Seeing the Magic
The romance of what we do is often lost on non-believers.
We try to explain it, but we fail — time and again.
The weights, the sprints, the times, the togetherness, the family you find, the whole crazyhardwonderful experience of CrossFit is simply impossible sometimes to describe fully and adequately, particularly to those who are steadfast in their decision not to see the magic.
It's like trying to explain cloud figures in the sky.
Easier to describe to a child than to a grown adult. Adults can be so guarded. Many folks have stripped the wonder from their own eyes.
The sad thing is that they didn't have to.
They thought they did. They thought to be "grown up" was to see things clearly, unemotionally, pragmatically. So they became these serious, responsible adults, all the while not realizing they would grow up anyhow and those things would come. They didn't know the real trick was to pay your bills and keep your heart and laugh. The real secret was what Bruce Springsteen figured out long ago: to dance on your problems.
Perhaps you can understand this viewpoint.
Perhaps this was you. And then you found CrossFit.
People can put the wonder back in their lives, in their minds, in their hearts.
But the thing is that they have to do it. You can't do it for them. And it's a bit tricky, and full of potential problems.
Opening your vision is dangerous, because it makes you vulnerable.
Many people think it's better to stick to a same, tried routine and be safe. Don't expose your heart. You could get hurt. You will get hurt.
Sure, but the sad thing is, if you don't take chances, you might never really live.You can play it safe.
You can be warm and cozy and exist in a mediocre world. That can be your life.
Or you can see the clouds, and the faces in them.
"My experience has taught me that you must first and always seek the person you are. And this becoming unfolds through the intensity with which you use your body, through your absorption in play, and through the acceptance of the discipline needed to be an athlete. At all times, you must protect your Self. Maintain a childlike wonder. Acquire if you can the ability to be careless, to disregard appearances, to relax and laugh at the world." — George Sheehan, "Running and Being"