The Weight We Carry

Today, we did a spin-off(sort of) of a recent CrossFit Games workout. Our version was as follows: 6 Rds. 400-meter run and 400-meter Odd-Object Run. For the odd-object, we had to pick two different objects in the gym and alternate each round. So, we ended up doing each object 3x. I personally picked a 45-pound plate and a 53-pound kettlebell. I thought that this was a pretty cool event. I don't really like running and I also happen to not be particularly good at it. So, for me, this was a great challenge and one that forced me to dig deep and challenge myself in new ways. I believe that that is something we should all strive to do on a daily basis. Challenge ourselves in new and exciting(or even scary) ways.

What was cool about this event was the fact that every lap around the gym(or 400-meter run) was different. No two experiences were quite the same. One lap I had no weight and I was just running and the next lap I had a plate on my back and the next I had a kettlebell on my shoulder. It was always changing and always different. And so were the challenges that arose throughout the workout. I was constantly having to adjust how I was carrying things, my pace, and even how I was running.

I remember thinking somewhere around the fourth round that this event had a lot of similarities to life. Sometimes, we can't control the weight we're carrying and sometimes we can. Sometimes we have no choice but to carry a 45-pound plate on our back and sometimes we do things that force us to carry that extra weight. You just never know. Sometimes we're running free of any weight or stress (as was the case when we ran with just our own body weight).

Yet, through all of this awkward weight carrying and running, I had another thought when it was all over. Doesn't it feel good to finish something that was hard knowing that you dug deep within yourself to keep going and ultimately finish? In my opinion, this is one of the very best feelings in the whole world. The feeling of overcoming an obstacle or a hard task at hand is unlike anything else that we have to experience. Looking back and knowing that you tried your best and pushed through temporary pain for a long-term reward is incredibly satisfying.

What I'm really trying to say here today is that we can't always control what happens to us in life. In some stages of life, we will feel like we're running free without any resistance or anything holding us back. In other stages, we'll feel like we have a 45-pound weight on our back in everything that we do. And yet, in other stages, we'll feel like we're trying to carry something that really has no good way of being carried. But, in a way, that's what makes life fun and enjoyable. It's the unknown and the unknowable that should force us all to live in the moment a little more. The truth is, we don't know when our last day will be on Earth. We don't know when we'll lose a loved one, get fired from a job, bomb out on a business idea, or even get hurt in the gym. But what we do know is that, obstacles or not, we have right now. And if you stop for a second to think about that, that's a damn good thing to be grateful for. RIGHT. NOW. Not yesterday and not tomorrow. No matter how great yesterday was or how great tomorrow promises to be nothing can compare to the opportunities in front of you today.

Whether you're running stress-free or you feel like you're pushing an elephant up the stairs don't overlook the power of right now.

Go For It.