The Inconsistent Member From a Coach’s Perspective: Part 2

I get it. It’s starting to get cold. It’s starting to get dark. It’s starting to get gloomy. I get it. You had a tough day. A tough day at your job. A tough day caring for your kids. A tough day staying motivated. A tough day getting to the gym. I get it. You are running late because of your work schedule. There was a ton of traffic. You had to drop off your children at practice. You have to cook food. You have to do homework. You have to study. You have other obligations. You’re busy. I get it. But I care. I want to see you smile after a hard workout. I want to see you sweat from your intensity. I want to hear you talk about how much fun you are having. I want to know how fitness is impacting your daily life with your career, family, and relationships outside of Crossfit. I want to know how your self-confidence and overall image of yourself is improving. I want to know how much your family, friends, and co-workers are complimenting you on your changes in your body, and your smile. I want you to tell me how much fitness is changing your lifestyle and how it’s making you a much happier person. I want you to tell me how it’s making you a better partner and parent to your children. I want to be able to compliment you on how your body has changed since the first time I met you. I want to celebrate with you when you get through a tough workout, when you PR your lifts, and when you accomplish something you were scared of when you first walked in. I want to hear you tell me how you played with your dog(s), kid(s), or pick-up game of basketball on the weekend and how you weren’t tired. I want to hear you tell me how you are finally giving up junk food and going out every weekend. I want to hear you tell me how adding nutritional food has made you a healthier, much happier person.

I want to connect with you. I want to build a relationship with you. I want you to know how much I care about you. I want you to know how happy it makes me feel when I coach a full class. I want you to know how much respect I have for you even though I know you are going through a tough time. I want you to know I am your friend, and I want to see you live a long, happy, and fulfilling life. It makes me sad when I don’t see you. It makes me sad when I care so much about you. It makes me sad when I know what you are going through, but you still can’t see what this can do for you. It makes me sad when you give me excuses. It makes me sad because I know what this has done for me, and I know what it can do for you.

I don’t want you to grow old and regret that you didn’t take fitness more seriously. I don’t want you giving your hard-earned money to hospitals and pharmacies because of your medical needs. I don’t want your loved ones watching you helplessly die as you age because of your health. I don’t want you living your life without purpose.

I want you to value fitness for what it is. I want you to know that the passion pouring out of my mouth when I’m teaching is coming from a good place in my heart. I want you to know that when I’m pushing you it’s because I want you to prove to yourself that you are stronger than you think. I want you to know that when you get injured, I can take care of you. I want you to know that when you get hurt you can still workout. I want you to know that when I open the gym on the weekends you can come. I want you to know that when I’m briefing the workout it would be really nice if you paid attention so I can help set you up for success. I want you to know that coaching is a very extroverted profession, and by the end of the day I am sometimes mentally drained from having to repeat myself over, and over again because I am a very introverted person. I want you to know that I make mistakes sometimes because I’m still learning, and I’m still growing. I want to give you my energy and my passion, but I need you to meet me halfway. I want you to know that I’ll stay an extra 30 minutes after class to help you get better without hesitation. I want you to know that you get one life, and we don’t know when our time is up. If you still don’t understand, I get it.