you close your eyes and still feel them near. 
  
  So, how do I hold onto love while still allowing myself to move forward? 
  
  By understanding that moving forward isn’t forgetting. It’s honoring. It’s choosing to live in a way that reflects the love I was given. It’s allowing myself to feel joy again, to build something new, to open my heart—not because I’ve let go, but because love, when it’s real, isn’t something that binds you. It’s something that frees you. 
  
  I carry them with me in everything I do. In every story I write. In every word I share. In every quiet moment where I look up at the stars and whisper, I remember. 
  
  And I always will. 
  
  — Zachary

  February 23, 2025

  guidance, love, question of the day

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• In Deep: February 9th, 2025

  

  
  This Week’s Question:

  “You inspire so many with your writing, poetry, and storytelling. But when you hit creative roadblocks or self-doubt, how do you push through? What keeps you writing even on the hardest days?”
  
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  I wish I could tell you that creativity flows effortlessly, that the words always come, that I never stare at a blank screen and wonder if I’ll ever write something meaningful again. But that wouldn’t be the truth. 
  
  The truth is, I struggle. 
  
  Some days, the words feel locked inside me, just out of reach. Some days, I question whether anything I have to say matters. And some days, self-doubt creeps in like a shadow, whispering, What if you’re not enough?
  
  I think every artist, every creator, every person who has ever put a piece of themselves into the world knows that voice. It’s relentless. And it thrives in silence, in hesitation, in fear. 
  
  So, what do I do when I find myself frozen by it? 
  
  I write anyway. 
  
  I write through the doubt, through the block, through the fear. Even when it feels like every word is wrong, even when it feels like I’m pulling thoughts from the deepest, most unwilling parts of myself—I write. Not because I always want to, but because I know that if I let the silence win, I lose something greater than a day’s work. I lose a part of myself. 
  
  Creativity isn’t a switch we flip; it’s a relationship we nurture. And like all relationships, it takes patience, trust, and showing up even when it’s hard. 
  
  But beyond the discipline, beyond the practice of writing even when it’s difficult, there’s something deeper that keeps me going. 
  
  You. 
  
  Every time someone tells me that my words made them feel seen, that my stories gave them hope, that my poetry helped them heal—I remember why I do this. Not for perfection, not for accolades, but for connection. For the possibility that something I write might reach someone in the dark and remind them they’re not alone. 
  
  So, when I feel blocked, I remind myself: It’s not about writing the perfect thing. It’s about writing something. Anything. Because the only way through is through. 
  
  And on the hardest days? I think about you. 
  
  And that is always enough to keep me going. 
  
  — Zachary

  February 9, 2025

  inspiration, motivation, success, wellness

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• In Deep: With Zachary Starr

  

  If there’s one thing I’ve learned from sharing my journey online, it’s that connection is everything. Over time, so many of you have reached out with thoughts, questions, and deep reflections—sometimes about life, love, and ambition, other times about struggles, heartbreak, and resilience. And I’ve always wished I had a space where I could truly take the time to answer some of those questions in a way that does them justice. 
  
  So, here it is. In Deep: With Zachary Starr. 
  
  Each week, you’ll have the chance to send me a question—something real, something raw, something you’ve been thinking about but maybe haven’t found the right space to explore. At the end of the week, I’ll choose one question to dive into, giving it my full attention in an in-depth blog post. No surface-level responses. No quick soundbites. Just an open, honest conversation about things that matter. 
  
  Maybe you’re struggling with a tough decision, seeking motivation, or just wondering about something that’s been on your heart. Whatever it is, I want to hear from you. 
  
  You can send your questions to Z.STARR@ZACHARYSTARR.ME, and each week, one will be featured here anonymously, explored with thoughtfulness, care, and a little bit of Starr wisdom. 
  
  So, let’s go deep. I’m ready if you are.

  February 8, 2025

  guidance, inspiration, motivation, success, wellness

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