Sunday Story…I can’t

Yet. We used to tell the kids that “can’t” is a four letter word…don’t use it, it’s a bad word. It is also self-fulfilling. When you say you can’t or you can you are probably right.

You are right, quite often you can’t do a thing. I still can’t do the splits after almost 25 years of wanting to do them. That was the original quest, by the way, on this whole exercise thing I do. I was a red belt in TaeKwon-Do and really wanted to do the splits. Not only was it cool but it also indicates a certain flexibility useful in executing high kicks. So I read some books and one of them (a highly respected author) said if you want to do the splits you need to be stronger. And so began the journey I now find myself on. Somewhere along the way I stopped working on them very diligently but I am way stronger than I was when I started!

There is no reason I can’t do the splits. In other words there is no physical limitation standing between me and the splits. The thing that is standing between me and the splits is between my ears. I don’t work at it, I don’t set aside time for diligent practice so I can’t do the splits. If I really wanted to do it I could.

Stop saying I can’t. You can. IF you want to do it. IF you are willing to set aside the time and energy to do it. IF you decide to put in the work to do it. Start saying I can. Embrace your power to do all the things you want to do.

I can…

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

Sunday Story…Stronger

Is better. Sometimes things boil down to something as simple as this: Stronger is better. We can all be a little stronger everywhere.

Before you sigh and shut this down I am not talking about lifting weights although being stronger in your body is also and always a good thing. Having a strong, healthy, well functioning physical body is a gift we should nurture and cherish.

I am talking about strength in the other parts of your life.
Mentally strong
Morally strong
These are two areas where stronger is definitely better.

Your mental strength will carry you through those tough times, the times where you don’t want to go on. Your mental toughness will determine if you fold under pressure or if you use that pressure to release something new, never before seen in yourself.

Your moral strength is what you stand on. This is your rock, the foundation that your life is built upon. When things get hard this is where you go for solace, for respite. Having strength in this area is foundational in life.

The real question is how to we get stronger in mind and spirit. We know how to get strong in body…strenuous exercise, clean diet, rest will get you stronger.

In order to get stronger in your mind you need to push yourself in to areas of discomfort…regularly. Just like the muscles in your body your mind needs to be pushed and challenged. Learn new skills, practice old ones, and do things you are uncomfortable doing. And then do it again until the uncomfortable becomes comfortable. There is a point when doing something that scared you to death the first time becomes commonplace, old hat. At that point it’s time to look for a new challenge.

Morally we need to strengthen ourselves with inspirational readings, constant introspection, and surrounding ourselves with people who will lift us up, expecting us to be better that we do ourselves. Gratitude, forgiveness, meditation, and prayers are our tools for improving our moral strength.

Physically, mentally, and spiritually stronger people are harder to kill. It’s simple…it’s not easy but it is simple.

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

Sunday Story…Fight

The good fight. Every day for everything is going to be some sort of struggle. Almost none of us are blessed with perfect bodies that fit into perfect psyches that respond perfectly to the food we put into them, that we don’t have to fight and claw and struggle to be better today. As a matter of fact I don’t think I have met that person.

If you are lucky enough to know one of those magical beings my guess is that they are unhappy; that they fight the daily battle between being feeling a fraud and feeling entitled. Yes, I know I am beautiful, my abs are perfectly formed and my body is flawless without needing to bust it in the gym every day. That person is going to have to fight twin demons every day.

The rest of us, the not so lucky, lucky ones get to struggle for our results. Our results are tied to our efforts so when we succeed all the credit goes to our discipline, our commitment and our willingness to fail. When we get to our pinnacle no one can say we were lucky, that we weren’t deserving, or we were in the right place at the right time. When we get to the top there will be only hard work, discipline, and commitment to stand upon.

The struggle is real yet the struggle is where the satisfaction lies. Getting results handed to you cheapens the results and diminishes the accomplishment. Get up and fight for what you want. When you fall down (and you will) get up again. Keep getting up because if you don’t, if you don’t get up you will fail forever.

Fall down seven, get up eight.

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

Sunday Story…Fear

Stops us in our tracks. Things we know we should be able to do we can’t or won’t do. Things we did yesterday become impossible today for no other reason than fear. Yet fear is the product of fantasy.

