After
a long time, the hubby and I finally got back to
Crossfit Pintados in Cebu. A long overdue visit. It was time to rejuvenate, to drink from
the well of positive energy, wellness and community. Still struggling
with cough and colds, I decided to still do the WODs. I was sick for
almost two weeks and I was sick of being sick. (Anybody relate?)
Needless to say, I did not finish one of the WODs, as Coach Jayson, upon seeing my fire engine-red face after the third round, decided that I not continue. After catching my breath, my brain was working over time, firing lessons I needed to learn from this humbling experience.
1. I am not wonder woman, black widow or whoever superhero
there is out there. Not even a nuance thereof. I. am. human. When my body says it's
time to rest. I need to Listen. No shame in saying, I can't do this. For
now.
2. When I lift the barbell or throw that wall ball way up in the air, I
need to use my hips, my core. Where all power and strength comes. The
arms can only do so much. But when I learn to be aware where my power
and strength comes, and move my body accordingly, amazing things happen. I am able to throw that
dreaded wall ball 9 feet high and thrust that dreaded barbell up and
over my head.
A recurring lesson: Do things from where your heart is, where your
passion lies. Otherwise, you'll burn out. Obligation can only do so
much. Desire on the other hand can make you do amazing things. Actually achieving your dreams, for one. And when this happens, you shine so much positive energy to those around you that they cannot help but be inspired and finally decide to follow their passions as well. When this happens, imagine how better our community, our world could be.
In the same manner, we need people who lift us up, propel us up, not
drag us down. Learn to sift through the pile. Again and again. If we
can't find any, we have got to learn to lift ourselves up. There is only
strength and wisdom to be gained.
3. Don't be afraid to go heavy. Heavy on the lifts. Heavy in volume. That's the only way your core and quads will activate.
Conflict, adversity, struggle is inevitable. As certain as the sun
rises. It is not something to overcome. It is something one has to
learn to live with and be stronger, become more human because of it.
When adversity comes, when people do what they are bound to do-- hurt
us, there's no shame in admitting," I am hurt." That only means
something or someone is , has been important to us. And that is exactly
what we should work towards -- to be more human, To feel more deeply. To
care more genuinely. To be more open to life's tragedies and miracles.
4. Scale accordingly. "Start where you are. Use what you have." Be aware
of how your body moves, the position of your feet, the weight on your
heels, how you stabilize your core. Work with what your
body can do. Stop comparing yourself with others. Love your body and how
it progresses. But work on getting stronger. Then work your way up.
We are all trying to make it in this life. We all are. With every choice
we make, the paths we forge and bridges we need to burn. We are
choosing with the mental and emotional capacity, maturity and wisdom
that we have from the life experiences we have had as of the moment. With
each choice, we learn, learn better and we become better, however
we define better to be.
Remember what is important: Progress not perfection.
This is exactly why I love Crossfit. Everytime I'm inside the box, I'm
actually learning outside the box. Life skills and wisdom that can only
be gained with an open mind, an open heart and open nostrils (ha!), ripped palms,
knees to the ground, arms outstretched to the skies.
And this is why I write. To cement the lessons that have come from every
thruster, snatch or run. To make memories last longer. So I can go back to and gather strength from them especially during those times when times get rough. To celebrate the person I have become
every time my body screams bloody murder. To be grateful for having been given this amazing
opportunity to be transformed time and again, to have been given a second chance everyday to become a better person, to becoming more human.
Somewhere along the way, I may have forgotten what it truly is to live. I spend my life with fists raised to protect myself from failure. Unknowingly with a mindset like this, I have lost touch with the very essence of the life the Universe has gifted me with.
I am human. And I should celebrate my being one. Every time I stray away from my "humanness", I should strive to always find my way back.
Crossfit lets me find my way back. All the time.
What a truly blessed
human I am!
Photo Description: Image is my left hand, palm ripped, which by the way does not even come close to what those 44 police officers experienced and what their families are going through right now, from the
Hero WOD we conquered to honor the fallen 44 SAF police officers in the
battle of Mamapasano on January 25, 2015.
