I ask you to envision this:
Tom and Jane are chosen as team captains by the elementary school P.E. teacher.
In turn, they pick their kickball team.
Even as kids, the group being picked realize that Tom and Jane are picking from the top down. They pick Simon because he kicks a long ball. Ted’s picked next because he runs like his pants are on fire. Down the line they go until there’s one child left…and in my elementary school class that last kiddo was always “Laura”.
In the many years since I graduated from school, I know that well-intentioned parents tried to make everyone feel equal and important in this type of eeney-meany-miney-mo, but that ploy only created messes further down life’s timeline when reality set it.
Instinctively kids have the low down on the selection process. They suss out that people are chosen in the order in which they are perceived to have strengths and that:
Some people are just better at certain things than others.
I have two things to say about that statement…1) It’s true and 2) It’s really okay that it’s true.
Being “bad” at something at one point in your life is subject to change throughout your lifetime.
I was never the athletic one in the group. I hated running, swimming, biking and nearly anything that challenged my cardiovascular system. That likely explains the 40+ extra pounds I had around my middle through elementary, middle and high school.
But, in my 20’s I discovered portion control, martial arts and ice skating. In my 30’s I discovered weight training. And in my 40’s I discovered powerlifting.
Yes, at 44 I began powerlifting!
What did it take to become a power lifter at that age?
It took: Confidence, belief, tenacity and effort.
What did I learn from choosing that sport at 44?
I learned what it took to achieve a goal, any goal, and found even more:
Confidence – Seeing the physical results from work and effort in the gym creates both inner and outer strength.
Belief – Not only must you try to achieve whatever your mind dreams; you must also whole-heartedly believe you will get there.
Tenacity – Never give up trying to achieve your goal, no matter what gets in the way or how much you want to give up.
And Effort – Create a (weight lifting) goal, and work toward that goal every day…exert energy and make decisions that will get you closer to achieving those lofty objectives. Bring your “A” game to whatever goal(s) you chose to achieve.
You may be asking yourself: Who is this person writing all this stuff? What does she know? Perhaps you feel that you’re in a different category and that you can’t achieve certain things or that I can’t possibly understand your dilemma in achieving a goal.
Wanna bet?
My name is “Laura” and I earned six 100% Raw Federation World powerlifting records by the end of 2013. I now hold five, but I’m going back to reclaim the sixth in October 😉
Laura Clancy is a NPTI Certified Personal Trainer, Certified Nutrition Consultant and world record setting competitive powerlifter. Her passion is to share stories to educate, inspire and entertain people everywhere to get healthier through Mindset, Nutrition and physical Fitness. Her website is: www.MuffinToppled.com
