Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Turtle or Rabbit?

Do you remember the story about the race between the tortoise and the rabbit? The fast, cocky rabbit (Bugs Bunny version) lost a race to the slow, steady (smart) turtle. There are probably more than a few lessons in this story, but if you think about it, it really does parallel life quite well. 


In life, we must decide if we are going to be the rabbit or the turtle. In today's world, many of us want to be rabbits. We want results yesterday, we lack patience. But really, life is a journey and it is one that requires time and wisdom if we want to get from point a to point b with any amount of success. 


What I mean is this: 


Are you the type of person who wants to lose 20 pounds in a week, or a month? Or are you the type of person who is willing to lose 20 pounds over a few months? Are you the type of person who wants to bench press 300 pounds even though you can't do a good, solid pushup? Or are you the type of person who is willing to work at building perfect pushups before you ever even lay down on a weight bench? 


Most of us want results and answers before we ever even take a real step towards our journey. The journey is where you learn and grow. The journey is what makes the results worth the effort and the wait. The journey offers wisdom.


If you woke up tomorrow and were suddenly 30 pounds leaner, or say you woke up and found yourself completely ripped with the body of your dreams. How long do you think that would last? You didn't earn it. You would have no reference, or wisdom, for how you got that way. Eventually, and sooner than you think, you would wake up the way you were before that "magical" morning. 


Take weight lifting: if you can't do a pushup, you have no business deadlifting 300 lbs or trying to bench 335. Why would you set yourself up for disaster? If you can't handle your own body, why would you try to handle your body plus another 300 pounds? 


We want quick fixes. We want now. But it is the process of living in the now that builds the lasting results. Take time to earn what it is you want. You will enjoy it more and it will last a whole lot longer. 


I write this not for you, but for me. I often want to be the rabbit. It is hard to remember that "slow and steady wins the race." I need to be the turtle! What are you? 






Today's workout was great!


Dead Hang Bottoms-Up Snatches with 24k kettlebell: 50 / 50 for 100 total 
  The first 50 were nonstop! Then 20, then 10, 10, 10 
  I switched hands every 5 snatches....
Bottoms-Up C & P w/ 24k bell: 5/5 x 5
Skipping 45 yards x 5
Sprinting 45 yards x 10 
Skipping 45 yards x 5


Have a great week!


Tim



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