I read a wonderful post this morning from Deuce Gym. The sign in the front of their gym says motivated people only.
Some may see that as harsh or abrasive. However I look at it as being honest, up front, and realistic. I know that most people who walk by my gym or peek in will never actually come.
It is for everyone but everyone is not for it. You need to be ready. Mentally, you need to be ready. You will never be ready physically. You will not be ready no matter how fit you think you are because the expectation is the same for every person, effort.
Effort dictates that you will be uncomfortable. Effort dictates that you will, at a moment within the workout, question if this is sane. Effort dictates that you will most likely be sore after the workout.
It doesn’t matter if you have never worked out a single day in your life or if you have worked out 6 days a week for 15 years, the time during the workout will suck. It will be hard. That is the point. We are of the belief that the shortcut to results is intensity, and not just once. It is bringing intensity to your workouts consistently over time that will lead you where you want to go.
It may seem scary from the outside. It may seem impossible but I assure you it is not. I have spent more than half of my life working to this. I am ready to go on this journey with you if you are ready. I can only meet you halfway though. You have to come in, you have to be ready mentally.
There will be an awesome group of people ready to support you on this journey as well! They will be excited and motivated to help you succeed but we cannot seek you out. You must meet us halfway!
In the post that sparked this thought someone had commented how it had reminded them of a Shel Silverstein quote, I had to look it up but it is very fitting.
“The bridge will only take you halfway there, to those mysterious lands you long to see. Through gypsy camps and swirling Arab fair, and moonlit woods where unicorns run free. So come and walk awhile with me and share the twisting trails and wondrous worlds I’ve known. But this bridge will only take you halfway there. The last few steps you have to take alone.” Shel Silverstein
This is true the last steps are needed to be taken alone. I also feel that this step to walking in tends to happen alone as well.
I am willing to walk with you, all of you. I never ask people to do anything that I myself have not done, did not do, or would not do. We agree in CrossFit that our needs very by degree, not by kind. We all do the same programming, maybe a little heavier, maybe a little slower, maybe a little faster, maybe a few more reps, but the programming is the same. It works.
Intensity is a nasty thing, the closer you get to that maximum intensity, the harder the resistance comes. It is a seriously challenging aspect of this but I am just here to push you a little outside that comfort zone every single day.
I cannot show you what you are capable of if you never walk in. I can never help you if you never give yourself a chance. I can never show you the you I see hiding inside of you if you do not give me that opportunity.
Meet me halfway.