Thunderchicken outdid himself this time. Today's Coach B-crafted CFS "Thunderchicken" WOD absolutely kicked my teeth in. It was 10 minutes of 3 Deadlifts, 2 Squat Cleans, and 1 Push Press (all with 155lb) at the top of each minute. With the remainder of each minute, your objective was to perform as many pull ups as possible. Your score is total pull ups performed. The workout might as well have been called "The Human Trash Compactor" cuz that's exactly what it felt like. My strategy was to empty the tank and unload everything I had from the git-go on the pull ups. Genius, I know. I did 40 pull ups the first minute...then 10, 10, 9, 5, 3, 4, 3, 0, and 5 reps for a total of 89. Attaboy, Jeremy...way to keep it consistent.
The backhanded compliment to myself reminds me...growing up, I was never good at taking criticism. But for realz, who is? I mean, it's not really in our nature to want to acknowledge our shortcomings, failures, and mistakes. However, as I've gotten older, I sometimes find it easier to take correction and criticism than to accept sincere compliments or embrace encouragement. I had breakfast with a friend this morning who issued a challenge to me. Not like a "Let's fight to the death. Right here; Right now" type of challenge, but more a life-challenge to stay the course and continue pressing onwards and upwards. I gotta be honest, it kind of caught me off-gaurd to the point that I actually felt like I might have reacted a little defensively. Later, as I reflected on the conversation, I realized how dumb I had been for not immediately being receptive to the encouraging and empowering words that had been spoken to me. I'll cut to the chase and get to my point: When we're fortunate enough to be extended a kind or encouraging word, accepting the compliment affords us the opportunity to acknowledge our blessings. Acknowledging our blessings helps us to not take them forgranted. And not taking our blessings forgranted, ultimately allows us to become more empathetic and compassionate when we encounter those in need.
On a similar note, I was talking with some friends today about the B.O.B song "The kids don't stand a chance" and how it's kind of sad to think about the world our kids will be growing up in. There certainly are SO many things mankind has done to screw this place up- but- here's the good news- AND- Hopefully an encouraging word to you for the day...Although we're promised and even guaranteed to face adversity and tribulation in this world, there is hope in knowing that it's possible to live each day with a peace and an unshakeable courage. Why? Because God has already overcome the things of this world (John 16:33...check it, yo).
"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but He has given us a spirit of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control." 2 Timothy 1:7 (AMP)
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