Your neighbor joins CrossFit and you hear about it every day. How good they feel. What they lifted. Times. Scores. Acronyms that sounds more like mating calls to the extra terrestrials. Eventually, you get the slang as well; they start talking about how they are getting swole (muscular). What the next goal they're working toward is. The next lift. Their swole mate (CrossFit soul mate).
It's like they're high on exercise.
They are crazed with what their body can do!
You develop CrossFit fatigue. You get tired just hearing about how many burpees they did every minute on the minute. You don't even know what burpees are, but they sound gross. And everyone hates them, but that shine on your neighbor is like they just got paid a visit by the previous president and he patted them on the back, said good job, had a game of catch, took them for a ride in a limo and then paid for college.
Just. Shut. Up.
I know you're thinking it. But it's not gonna happen. CrossFit saved me. It continues to save me every WOD (workout of the day).
We all know exercise is scientifically proven to alleviate depression and anxiety. I get those benefits. But what I actually get from my box (slang for a CrossFit gym) is power. Personal power. By working out, I am empowered, and not just because I'm getting swole. One of my coaches, Jenna, told me today I'm getting definition everywhere and congratulated me on putting in the time. That validation felt great. CrossFit is a commitment to myself. It is the right type of exercise program at the right gym for me.
Okay, you caught me. I won't try to sell it to everyone. But I will suggest trying a free workout. If you're near me (Bloomington, IN) and want to meet up at Hoosier Athletic Club, shout out!
What I will try to sell is you doing whatever work you need to do to claim your personal power. CrossFit is just one piece of my puzzle. It comes just after writing, but the two go together more often than just the occasional I LOVE EXERCISE post. CrossFit clears my thoughts. It allows me space for creativity. It gives me permission to be strong in my body and my mind, to persist.
What's most amazing is that I know I will never be more than an average CrossFit athlete. I am not competitive. I am often scaled the lowest and still finishing slowest, but none of that bothers me. I show up for myself. I compete with myself. I do better for myself. Essentially, CrossFit is a place I can do my okayest when I can't manage my best.
What do you do for you?
I hereby call upon 
to join this challenge. What say you?
Learn more about the challenge here.
image from pixabay.com