This summer, while coaching a Speed & Quickness clinic to about 50 boys and girls…. something came to me. Choice. 50 boys and girls of all different ages, confidence and skill levels…. not to mention all different sizes! A 5-day clinic, a ton of information, A LOT OF TRAINING and some choices to be made! By the last day, it was obvious to me who made the right choices during the week and who did not, but everybody made a choice. It got me thinking about what we have going on at The Shed. Not too different from that group of kids. As a matter of fact, it is exactly the same!
When I take on 50 kids in a Speed & Quickness clinic, it is very similar to taking on a small group of you guys (shedheads). There is an emphasis on technique, the warm-up, SPEED, efficacy and safety. In addition, there is INFORMATION & EXPLANATION involved. The athletes, whether a 16 year old trying to make Varsity, or a mother of two looking to be in the best shape of her life, are literally in the same position…. and they are forced to make a choice.
That’s right people, you have a choice! You can choose to work hard… or go through the motions. You have the choice to educate yourself… or remain ignorant. You can choose to eat the right foods… or continue ingesting what the world tells you to. Point is, you have a choice. And it took the actions of a few hardworking kids to bring it to light for me… and for you.
In life, just like in CrossFit, we want you to make the right choice. Choose to put in the work, never give up and strive for excellence in everything you do. Choosing mediocrity isn’t good enough, and it doesn’t give you the right to complain about not getting what you want. You have the choice to eat good food, and educate yourself as to what IS good food. If you choose otherwise, remember…. it’s your choice, so don’t complain when you don’t look the way you want. And skills…. should you choose to put in the extra work to master a skill, it will happen… and when it does, you will (and should be) proud. When you choose to avoid a WOD because of a skill, well, that says it all doesn’t it!
As coaches, we put ourselves out there for you. It is your choice to utilize us, and the tools we provide for you.
Society has become a bit “wuss-y-fied” because nobody wants to take responsibility for the choices they make, unless they are good ones. I feel like the CrossFit community can endure all obstacles, and will always prevail because we don’t complain or cast blame when we make the wrong choice. We accept it, learn from it, and get stronger from it.
So next time you are faced with adversity…
… make the right choice.
