One Year Later

July 5, 2015

Today last year, I finished my elements classes in CrossFit Pintados. I pause and reflect on what CrossFit has brought to my life in the past year. Obvious questions come up such as: Can I now do a proper push-up? Can I pull myself up without the help of a band? Can I now do double-unders? Can I now do the movements as prescribed? Truth be told my answers to these are not yes.

There is no harsher critic than myself. So I am not at all elated with this fact. And frequently I succumb to the temptation of comparing myself with other CrossFitters who started last year as well, which clearly does not do me any good. 

However, I am reminded of the reason that I decided to do CrossFit. Having survived the most devastating typhoon recorded in history, I saw this as a second chance at life. What was I going to do with this second chance the Universe so generously gave me? I decided to overhaul my life starting with the way I took care of my body. I decided to give myself a physical, emotional and mental transformation.

For myself but most especially for my family. I found how CrossFit has become a medium of many all around the world to change their lives for the better. I said to myself, "I want this. I will do this. CrossFit is my second chance at life." 

So perhaps the more important questions I should be asking myself a year after are these: Am I now a better mother, wife? Am I now a more efficient teacher? Am I now a more compassionate leader in our school? Am I now a more discerning mentor?  Am I now a realer friend? Am I now a better person than I was last year?

Because the very essence of CrossFit has always been virtuosity. In gymnastics it is defined as "Doing common things uncommonly well."  In real life,  isn't it simply the fulfilling of one's daily roles in life exceedingly well?

So a year later I find myself in the company of our grade 1 and 2 students facilitating their functional movement exercises basked in their energy, excitement and enthusiasm. I find myself with our preschool, elementary and high school teachers striving to be a better leader by exemplifying optimal health and a better lifestyle, one squat at a time, one better nutrition choice at a time. I find myself collaborating with parents with more verve, vigor and with a no-nonsense attitude while striving still for that much needed empathy they need, we all need. 

 

One year later, I find myself nourishing real friendships, those that give value to my soul, those that only make me want to better myself even more. I find myself seeking for those singular, soul baring and spirit nurturing conversations while discarding those that are just noise. I find myself, reaching out to people sharing my experiences that may help them in their own lives. 

I find myself 365 days later with my life partner in invigorating discourses on various matters that are elemental in our life,  in the shooting range honing and distilling my skills in weapons manipulation, body mechanics and sharp mindset, in a two-hour Combatives Training learning how to protect myself and my family in an unfortunate event of a threat.

 

One year later, I find myself always in the present moment with our two very special boys, me deciding to  take the reins of their education, maximizing every opportunity available to us so they can optimize their potential. Today, one year later, I find myself celebrating the very essence of who they are every single day but now more intensely than ever before.

 So as I have asked myself days before I turned 31 years old three years ago, I ask myself now the most important question of all: Am I a better person than I was the year before?

Truth be told, I feel it in my bones and with every fiber of my being that I am. But more importantly, I know that I still have room to grow. I still can be better. Every day. Every year. For the rest of my life.

"No matter what happens in your day, bounce back. Winners aren't people who never hit the floor. Winners are people who didn't stay there." - Lisbeth Darsh