I finally made the decision. I’d go to CrossFit with my wife.
She’s been wanting me to try it for a while. I’ve been nervous. Last time I tried a CrossFit-type workout I wound up in the Emergency Room at 3am an experienced a rather traumatic night.
But as a gesture of love and as a realization that my belly fat was stubbornly holding on, I decided to take the plunge. I went to my first CrossFit class. The coach didn’t really allow me to use any weights because it was my first time. He wanted me to focus on technique (which meant squatting in a corner making sure my back was straight).
I survived that class with only minor soreness, and proceeded a week later to my second class. “I can do this,” I told myself. So when it came time to planning what weights I’d use, I got a bit daring.
“Are you sure you want to try that much weight?” My wife was concerned. She didn’t want to see me wind up in the ER again.
“I think I got this,” I told her smugly.
The ending isn’t a happy one. Although I didn’t go to the Emergency Room last night, I was awake until 2am worrying I might have to. And right now I’m writing this blog post with an icepack on my back.
I’ve always had this idea that I’m naturally get at everything I try. And to a degree that’s true. My first few times writing weren’t too shabby. My musical endeavors aren’t earsplitting.
But to think I can pick something up and immediately excel at it…it’s just naive. Becoming an expert takes practice. That shouldn’t discourage you. It should make you eager to start and eager to progress.
You might not knock that first novel out of the park. But you can finish it and get better. Move onto the next one and keep learning. Then to the next one. You won’t become a published novelist overnight. But with time it can happen.
I’m eager to get back to CrossFit. I’ll probably scale back next time on my weights. But I know four months from now I won’t be the same person I was yesterday. I’m excited to see progress. I’m excited to become an expert.
What do you want to become an expert on? Start now. You’ll get better.
Glad to hear you’re okay-ish. I’m working on my Russian. Удачи!