All In

Failure to take a chance.

Missed opportunities.

A fundamental lack of seizing the moment in front of you.

These are the things we regret in life. The times when we didn't go all in.

We don't kick ourselves as much for the mistakes we make.

Somewhere, down deep, we know that mistakes are light years better than not trying at all.

We try and it doesn't work out? Well, we can look ourselves in the mirror.

Not even try? Yeah, we're looking at the bottom of a glass, or an ice cream carton, lamenting the woulda shoulda couldas of life.

The writer Edith Wharton has a character in "The Age of Innocence" about which she writes: "Something he knew he had missed: the flower of life."

We have a shorter phrase for that person: Dumba**.

Who wants to be that person? Yeah, not me. I don't want to miss the flower of life – and I'm betting you don't either.

How's this relate to CrossFit? Or does it at all?

Well, I coulda gone to the 2008 CrossFit Games – to watch. Newly hired by CFHQ, I turned down the opportunity because, well, I had a barbeque to attend. Yup. Stupid. Coulda Shoulda. Don't remember that bbq, but sure remember watching the Games. On VIDEO. Ugh.

But I never made that mistake again, and I'm not missing any of the Games this year.

Or next. Or the year after.

And I'm working harder on my nutrition and my workouts. No more coulda shoulda wouldas. In CrossFit or in life.

I'm resolving right now to do what I have to in order to get that PR, that lower time, that job well done, that relationship right. I'm getting that flower of life because I'm all in.

How about you? What chances are passing you by today?

And why are you letting them?