The (I)ntro
Posted: September 27, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: blogging, crossfit, cycling, Darth Vader, Emotion, exercise, family, fitness, free range, freshly pressed, friends, gluten free, happiness, health, hipster, hope, intensity, Jedi, kettlebell, kindness, life, love, Luke Skywalker, lululemon, marathon, medicine, meditation, motivation, Motrin, musings, natural, nature, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Omaha, pain, Pain management, paleo, passion, running, star wars, WOD, writing, yoga 28 CommentsPain will come with time, but time will heal the pain-
Let the above quote settle in your heart for a moment …
Life can be full of emotional “roles” we take on. I am tired of trying to act out what others have created – written for me, and I want to define myself for who I really am, not what’s expected.
Of the 500+ blog posts I have written, this one has been by far the most challenging. Why? Because it is more Uncle Ben Kenobi then Luke Skywalker and while I like to think I can save the day, every day, for everyone, like an intergalactic heroine; I realize I must now save myself. I am not a fictional character but a simple dude figuring things out and sharing observations along the way. A simple dude who is learning that being healthy and pain-free is not a luxury to take lightly, it is part of my journey.
I’ve arrived to the conclusion that I need more than awareness, I need acceptance in my life. I am fully aware that I live with unwavering pain everyday, simply waking up in the morning (hell, I never fall sleep) is enough of a reminder.
I fully realize now (in this uncomfortable writing position) that awareness is the crisp sheet of Star Wars wrapping paper my lovely wife and I firmly wrap around our son’s birthday presents, with the gift(s) neatly stowed inside, and acceptance is the shredded aftermath of his fury: ribbons, bows, poorly taped boxes, and batteries I forgot to pick up the night before (because focusing on suppressing pain is all-consuming) … it is effort, function, and truth beyond projected images. They are both beautiful and play important roles in our life.
Awareness: I have always wanted to get better after each injury, heal faster, be healthier, listen to everyone’s problems, and take away everyone’s pain away without ever taking time to acknowledge my own. I’m terrified of pain … I want to be the poetic ideal that everyone believes I am. A friend, a father and husband with time and heart for all who come in need of a hug or a willing ear, to process a conversation or opinion without judgement. I want to meditate peacefully, perform yoga pain-free, be a better lover, and be honest and open to all I meet. Is that too much to be all of the time?
The answer of course is a resounding YES! Because after years of simply being aware of the pain, I am now laid barre writing to you, fully accepting where I am at in life.
Acceptance: I have always thought that simply not being in the grasp of the worst of my pain was in fact happiness. Everything these past few years has been a matter of comparison for me, I am a walking barometer of pain. I want to know what happiness truly feels like. Happiness is not skipping mega doses of pain medication(s) one morning in order to know I am alive today in comparison to yesterday when I was under the influence of too much Motrin. My days are filled sharing with others in hopes that they will come to know happiness. That they can work towards being better, that you are allowed to eat red velvet birthday cake, drink too much wine and be merry. You don’t have to suppress the joys of life to achieve some self-serving, vanity filled fitness goal! What others expect you to be …
Notes:
What follows is a note to myself:
I must take care of myself, not just so I can fulfill my obligations in life but to take care of those who love me.
The Urge
Posted: September 18, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: blogging, Creativity, crossfit, cycling, exercise, family, fitness, freshly pressed, friends, gluten free, happiness, health, hipster, kindness, life, love, lululemon, marathon, nature, Omaha, passion, pilates, ramblings, running, Temptation, whole foods, WOD, writing, yoga 16 CommentsNo evil dooms us hopelessly except the evil we love, and desire to continue in, and make no effort to escape from-
Many of us currently live in a culture, a society so to speak where we are expected to eat healthy, drink the freshest of coconut water(s) and purchase “things“, many of which we don’t need. It’s our duty to be faithful consumers of what we are force-fed via advertisements in Runners World and Yoga Whatever.
What are we to do to look after ourselves in a culture that is certainly not looking out for us?
Avoid temptation – Yeah like this is easy … There are many temptations in today’s world, don’t believe me? Resist the temptation to click Here. Whatever you do, do not click this link!!!
Will you fail this seemingly simple temptation?
Motivation is the answer we are seeking. Motivation to persevere, even when our self-control has been run down, pushed to its limit!
Notes:
The idea that I am proposing is that by regularly exercising our willpower in one aspect of our lives (resisting adverts etc), it will lead to a stronger sense of self, willpower in many other areas of our lives as well.
