meaningful

"Meaningful" is what all three Memorial Days I have experienced since beginning CrossFit are to me. I confess to not fully connecting with the day's truth prior to CF.

My dad and dad-in-law were both in the Navy.  I had a few friends who had served in some capacity. But once I began CrossFit, I began meeting a large number of people who had served or are serving our country in any one of the branches of the military. More contact with the military via people I've met has, for me, helped deepen the meaning of Memorial Day.

CrossFitters WOD. It's what we do. 
CrossFit's philanthropy as a community begins with a WOD.
CrossFit thrives on honoring its military personnel and reaches far out in other ways, most of them surrounding a number of health issues, and some closer to each gym's home by helping someone in their own community in a multitude of ways. It's one of the hidden truths about CrossFit as a community and a truth that creates an unspoken greater connection to members of a gym. Community focus nurtures community strength.  Regardless of what the target of the philanthropy is or to what the honor of a great WOD is being given, CrossFitters attack the WODs with a depth and intensity that is inspiring.

"Murph" is the Hero WOD that is synonymous with Memorial Day.
Whether done scaled by reps to half, done with modified movements, or done 'as prescribed', it's always an amazing sense of accomplishment to finish it.  It's a small tribute we, as CrossFitters, can do to honor fallen heroes, so we do it.

Knowing it's impossible not to think of the fallen soldier, Michael Murphy, for whom CrossFitters WODded today, they've honored him and others in a most humbling way.
Congratulations all who have ever completed "Murph", today or any other Memorial Day.



"Murph"                                                    
For time:
1 mile Run
100 Pull-ups
200 Push-ups
300 Squats
1 mile Run

In memory of Navy Lieutenant Michael Murphy, 29, of Patchogue, N.Y., who was killed in Afghanistan June 28th, 2005.

This workout was one of Mike's favorites and he'd named it "Body Armor". From here on it will be referred to as "Murph" in honor of the focused warrior and great American who wanted nothing more in life than to serve this great country and the beautiful people who make it what it is.
Partition the pull-ups, push-ups, and squats as needed. Start and finish with a mile run. If you've got a twenty pound vest or body armor, wear it.

own your choices

My gym, CrossFit Beacon, is in the middle of its second nutrition challenge. We not only support each other with our fitness goals, we understand that nutrition is part of our overall health.  And damn if we are going to let life's *free radicals* win over our bodies and our health!
You've got to pay up to stay up!

Which leads me to this post...

I've been struggling with this post mainly because I've been struggling with my anger toward a friend of mine who refused to admit....for years....even after watching my own steady progress from 'general wellness, but fat' toward 'overall fitness' during my last three years as a CrossFitter...that she was physically falling apart but continued to honestly avoid doing anything about it.

 

What this means:



 

"Oh, I can figure this out myself. I've researched__________ (fill in the myriad of treatments/reasons for being overweight/unfit) on the internet and this is all I need to do."

I heard that for years.  For a while, like anything in the early stages of demise, things would work on a short term basis. Then BAM, something else would happen.
So, even at the chance she'll read this post and feel betrayed, how do I stay quiet about this?  My anger has been giving way to the reality that her situation is not mine to own. She asked for my help for a little while, but I couldn't make her do the work. I couldn't make her change her eating habits. I couldn't make her stick with anything.  That is hers to own.

Part of the issue of not wanting to get to the bottom of things with outside help surrounded finances.  Enter, update needed in the health care system of our country.  Truth. 

That said, let me just say, we all make choices on how we spend our money.  Spending money on our health before spending money on unneeded consumer products SHOULD be a no-brainer. 

Cut to now, life has irrevocably changed for my friend. Years of self-denial and fear of speaking the truth about just how bad things were inside her deteriorating body, life will now consist of adjusting to a world governed by a wheelchair. But more importantly, I'm still not seeing/hearing responsibility for this result.
This is what I struggle with more than anything for her.
The glaring lack of responsibility. 

We all need to own our choices. 
Do bad things happen? Yes. 
Can all bad things be avoided? No, not always.
People can make all the right choices for themselves and still get sick, be in accidents, have setbacks. Ultimately, being responsible for the climb out of the 'setback' is choosing to fight for one's health, even if it's in a 'new normal' state, as opposed to just giving into it and expecting everyone else to be responsible for it.
But to repeat what everyone should have heard a zillion times, all we really have is our health. If we don't choose to be responsible for our health because we are afraid of changing what we know, what we are comfortable with, what might be hard work, then just know that those are your choices.
Own them.

I am forever grateful that I was willing to overcome my fear and self-consciousness about CrossFit.
That was three years ago this month.  It changed my outlook about myself, my abilities, my joy of life....and I didn't think I could feel more joyous about life before I started being more intensely pro-active about my health!

Living well and in a healthful state allows me the freedom to just be in the present in such a richer way.  Honestly, just knowing that being in a state of fitness (refer to chart!) sets me ahead of the curve should I have any sort of health setback.  I love that.  I also appreciate that I can live well until I die.  Period.  That makes each day so damned good!

For me, CrossFit has been my perfect choice toward my own health.  Do I think CrossFit is for everyone? Yes.  But not everyone feels the same way (visualize annie scratching her head here), so those people still need to find what works for them.

Just frickin' find it. 

Do something. 
There is better than "wellness", there is "fitness".
Own your choices!!