I Double Dog Dare You

I dare you to do something that is uncomfortable. I double dog dare you, now you can't back down!

My observation of hundreds of people doing small things everyday outside their comfort zone leads me to believe this is how you build grit. With each exercise in sheer will and determination comes a strengthening of character, even if you fail.

I believe the gain in failure out weighs that in success. How far can one truly go without risk of failing? Once you reach that point you can regroup and attack it again with courage and resolve!

Even in those moments you are down, and can't pick yourself back up, I know that if you look up someone will be there to help you up. So what do you have to lose, get out there and do something that scares you a little, I dare you!

Conclusions and Inceptions (Challenge Day 7)

This experiance has been an experiment on my resolve to see things through. It's been an opportunity to be afraid and be brave with each keystroke.

Life offers limitless challenges each one is their to make you wiser and stronger. Of course you have the option to concede to fear and declining the challenge.

Trust me I understand the paralyzing idea of failure. The more I do things that make me uncomfortable, the more I learn about myself and the world around me. Those lessons are never more clear than when I completely fail at something.

Failure is not the end of the world, as a matter of fact it's usually the beginnings of something great.

P.S.

I would like to thank my friend Lisbeth for always inspiring the best in people. This has and will continue to be a great experiance. It has broadened my horizon. 

The Bar (Challenge Day 6)

I never stop being surprised when I get a new PR. Every inch forward seems to be met by miles and miles of hard gained ground through epic failures. No matter how many times I fall on my ass after a missed clean, or how much I bend the bar on a deadlift but the iron stays glued to the ground. I know in the back of my mind that the bar will let me pick it up when I am absolutely ready to, and not a minute sooner.

"The Iron will always kick you the real deal. The Iron is the great reference point, the all-knowing perspective giver. Always there like a beacon in the pitch black. I have found the Iron to be my greatest friend." ~Henry Rollins

Ends are Certain (Challenge Day 5)

When I find myself getting stuck or feeling to sorry for myself, I think back. Think back to that place where days where uncertain.

My experiance is my own along with my views on life. There was a certain point during my time in Iraq that I just stopped worrying about if I was gonna come home or not. It dawned on me that it was completely out of my control, the randomness of it all was crazy to me.

It's hard to explain but when things get tough, I think about everyone that didn't get a chance to make it back. No matter if I reach in my pockets and pull up lint, I am still in a better place here. I want more, but I have more than plenty in my life.

I would say living your life knowing you are going to die is freeing in a sense, doesn't leave much room for doubt and worry. You just do the best you can with the time you have.

I Learned a Thing or Two (Challenge Day 4)

What sparks my curiosity is human movement. I am motivated to learn anything and everything about it. I want to learn it well enough to teach anyone regardless of their understanding, how to move themselves with purpose in this world.

So far my journey as a coach and trainer has led me to so many different types of people, a spectrum of old, young, soccer moms, current and former college athletes, to the obese, and to the skinny and frail.
They all have different reasons for starting, but all just want to be better. Better sons, daughters, fathers, mothers and just better people.

Some things I learned along the way.

I'm there for them. I try my best to put my things on hold every hour I'm coaching. People are there to improve their lives, and deserve to be guided in that journey.

I know one thing for sure, I don't know everything. I'm never afraid to tell someone that I don't know. My best replies is referring them to a professional in a case when a athlete is concerned about something outside my scope, I am not a Dr.
I am happiest when I'm coaching and being of service.

Be patient, even the worst of movement patterns can be corrected. I might enjoy this the most, it's like being a detective in my opinion. People are uniquely different and learn in so many different ways and it's up to me to figure out what works best. If an athlete is doing their absolute best but still don't get a movement pattern it is completely my fault for not finding the best way to teach it. "I'll be damned if I'm not going to figure out this puzzle", I'll tell myself when looking at someone's squat for instance.

Knowledge. I'll keep this one simple. I wouldn't get my car fixed by a dentist. I am a coach it's my responsibility to know a bit about anatomy, the way different energy systems work, and anything that will help me develop human movement.

Passion. I am passionate about helping people and try and make peoples experiences the best possible for their one hour of "me time".

Fun. If I wasn't having fun at what I was doing, I probably wouldn't still be doing it.