(W)ill
Posted: September 17, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: blogging, compassion, crossfit, cycling, exercise, family, fitness, free range, freshly pressed, friends, gluten free, goals, happiness, hipster, kindness, life, Loss, love, lululemon, nature, Omaha, Plans, running, whole foods, writing, yoga 9 CommentsHard to say what’s right when all I wanna do is wrong-
Who doesn’t like planning? Planning workouts for the week, running events for the coming month, yoga class flow, playlist for cardio kick boxing class. It should come as no surprise to hear that “planning” is generally a good “thing” to do …
This is the point in our lovely post this evening when I tell you that all our grandiose plans are pretty much useless.
“How so?” Most of our plans and goals are not structured in a way that makes them effective if life, “things” go sideways for a spell.
If and Will plans, on the other hand, I have found to be extremely effective to staying the course and making them is an extremely empowering tool to helping you achieve your goal(s).
The trick is deciding well in advance when and where you will the take steps to achieving your goal. Quick example: “If I am falling behind on my training, I Will choose to schedule the time to train.”
Notes:
When it comes to reaching your goals, because you will reach them – avoiding temptation is critical, focusing on replacing bad habits with good ones, rather than focusing only on the bad habits themselves is vitally important.
Ask yourself the next time things start to go sideways, What will I do to get back on track!?!
Granite (S)tate
Posted: September 16, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: AMc, blogging, Breaking Bad, compassion, cronut, crossfit, cycling, exercise, freshly pressed, gluten free, Granite State, health, hipster, kindness, love, lululemon, marathon, meditation, motivation, musings, natural, nature, Omaha, passion, perspective, pilates, Temptation, trail running, whole foods, Willpower, WOD, yoga 8 CommentsThere is a charm about the forbidden that makes it unspeakably desirable-
You feel your willpower diminishing as the morning grinds on. Suddenly, watching TV this evening and finishing a dozen cronuts sounds like the perfect plan to wrapping up this dreadful day. To hell with running and “working out” after work!
*Plot Twist*
You may want to write this down or bookmark it even – Chances are you may not read anything quite like it here again … Anything that reduces stress, boosts your mood, or recharges your spirit can also restore your sense of self-control. Conveniently listed below are a couple of my go to strategies, although they may look like temptations and distractions, I like to think of them as “strategic indulgences“.
Cronuts, go ahead and try to resist these flaky morsels that have descended upon us from heaven! That “thing” between our ears uses more energy for willpower than practically anything else. A small tasty bite can nudge our brain back into self-control mode. Fine, make it a few bites!
Our willpower is often at its peak in the morning, after a good nights rest. When we become tired, it often becomes much harder to control our impulses. Sneaking in a short nap in the afternoon helps to not only reduce stress, a short nap also improves our mood, and restores focus. Pretty cool!
Notes:
Your body, mind and spirit need a break from time to time – I also know that restoring our willpower is unique to each one of you reading today. Exploring new ways to restoring your willpower is time well spent … Are you going to finish that last cronut?!?
Hornear con CultFit
Posted: September 6, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: biking, blogging, crossfit, cycling, exercise, fitness, fitspiration, free range, freshly pressed, friends, happiness, health, life, love, lululemon, Media, musings, nature, Omaha, passion, pilates, running, trail running, whole foods, WOD, writting, yoga 15 CommentsA true genius admits that he/she knows nothing-
I remember the events as though they happened yesterday afternoon … I was confident that healing my battered body would be easy and competing at a high level once again would be a cinch, but then, I tried myself once again. I thought of myself as impervious to illness and injury, but then I destroyed my back and ruined my 35-year-old knee. I believed that I had put these injuries behind me, then recently I experienced a painful event like so many that happened in the past. Injuries and setbacks can be humbling experiences, if we listen and pay attention to them.
“Humble Pie” is as good for your body and soul, more so than organic food, yoga, riding a uni-cycle and running at 6am. Do you feel like discussing humility in the most positive sense this morning? The self-effacing, not self-abasing sense? If so please leave a comment below …
Notes:
Real folks, real passionate – authentic folks (the exact opposite of fitspiration) find it challenging to shed a few pounds in a healthy manner, learning to quit abusing their bodies is even harder. I thought it would be easy because of this “thing” called willpower, the very same willpower that kept my broke ass – well broke, for so many years.
If your ego has been damaged by the setback(s) life likes to serves our way, a little “Humble Pie” may serve as a more preferable flavour …
Be well and please take care!
CultFit 