It’s not a great handstand, but it’s important and let me tell you why. A year ago, I never would have done one. Handstands scared the piss out of me. I was okay with front squats, overhead squats, snatches, working for CFHQ, running my own affiliate, and just about anything you could throw at me in life but kicking up into a handstand? Negative, Ghostrider. I had deployed to a combat zone in my life but I couldn’t throw myself upside down. I would have rather covered myself in honey and rolled on a red ant hill.
So what changed? My attitude. I decided I could run scared the rest of my life or I could stop being a f***ing p**** and sign up for a CrossFit gymnastics certification and go.
So I went to Tucker’s cert and I spent two days being horribly uncomfortable and, for one of the rare times in my life, being the worst at everything out of everyone in the room. For a kid who loved school and found it easy, being in that kind of classroom really sucked. There was no ego gratification, no self-love, no puffing up my chest and braying about being king of the jungle. I was wounded prey in the gymnastics world.
But they didn’t eat me. And I never did run from the gym. I survived. And I learned.
So why am I telling you this? Because there’s something you’re scared of too. Something you’ve been dreading. Something you don’t want to do. An act you must perform or words you need to say to someone and you’re not sure how they’re going to react. So, go and do it. The fear is much worse than the actual experience. Throw the fear to the howling wind in your brain and step over the edge. You’ll fall for a while but then you’ll catch yourself. Springsteen said it best: “You wake up in the night with a fear so real. You spend your life waiting for a moment that just don’t come. Well don’t waste your time waiting.”
The perfect moment for anything will never come. So take these small moments and make them as perfect as you can. Act now. Don’t waste your time waiting. Kick up into that f****** handstand and own it.
(By Lisbeth Darsh/www.crossfitwatertown.com.)
July 31st, 2009 at 12:11 am
Late-night first post!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11
July 31st, 2009 at 2:01 am
aww…. wtf…. #2
Great post Lis! I totally remember your handstand fear… It still makes me laugh… the same way my box jump fear probably makes you laugh lol
July 31st, 2009 at 5:30 am
Thanks for this terrific post, Lisbeth. I’m right there, dreading the handstand… and several other things. This was a great reminder to just do, just go, just jump… and not to wait for the right day, the right mood, or the right situation.
Thanks so very much!
July 31st, 2009 at 9:00 am
Getting out of your comfort zone can be a scary thing, but it sure makes us all a lot stronger in the end.
July 31st, 2009 at 9:02 am
I need to just do it as well. Multiple concussions playing sports make me leary about anything that involves my head. Any idea what class may be like this evening. I may come depending on what it is. I did 2 hours of sparring last night and absorbing Muay Tai leg kicks took its toll on my left leg. Those kicks suck. They get in so deep that sometime it hurts like hell and you don’t even get a visible bruise because the damage is right around the bone. I got mine in though!
July 31st, 2009 at 9:29 am
Lis you make me what to go out and tackle the world! Yet another post guaranteed to light a fire under our collective asses! Keep em’ comin’!
July 31st, 2009 at 10:04 am
M3 — http://www.gravatar.com
And you’re a multiple concussions person too? Talk to Jen. Ya’ll can swap memories . . . or not.
As for the WOD tonight, we’ve got deadlifting and something we’re going to call “Baby Chief” . . .
July 31st, 2009 at 10:10 am
I have to try the gravitar thing from home. It is blocked at work. Why am I not surprised that Jen has had multiple concussions? I’ll swap stories with her if she remembers me. I once for got how to operate a zipper for 3 days following a concussion. Thanks for the heads up on the work out. I’ll give it a shot.
July 31st, 2009 at 10:27 am
Great post, Lisbeth! Love the Springsteen reference!
Fear is the ultimate motivator!
July 31st, 2009 at 10:38 am
Nice post Lis….there’s def some things that scare the crap out of me.
also, nice Top Gun ref ! and the extensive use of all the %$@##$#@$@#5^*%$^.
and I like the use of the word “baby”
usually the use of “baby” , or “mini” ….the “mini metcon” turns out to be a total a#$kicking
July 31st, 2009 at 11:13 am
As usual… another great post Lis. As everyone at CFW knows by now. I’ve learned to love me some handstands. Since starting CF at the end of last year.
A handstand a day will make the fear go away.
