Andy Andrews: There Would Be No USA If... (LIFE Today / James Robison)

This is from a book, "The Traveller's Gift" by Andy Andrews.  This part of the book is one of my favourites.  Fearless...lead from the front...Be the ONE who makes a difference.

To all my friends in the US of A, enjoy a blessed and peaceful July 4th week.

Potential & Purpose

2014 saw the passing of The Great Nelson Mandela.  Will any of us really come to understand our personal responsibility to influence others as this amazing humanitarian did?


I've asked myself if Crossfit is a worthy passion...a worthy purpose for my life.  This all started when someone asked the question, "Do you remember a time when you felt like a $1 000 000? When you were high with confidence?" My thoughts went straight to winning Event 1 at the 2011 Games and then getting on the podium in 2nd place at the end of it all. I felt like a $1 000 000.  And the person who posed this question then said "That time, that activity is connected to why you are here...why you were made you. And you seriously need to follow that passion." So that lead to my own questions. Could that be what God made me for and why he made me as I am? Do I make Him smile when I crossfit? Can I change and influence the world in a positive way because I am passionate about crossfit? I know, I thought the same thing.  Crossfit and God and life's purpose DO NOT belong together.  A life's purpose has to be bigger, more grandiose, something really meaningful.  Well, not too long ago I decided I'm wrong.  I was designed to battle, to influence others through my ability to overcome physical obstacles, to crossfit...and show others they can too.  And once that decision was made I got excited.  I was clear about my purpose and it was a worthy one.  


Now the potential part...ah yes...this is where most people stop because the fun part called success, is dressed in overalls and goes by the name work or bust your ass...now and harder.  Go back to Mr. Mandela. "...in settling for a life that is less than you are capable of living."  How do we know how capable we are? Exactly when have we reached our potential? If we dream it, believe it, give thanks that it is already done, it WILL play out on the screen of our life.  So...just keep dreaming, believing, being grateful it is pouring down on you NOW...potential is LIMITLESS, INFINITE.  That's my story and I'm sticking to it!  'Cause that's how I'm going to overcome anything and be on the podium in 2015.  Yes I am.  


One can have the mindset and self talk that "I lack, I'm unskilled at...." or "I have great potential for..." So in this talk about purpose and potential, I am driven to fulfill my purpose as God's athlete in competition cause it makes Him laugh and gives Him the Glory when I succeed...oh let's just use WIN, when I WIN.   I have great potential in ring work, pull ups, Oly lifting, shoulder mobility, speed & efficiency, patience.   I think I got most of it, Coach Benko. :) 


PS - rowing Helen today - 11:36 Boo.  10 something next time.  I'll be giving more numbers in other posts ... so you can see my potential coming out.  

Having Gone - Going Back

Having gone - Going back

This picture was taken by my friend Ian MacDonald in 2011...my first trip to the Games.

In 2010, before The Open was part of the Crossfit Games, athletes went to Sectionals and then onto Regionals.  Anyone could enter into Sectionals to earn a spot to Regionals.  I remember a few athletes going...and thinking then, "I'm going to go." And of course wondering why Coach didn't ask me if I wanted to go that year.  It's hard to explain the fire ignited in me by Crossfit in that first year.  I left the competitive arena many years previous for running and yoga.  Looking back I was still competitive in running, racing the clock or the friend who, once a week, would do my short intense interval run with me.  And yoga, I was always trying to get that next progression in any pose.  Yet it was not the same as going to class at Synergy Strength.

In that first year I remember Coach asking me, "Laurie, how many days have you been here in a row?"  He knew exactly how many days I had come consecutively...too many. I was hooked.

I watched the Crossfit Games that year as much as the poor streaming would allow.  That's where this picture comes in.  I clearly remember seeing this place on the screen, the place where the Gladiators stood waiting to come out into the Colosseum.  I know...I was really hooked.  I wondered what it was like to stand under that banner that was screaming "Here are the Fittest on Earth!!".  How incredible it would be to be THERE.

In July 2011 I stood in a hot California breeze looking up at that very banner waiting to head out for the finals of the 45-49 Master's competition.  AND it was incredible...surreal in fact. AND I look forward to it again!!