We fear what might happen. If we knew that stepping off a curb would result in a bus hitting us we would never step off that curb. Now if we just fantasize that a bus MIGHT hit us when we step off we can still step off AFTER looking both ways for the bus.

That example is a little extreme. But we do the same thing with little things all the time. We allow the fantasy of fear to control our activities. I’m afraid of what might happen so I don’t do it. Even though the statistical likelihood of the event taking place is about the same as getting hit by lightning…twice. In other words we are paralyzed by a fantasy that will never come to pass.

The picture above is the result of missing a box jump. I have never been afraid of jumping on a box. Yes, I have hit one before but never to this extant. It was ugly, painful and bloody. If there was a time to be afraid of box jumping this was it…the statistical probability had just been proven. On the other hand because of those probabilities I was now a long way from the next mishap! I got up, dusted off and jumped on the box…13 more times. You may look at my wound and say I never want to feel that and you don’t have to. Jump less high, jump less often, work on the progressions to be able to jump, but don’t let fear stop you from jumping on anything.

We conquer fear the same way we conquer any task…one step at a time. We take it baby step after baby step until we have conquered the fear once and for all.

Don’t let Fear be closer to your goal than you are!

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

Sunday Story…This morning

I woke and jumped out of bed and said,”today’s the day I am going to be stunningly mediocre. Yep I am going to be just as average as average can be.” Said no one ever, I hope.

So why are we all so enamored of the race to the bottom? After all, what is so special about racing to be the cheapest guy on the block? I can understand having a low price you can live with and make a living but I can’t understand being proud of mediocrity. Yet I see it every day.

What I want to see is outstanding customer service, a product to be proud of, and a price that feels fair. In return you will receive my gratitude, repeat business and referrals as often as I can give them.

Are you living your life as a race to the bottom? Or are you trying to live a life we all look at and emulate, ask other people to watch, and amaze us with your dedication and commitment. Are you trying to be average or trying to be excellent.

When you get up what do you say to yourself? I’m tired, I’m cranky, and I hurt? Or do you get up and say it is a great day to be alive? I am so fortunate to be alive today and have all the opportunities life has afforded me?

You aren’t guaranteed tomorrow. You have today; don’t spend it feeding off the bottom.

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

Sunday Story…It only takes

A little. Across the street from my office window is a pretty good sized park, not soccer field sized but good sized. As you know it gets hot in the summer here in Texas. And it doesn’t rain much (usually.) So the grass in the park gradually turns from verdant green to a yellow shade of straw. The longer it stays dry the yellower the grass gets.

This year it rained in August. And not just a spit or a sprinkle but real rain for an hour or two…gully washers I believe is the term. As the rain came the grass began to green up magically. The more it rained the greener the grass got. Today, as I look across the street the park looks like it did in the spring…green and lush.

My point is simple. You need to water your grass to keep it green. When we stop working out things go downhill. When we stop learning and growing we start dying, like the grass in the park. On the other hand it really doesn’t take much effort to have that grass start to green up. Your body, your brain, and your soul don’t require a ton of attention (although they will welcome it) but they require some effort to stay fresh and green and growing.

Water the lawn. Now.

John Mariotti
www.crossfitodyssey.com
www.sunday-stories.blogspot.com
775-338-2412
PS. Thanks Natalie L.!

Sunday Story…Space

The final frontier. In this case the space between where you are and where you want to be is, on one hand, a chasm to be feared, and on the other hand is just another step.

This space is between your reality and your possibility. You get to manage what your perception of that space looks like.

If you believe that space is a yawning chasm you will be paralyzed and stuck in whatever situation you are in right now.

If you believe that space is a mere step you will be self satisfied and just as mired in ennui as if you saw a chasm.

If you want to bridge the space and leap or step into what your possibility is you need to see the space as manageable. A yawning chasm is not manageable. A mere step is not an impediment. This space is going to require you to leap, to manage a focused and sustainable effort, to be persistent and consistent. This space will require you to believe you can cross it. That you can, in fact, get to the other side, that you can get to be who you are as a possibility from where you are as a reality.

If you can’t see your way across, if you don’t understand the map then getting across the space is going to be unmanageable. You need to manage your perception of the space. Too hard and you’re terrified, too easy and you’re bored.

The final frontier isn’t the space; it is your perception of the space. To become your possibility you must see the space in the right way.

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