When you walk into our office here at CrossFit Virilis in Cibolo, you’ll see a quote written up on the wall. It reads, “To see the world, things dangerous to come, to see behind walls, draw closer, to find each other, and to feel. That is the purpose of life.”
The quote is from a movie: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. In the movie Walter Mitty, played by Ben Stiller, is a negative assets manager (photograph film developer) for Life Magazine. He works in a dark office in the basement of the building and just keeps his head down and works. Never takes risks. Never gets into trouble. He just supports his mother and sister and keeps to himself.
Throughout the course of the movie, he ends up breaking out of his shell and goes on a real life adventure to help send off the last printed issue of Life Magazine in a great way. This adventure teaches him how to take risks in life. How to put himself out there. How to have confidence in himself. He learns that he can do things he puts his mind to. He doesn’t have to spend life living on the sidelines. And of course, he ends up getting the girl.
Tanya and I identified with this quote for the gym, because early on in our lives as gym owners there was one undeniable fact: CrossFit gyms made people the best version of themselves. The lessons learned and struggles endured in the gym made people step out of their comfort zones. It gave them confidence. It showed them that they were capable of doing things they thought were never possible.
This became and still is the unwavering mission of CFV. I believe and hope most CrossFit gyms the world over integrate this sentiment into their daily work and mission, as well. To give people back their confidence and show them that they are who they fantasize about being. That they can be the hero of their own story.
Yes, its hard to get up at 4 a.m. for a 5 a.m. workout, or it might be a challenge to take yourself to the gym after work. But you’re doing it.
Yes, it’s hard to run when you have asthma or knees that ache. But you’re doing it.
Yes, its hard to do pull-ups when this is the first time in your life when you’ve actually focused on developing your upper body strength. But you’re doing it.
“Your playing small does not serve the world…” Marianne Williamson said that one. And she is right. You are capable of being exactly who you think you can be. You should know that.