Schedule of CrossFit Athlete Journals:
Mondays – Ingrid Kantola
Wednesdays – Travis Holley
Sundays – Michael Winchester
Travis Holley – Athlete Journal 6/6/12
(Read Travis’s Bio here)
I’m back!
For those who didn’t catch my last entry, I just returned from Fiji where I completed two more Tony Robbins seminars. There is no possible way to share everything I learned and experienced over the last ten days, but I wanted to share some of the standouts.
If you’ve never been to Fiji, you MUST put it on your bucket list! Obviously, the views and landscape are absolutely gorgeous, and that in itself is worth the trip, but, the people of Fiji – specifically SavuSavu – are the real gift. These people live at standards we, as Americans, would be appalled to even consider living in. To put it simply, they have a roof over their heads, food, water, rugby, and family. Besides that, there really isn’t much in the way of material things. Because of this, they are fully engaged with life, at its most basic level. They hold family and community above all other things, with the exception of God. And, to be honest, it was absolutely refreshing to escape the material world where everyone is so concerned with what they have, and more often, what they don’t. It was refreshing to be reminded of what life is really about:
Actually LIVING, rather than constantly WANTING the next shiny thing.
I bring this up not to come down on us, as a society, but rather to attempt to remind some of you that returning to a simple way of life can actually be more fulfilling. It is my hope you all understand how truly lucky we are to be in the United States, living the wonderful lives we do. It’s amazing what awareness and gratitude can do for a person.
We easily forget how lucky we are to be able to spend time in the gym. Going to the gym is a nonexistent concept in Fiji. It’s funny. While there, we were training each morning to stay on top of our fitness. Apparently, word must have gotten out to the resort staff, because we had an audience for several of our training sessions. They were like little kids watching their favorite pro-athlete work out. After a couple days of this, one of the young men who worked on the landscape crew came in and was asking about the deadlift, and how to get a six-pack, of course. We schooled him up the best we could and he went right back to work with a huge smile on his face. That little bit of time spent in the gym lit him up big time!
We take our time in the gym for granted. I challenge you to step into a new awareness, and truly appreciate the time you have in the gym. It is a gift. And along those same lines, I hope you can spend at least one day this week with a fresh perspective on your life and all of the amazing things you have at your disposal. If we choose to see the gifts we have, and be grateful for them, our lives will be rich and even more fulfilling! Something I want for each and every one of you.
Until next week – see the gifts and be grateful. Life shifts when you do!
