Day 2,992

Growth:

Wowza – my body is sore tonight!!! After knocking out the workout I’ll talk about in the Presence section I’m definitely feeling the aftershocks in my muscles. This isn’t the first time I’ve felt discomfort today, there’ve been a handful of moments that were a bit uncomfortable. A difficult conversation. Stiff legs on our morning run. A blast of cold water to wrap up a shower. Throw in a few different types of discomfort during the workout – swallowing my pride & pushing myself to lift with more intensity – and it’s been a day full of discomfort…

…and it has been a day full of joy. I have grown through the discomfort and am better because of it.

Funny how it is easier to be okay with not being okay when I self select the discomfort I am going to accept. When the discomfort is outside of my control I’m much more likely to get frustrated. The funny thing is that it is all the same in the end. There is a challenge, soreness, an obstacle, or discomfort – whether self chosen or not – and I have the opportunity to grow as a result. That’s where some profound joy lives, just on the other side of discomfort.

Don’t mind me while I write a note for Future Mike to help remind him of this…

Dear Future Mike,

Embrace discomfort immediately, whether self chosen or not. Discomfort leads to growth and growth leads to joy. Pause and be grateful for the challenge and immediately move into working through it. Choose the right attitude off the bat. Don’t be a dumbass and wallow in something that is out of your control.

Present Mike

Appreciation:

This morning Becky and I were talking about some of my fitness goals and plans. As we’re talked I realized just how much I’ve been inspired and motivated by the boys to get into better shape. They both have their specific fitness routines and roll through them everyday without being told. Both work on multiple sports, movements, and muscle groups. Neither of them are afraid to try something totally new like wrestling for Gavin last year and rugby for Dominic this year. Because they are keeping themselves in excellent shape they’re able to jumps right into almost any physical activity without any concerns or restrictions.

As I looked forward to hiking and traveling with my sons there are so many memories I want to make with them while we experience all kinds of crazy stuff. In order to do that I need to make sure my fitness doesn’t become the limiting factor in what types of adventures we can go on. I plan on experiencing a lot of life with them for many years, they’ve inspired me to get in better shape to be ready to have more fun.

Pretty wild, I always thought of parents being motivators and inspiring their kids, yet here we are with the boys getting me all jacked and excited!

Presence:

The extreme focus and presence in a difficult workout, especially one that I haven’t done before, is a special thing. There was nothing else in the world while I went from set to set, only focus on breath, lifting, form, and intensity. The world went silent (kind of – I did have some very loud music in my ear buds to keep me pumped) and I had no concerns in the world other than the next rep. One lift after another, after another. The time flew by in a heartbeat and before I knew it my sweat soaked body had completed the round. That felt AWESOME!!!

Thanks!!!