July 31st, 2009 at 11:56 am
Todays post made me look at 1 of the quotes in our team locker room-
“You’re biggest challenge isn’t someone else. Its the ache in your lungs, the burning in your legs & the voice in your head that yells “CAN’T” but you don’t listen. And then you hear the voice whisper “can” and you discover that the person you thought you were is no match for the one you really are.”
July 31st, 2009 at 1:04 pm
Word on the street has it that Mike #2 just deadlifted 300 lbs. Way to go, Mike!
July 31st, 2009 at 1:07 pm
Cool. Can’t wait to try.
July 31st, 2009 at 1:49 pm
@Jen-we need to work on handstands and pull ups. I want to be able to do at least one of each by my birthday.
July 31st, 2009 at 1:58 pm
new PR 330# DL
and your “baby” chief sucked !
July 31st, 2009 at 2:15 pm
Don’t be a baby-hater, Mike. The babies are beautiful.
July 31st, 2009 at 2:52 pm
The noon class was fucking fun! I like to use BAD MFW’s because it keeps me off drugs! Ask Ray Ray…he gets it!
BTW, the noon class was a total bitch session for all of us! Lots of healthy anger was taken care of in a productive way! Yeah…kick that sh$% around!
As for my head injuries, I think I was at 6 HI’s when the doctor said…stop playing hockey! So I took up Crossfit…HA!
Zippers are hard to figure out anyway!
Mike 330# Whooooot!
July 31st, 2009 at 3:49 pm
Yeah…….. Jen’s got a mouth on her !
but whatever it takes to keep ya off the pipe.
July 31st, 2009 at 4:07 pm
Yeah well Viv has me beat!
July 31st, 2009 at 4:10 pm
Lis, well said! It got me thinking of what I’m scared of…I’ve always wanted to do ice cream makers on the rings but just can’t bring myself to try….they freak me out. I also want a handstand on the rings, but think maybe I should get one on the floor first…again…the ring handstand freaks me out!
July 31st, 2009 at 4:10 pm
BTW, The track WOD is rain or shine!
July 31st, 2009 at 4:12 pm
Please jet over to the nutrition page comments.
July 31st, 2009 at 5:31 pm
I’m stuck at work trying to sell helicopters, wishing i was deadlifting…until I started crossfitting i never thought I’d WANT to be working out.
July 31st, 2009 at 6:57 pm
hey matt – I always wanted a helicopter! Maybe Barry will by me one for my birthday…
July 31st, 2009 at 7:25 pm
Damn that was fun tonight!
July 31st, 2009 at 7:53 pm
we need to clarify which Mike is which…I’m only scared of unicorns…oh and Lis when she rides my a$$ on a wod
July 31st, 2009 at 7:59 pm
Rockstar. We worked out as a team on your birthday. I guess I just need to come up with another name.
July 31st, 2009 at 8:19 pm
Mike 3 we got to come up with a name for you… and gravatar a must
July 31st, 2009 at 8:24 pm
This may be crazy but your thoughts are welcome. I may regret that statement. I’m working on the gravitar.
July 31st, 2009 at 8:41 pm
How about Juice or Core you got to have a flashy nickname like me…that’s how we roll…r u on facebook?
July 31st, 2009 at 8:52 pm
I have no idea where you came up with those but I can roll with flashy. I will never be as flashy as you though! I will let you all come up with something. I may veto what ever Jen comes up with though. I am not on face book. I have nothing against it I just happen to work in a field where it is a really bad idea to join. I am trying to upload pukie. A classic crossfit image. I have not met him but i will continue to try like hell.
July 31st, 2009 at 9:09 pm
gravitar test.
July 31st, 2009 at 10:49 pm
How about for Mike 3 we Call him “Zipper” LOL, I like it!
August 1st, 2009 at 2:16 am
Hmmmm… sitting here….. waiting 4 the new post…… Lis? oh Lis???? where are you????
August 1st, 2009 at 2:17 am
Hmmmm… sitting here….. waiting 4 the new post…… Lis? oh Lis???? where are you????…
August 1st, 2009 at 5:32 am
I like Zipper!
August 1st, 2009 at 5:56 am
What’s your field of work Mike?
August 1st, 2009 at 7:18 am
By day or by night?
August 1st, 2009 at 9:20 am
You can’t force a nickname. Give it time. I’m sure one will manifest itself.