Sunday Story…Show Up

Because you can. Not because you want or need something. Not because you think you might need something in the future. Show up because you can.

I am not talking about just your physical presence. In some respects that is the easy part. You can show up physically and just dial in your presence. I am taking about showing up fully present, intentional about your presence and focused on what is going to ensue.

When you show up, present, focused and intentional, whatever happens after that will be a good thing. You see it is all about the attitude you bring to the task. If your attitude is one of non-intention your results will be unimportant.

Show up because you can with an attitude of presence and intention and something important is going to happen. You will be transformed. Maybe not the caterpillar into a butterfly transformation, maybe just the looking left instead of right transformation but a shift nonetheless. Shift can only happen when you are showing up with intention and presence. Dial it in and you will only get a dial tone…the long boring monotonous sound of nothing happening.

Show up not needing anything now or later but finding everything you need and want…if you bring the right stuff!

John Mariotti
www.crossfitodyssey.com
www.sunday-stories.blogspot.com
775-338-2412

Sunday Story…Shame

I talk every week with people who are afraid. Afraid they can’t do this or that. Afraid that they will be ridiculed, or have people think less of them if they can’t perform. This isn’t actually the fear of those things. This is fear of…

Shame.

Fear of asking a stupid question is not the same as fear of a bear eating you.
Shame blows our fear of fear out of proportion.
Shame keeps you hunkered down and huddled under your covers cowering.

Call it out. Name it aloud. If you won’t speak it aloud you are giving it power. Not naming it for what it is wastes time and energy and traps you in a downward spiral.

Fear happens. Shame is unnecessary. Look fear in the eye and go ahead anyway. Be indomitable.

John Mariotti
www.crossfitodyssey.com
www.sunday-stories.blogspot.com
775-338-2412

Sunday Story…Push

We humans are an interesting lot. We admire amazing feats of strength, crazy courageous acts, and extreme performances of many stripes. We marvel at the accomplishments and sit in awe of the process it took to finish the task.

Yet we are OK with sitting in our own mediocrity while admiring and cheering on greatness. I am pretty sure not one of us came out of the womb with a label that told our parents we would be a star ball player or a master musician.

We were given a direction. Sometimes it made sense and sometimes it didn’t. Sometimes it “clicked” and we knew we were in the right place and we stayed there and enjoyed amazing success. Most of the time we muddle through and do the best we can with the skill set we are given.

But what if you decided you wanted to be world class? And what if all it took was a decision on your part? Granted, if you are only 5’ tall an NBA career may not be your best choice but you could still be a world class player at 5’ tall…IF

You decided that was what you really really wanted.
You worked at it hard and smart.
You were relentless in your pursuit of excellence.
You never gave up.

Then we could look at you in reverence and awe at your world class performance.

Get busy.

John Mariotti
www.crossfitodyssey@gmail.com
www.sunday-stories.blogspot.com
775-338-2412

Sunday Story…With a little help

From my friends. Last night I happened to be listening to Joe Cocker’s version of The Beatles song, “With a little help from my friends.” I realized that I probably don’t express my gratitude often enough to all of you…my friends.

Without you no one would be reading this. And, honestly I wouldn’t be writing it so diligently (almost every week for almost 9 years). So thank you for reading.

Without you I would not have people to train. So thank you for showing up, doing the work and being willing to transform yourself.

Without you there would be no funds to fuel our passion for focus and transformation. So thank you for believing in what we are doing here at CrossFit Odyssey.

Without you there would be no inspiration to continue the fight when darkness descends. So thank you for fighting your own battles and showing the rest of us the way to do it with grace and dignity.

Without you there would be no fun or laughter in this quest. So thank you for reminding me that if it isn’t fun it isn’t worth doing.

Without you there is no me. So thank you, my friends.

John Mariotti
www.crossfitodyssey.com
www.sunday-stories.blogspot.com
775-338-2412