So Long But Not Goodbye!

So long for now! I can’t believe it has been over a year since Jennifer entered our gym, our community and most importantly – our lives. She leaves us as a graduate of one of the most sought-after schools in the world, back to her family and friends in the great state of Florida. With any member and personality who has to move on, brings a great deal of sadness that we are losing a teammate, friend and a member or our family. But for Jennifer, this is a bitter sweet departure.

I have seen my young friend grow and mature – not only from a physical fitness perspective but she has become a much more confident and assertive quiet young woman. This particular decision to move back home came with a great deal of satisfaction – knowing now that her place is to be near family and friends. I am honored to have been a part of her life and on some level a helpful component to her subtle transformation. As I have written about just recently, everyone has an inner athlete, regardless of physical presence or athletic background. I know we have unleashed a vibrant, coachable and fierce athlete in Jennifer.

I am confident when I speak for the owners, coaches and our members of Elm City Crossfit when I extend my sincerest well-wishes and good luck in the next stage of your journey. I can assure you that you will be missed tremendously. Rest assured that you will forever have a place in our Elm City family as well as the Kusnitz family. Again, thank you so much for allowing us to get to know you and accepting us in your life. It is individuals like you that makes me proud to be a coach. I am constantly inspired by individuals like yourself that continue to drive and conquer – no matter the obstacle. As a teacher, I know you will continue to lead and inspire many more individuals whose lives you touch. Thanks for being an Average Joe or in this case Jennifer. Average people doing amazing things. ~The Average Joe

Elite Athlete

In the last several weeks I have been reluctant to write. It has very little to do with a lack of interesting and inspiring topics, yet I feel that actions speak louder than words. In today’s society that is so quick to judge, so quick to offer remediation and so quick to search for the quick fix, I am left wanting to be more traditional. I have always been driven to be different. I am driven by this idea that all people are individuals and each has a story to tell.

In the light of my general theme or mantra on how I view the world, I am left with our current state of affairs. I find thousands of websites claiming to have all the fitness and motivational answers only to be drawn in by flashy pictures and regurgitated nutrition and fitness information. We see entire communities of people loath over fast Fran times and cool tee shirts. I read stories of inspiration and encouragement from an elite athlete who lifts a ridiculous amount of weigh or how spot-light athletes change our general perspectives on what is nutrition and fitness.

Don’t get me wrong, there are some really cool and encouraging stories among the Crossfit elites. I just think that it is time for us as a community to take our faces out of our smart phones and pay better attention to the only athlete that can really make a difference in our lives. I am referring to the athlete that lives in us all. Every single person has one. It is your responsibility to peel back the layers of excuses, history of bad choices and self-imposes limitations. It is time for us to stop with the excuses and start moving.

I have to quote my mother for this one, one of her favorite saying were there are only two guarantees in this world – Death and Taxes. Additionally, I guarantee anyone who makes conscience and decisive efforts to make themselves healthy through proper nutritional and exercise choices will discover their internal athlete. You will feel good about yourself from the inside out. The most simplistic and elementary task that seem so difficult will become a non-issue. Your quality of life will change. The change will not only be felt by you but you will have a positive effect on the environment that surrounds you. I think if we spend less time focusing on other athletes and more time finding our own – we can be elite in our own extraordinary way.~ The Average Joe

TREES

Joyce Kilmer. 1886–1918

Trees

I THINK that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is pressed
Against the sweet earth's flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day,	5
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.	10
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.

Stop Bragging!

Growing up with four brothers and two sisters in a small Georgia town has its amazing advantages. The seclusion you experience from the outside world gave us an opportunity to focus on our family – we called ourselves the K-Team. I learned at a very early age how to be a team player. One of the biggest lessons always taught by my parents was to be an individual but envision you always as part of a bigger puzzle.

As a member of any team, you learn pretty early that there are no individuals. But when do you break away from the organization and become an independent entity? One of the worst insults you can ever accept is one of selfishness or self-centered. But when is it acceptable to brag?

There is a very fine line between self-actualization, acknowledgement, goal attainment and putting yourself above others for the interests of making you feel superior. It is sometimes very difficult to turn the camera back to yourself and celebrate your personal victories without negatively affecting the ones around you. Get out of it what you put into it. Goals are not easy to achieve -if they are – it is not a real goal. Regardless of the scale or difficulty of your achievement, it is not only acceptable but in many cases it is required to celebrate. That makes your journey so much sweeter. ~The Average Joe