Rushing through life

How Can Slow Dancing and CrossFit go Together

I’m going to compare the poem Slow Dance by David L. Whetherford to the CrossFit athlete that is RUSHING through their training day in every sense of the word. From the outside looking in, this athlete is strong. Fast. Powerful. And a role model for other athletes.

During training you see them check marking completed tasks — like gymnastics, Oly strengths, running, Met Con. Got it all done! Keep going, gotta get that next PR.

Day after day athletes work tirelessly toward being better. They show up at the gym putting in as hard of work as possible. Consistently pounding mobility, warming up thoroughly, honing Olympic lifts, practicing handstands, hitting extra core work, and downright keeping their head down charging… hard.

The dedication and determination is worthy of praise. Those who can repeatedly get their bodies in the gym for more training demonstrates strong character on many levels. Gritted athletes are the role models of gyms throughout the world.

Regardless of being in the gym or outside those walls, we as a collective society are rushing through life. All day long entwined with work and chores, we end up losing the day.  Crap.

Aren’t we suppose to be enjoying life in general? Like in all areas of our life, including your physical practice. My point is to stop just marking things off your training “to-do” list, enjoy the training process;

Have you ever watched kids on a merry-go-round,

or listened to rain slapping the ground?

Ever followed a butterfly’s erratic flight,

or gazed at the sun fading into the night?

You better slow down, don’t dance so fast,

time is short, the music won’t last.

Do you run through each day on the fly,

when you ask “How are you?”, do you hear the reply?

When the day is done, do you lie in your bed,

with the next hundred chores running through your head?

You better slow down, don’t dance so fast,

time is short, the music won’t last.

Ever told your child, we’ll do it tomorrow,

and in your haste, not see his sorrow?

Ever lost touch, let a friendship die,

’cause you never had time to call and say hi?

You better slow down, don’t dance so fast,

time is short, the music won’t last.

When you run so fast to get somewhere,

you miss half the fun of getting there.

When you worry and hurry through your day,

it’s like an unopened gift thrown away.

Life isn’t a race, so take it slower,

hear the music before your song is over.