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Read MoreThrusters Need Love, Too
In the middle of a casual conversation yesterday, a friend said something that stopped me cold.
I was blah-blah-blabbing as usual, amusing myself with witty banter about a celebrity train wreck.
“That guy is a dirtbag,” I said. Note that I neither actually know “that guy,” nor do I know anyone who knows that guy.
“Is he really a dirtbag?” my friend said.
I shrugged.
Then my friend dropped a knowledge bomb: “Sometimes I think about the world as having two kinds of people,” he said, “People that love and people that need love.”
Hmm.
I’ve been chewing on that thought ever since.
I think I’m generally a kind, empathetic, compassionate person. But it’s easy for me to go to a place of judgment about people and frustration in uncontrollable situations – and that creates a lot of negative. Negative energy. Negative perceptions. Negative experiences.
Who wants that?
So I’m resolved to replace judgment with compassion – for others and myself. This is me, bringing the love.
And yes, I thought about all of this when I saw this morning’s workout: thrusters and swings.
I have no love for thrusters. In fact, I’ve documented my white-hot, deep-rooted, all-consuming hatred for many times on this blog and at every workout ever in the history of my CrossFit experience ever that included thrusters.
I cannot lie to you, dear friends. I did not love the thrusters this morning. But I did do them and, except for one tiny slip when I might have said aloud, “I hate thrusters,” I kept my pouting to a minimum. And just before Tristy said 3-2-1-GO!, I forced myself into an attitude adjustment so I approached the WOD not entirely with love, but with… let’s call it “respect and understanding.” And really, isn’t that the best place for love to start?
Skills
6 back squats, 4-count down, 1-count up, 85#
rest :30
6 push-ups, 2-count down, 2-count up
rest :30
8 ring rows, 4-count down + 8 assisted chinups
:30 RestWOD
4 rounds:
10 thrusters, 45#
15 kb swings, 16kg
My time: 6:56
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I hate thrusters too, but next time we have a WOD with them, I will try to approach them as level-headedly (is that even a word?) as you did. Hats off.
Poor thrusters! So misunderstood and maligned. Maybe they should try to be nicer… maybe meet us halfway, at least?!
so funny..I absolutely LOVE thrusters…but hate front squats, go figure!
Suzanne! I hate thrusters and love front squats. Go figure! 😉
I hate thrusters too….especially when they are in Fran 🙁
You're a better person than I am. I feel ZERO "respect and understanding," much less a sense of compassion, for 90% of humanity today.
Grrr. Just…grrrrrrr.
Melissa, I remember you posting your love for front squats somewhere…and I remember thinking ..yuck!
I love thrusters so much that when I was 9 months pregnant, I won a contest in our gym for the most thrusters without putting the bar down..I think I got up to 62 reps at 65 pounds…sad, I was more fit then at 9 months pregnant than I am now 🙁
Suzanne –> Just the thought of 65# thrusters makes me want to cry. You are one tough mama… then AND now.
Melissa – I needed to hear that right now..baby #3 is not agreeing with daylight savings this whole past week and I am running on empty right now…but I AM a tough mama 🙂
If you have three wee ones, you are the very definition of tough.
I just found your blog and I love it. You are a girl after my own heart.
Today we did Fran at my box and I was feeling smug because my first 21 thrusters were unbroken. As I was putting the bar down (just using a 45# bar, no added weight), I cracked my head with it. Really, really hard. I actually chipped a tooth (didn't know that at the time). No one had seen it happen, so I just kept going…
It's hard to love thrusters.
Hey, Lydia G! Welcome! Fran is a bitch. Twenty-one thrusters unbroken is AWESOME. Smacking yourself with the bar, way, WAY less awesome. Poor you! Hope you're feeling OK today. And good on you for finishing the WOD. I smacked myself in the nose with the bar doing snatches one day, and I saw stars! But I kept going, too. There is no stubborn like CrossFit Stubborn.