Commitment Gnomes, Part One

Northeast Regional Event 1

Three rounds, 21-15- and 9 reps, for time of:

135 lb Overhead Squat

Chest to bar Pull ups

Rob Orlando 3:44 (4:00 minutes at the Regional but did it again), Stacey Kroon 5:56 (95 lb Overhead Squat).  Post times to comments.

“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back– Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth that ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too.

All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now.”

– Goethe

I had been raised to never commit myself fully to any one cause.  The idea was, if the cause fell, I would fall with it, and in hindsight I understand for protective reasons why it was taught.  But this teaching, it seemed to me, was counter-intuitive on every level, and I never bought into it fully. Never.  Not even once.  How could you wrest everything life has to offer, realize everything you are capable of doing, without the willingness to risk it all?  The quote above rang so true, and resonated so deeply, that I knew in my heart it was the only way I could live: fully, and with everything I have.

But the commitment aspect was not the part that hit me.  It was the part that goes, ‘…the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred.‘  I read it as, only when you Fucking Go For It will you be granted divine protection, and not until.  I can say with a moral certainty that this is true.  Only good things have happened ever since committing full time to Paradiso CrossFit.

  And to the extent that things go wrong, or should go wrong, some weird shit happens that saves us.  From every angle imaginable – training, clients, business, programming, logistics, equipment, classes, etc –  at least a hundred things should have gone completely wrong, but strangely, inexplicably didn’t.  

I told diso it was like running a really long race, through a really thick forest, as fast as the wind and your feet can take you, and you’re only focused on the run, and the path is fraught with danger, but there are these little gnomes, these little fucking Commitment Gnomes, that come out of fucking nowhere to give you water, clear out obstacles, help you go faster, make sure you don’t smash into trees, point you in the right direction, cheer you on, and generally make sure you do what you’re supposed to do, and, poof, they’re gone just as soon as they appear.  That’s exactly how it feels.  And it’s awesome.  And it only works if you, say it with me, F#cking Go For It. 

Have you ever felt this way?

Stay tuned for Commitment Gnomes, part two, written by Diso!