Sometimes failure is an option.
Since I have been working out with Jen, there have been LOTS of circuit exercises that I could not do well. Some of them were downright hysterically executed if I am being honest. But I never had one I could not do…until now.
The gym has this thing called a TRX trainer. If Satan bought out Anytime Fitness, it’s the kind of thing you would expect to find there. It’s just a strap attached to the wall and it’s used to torture fat people. True story.
We’ve used this deal in many ways and while I won’t be expecting a call to be featured in the TRX trainer brochure anytime soon, I’ve been able to do all the exercises presented to me. But a few weeks ago I stood before this contraption and nearly lost my mind. This particular exercise involved holding on to both sides of the long yellow strap, lowering oneself down and then doing a type of pull up back to near standing. I admit that may be a bad description but the part you need to know is that it basically involved using your upper body to lift your own body weight…REPEATEDLY!
Now clearly this exercise is discriminatory against the obese. I mentioned this and no one seemed to car about this injustice. So I set up and made some half-hearted attempts. Ya’ll, my pride hurt a lot worse than my biceps. Until that moment, I had no idea how proud I had been of not failing in the gym. Sensing a meltdown, Jen came over to cheer me on. “4 more” she said. (This is the Jen equivalent of cheering me on. Trust me. It’s great.) I looked at her and thought “Wow, she actually thinks I can do this.”
Wouldn’t this be a great story if it ended with Jen’s belief in me giving me the strength to do 4 more reps?
Yeah, well it didn’t. I crumpled.
I didn’t cry. But I wanted to.
I didn’t cuss. But I wanted to.
I didn’t run straight out the door. But I really, really wanted to.
I took a deep breath (It may have been a strangled sob…whatever) and I started over.
And I did 4 friggin more.
Because temporary failure is an option on this journey to permanent success.
Speak Your Mind