Thrusters 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.

"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 thrusters here and here 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 Rest

WOD
4 rounds:
10 thrusters, 45#
15 kb swings, 16kg
My time: 6:56