I turned 47 a few weeks ago and compared to 46 . . .
I’m stronger than I was a year ago: I can do sets of 3 strict pull-ups and sets of 10 kipping pull-ups (when I’m not tired — when I’m tired, it quickly drops to 2s and 3s at a time). At 46? I could do ZERO.
I can lift more weight — I have a 205 lb deadlift and 165 lb back squat (a year ago those numbers were 150 and 140). I can squat snatch like a boss as long as I keep it under 95 lbs . . . I know, I know, NOBODY CARES. But I do, because
of all the things I accomplished this year (and truthfully that list isn’t very long), I’m most proud that as I got a year older, I became a year better physically. But it didn’t happen because I’m extra motivated or talented, but because in January, Josh got tired of hearing me complain that even after 5 years of doing CrossFit on and off, I still couldn’t do pull-ups. So he bought me 5 sessions with a personal trainer, to work on those skills for 1 hour a week outside of class and BAM
. . . nope, more like painfully, gradually, s l o w l y, I improved a little bit at a time, so by the end of the year, after 52 weeks of extra practice, I can now do a few pull-ups. Because I didn’t stop after 5 sessions, but kept going, kept paying, and kept showing up to work on little things over and over again because while I couldn’t see changes week to week, I did see them month to month. So I look back and celebrate how far I’ve come to encourage me to keep going. And to keep showing up. And to keep trying new things. And to try and keep myself from comparing my progress to others in class who those things come easily to (I’m looking at you, Caleb).
To get better at pull-ups, I had to work on my shoulder strength, and my back — my lats, which were really slacking, have been called into service. So as I got better at pull-ups, I also got better at handstand push-ups, toes to bar, and all the other things that require upper body strength. So as I hit my one goal, I found myself also winning at a bunch of other things. But not burpees, I still can barely breathe when I’m doing burpees.
In one of my favorite books, Atomic Habits, James Clear talks about how little things added up over time equal big changes — this could be applied to any area of life. Sleep habits, food consumption, TV watching . . . all areas where tiny shifts in behavior would compound over the course of a year to change my future. If I spent 30 minutes a day writing instead of watching TV, how many words would I have to show at the end of the year? If I read a chapter of the Bible instead of sleeping for 10 more minutes each day, that’s entire books of the Bible that I’d end up reading — eh, I should probably keep my sleep and drop another TV show to get those 10 minutes back. If I cut my TV time by 1 hour a day, what could I do with all those hours over the course of a year? The point is that personal development doesn’t have to be overwhelming or feel impossible. Baby steps.
I’m not a New Year’s resolution person, but I am going to pick a new physical goal for this year and try to break it down into pieces to get there bit by bit. I fear I may struggle because my trainer just left UAE and I’m not good at forcing myself to work hard, but I could probably manage 15 minutes after class a few days a week by myself. But I’ll have to plan something small enough to not be intimidating or frustrating and commit to showing up — that’s the hardest part.
Here’s to looking forward to 48!
Showing off my American Ninja Warrior skills on the obstacle course (I almost made it all the way across — next time!)