Are You "Beautiful"?

Friend,

My dear friend. I need you to know just how beautiful we are. How beautiful YOU are, male or female.

As I walked this weekend, letting the wind guide me down the sidewalk, letting the leaves whisper to me, I found myself reflecting (per usual) on my word I’ve chosen to hone in on this year - kind. I asked myself at the start of this year what kind of person I wanted to be while facing growth, challenge, healing and joy. The harsh reality of the way my mind works is that, oftentimes, it is hardest to be the most kind to myself. By nature, I am designed as an individual who’s heart is giving, who’s mind is determined, and who’s desire to create change is fierce. And yet, sometimes, being kind to myself feels hard. On top of that, society is pushing and pulling at us to look a certain way in order to be accepted, in order to be “beautiful”.

My dear friend - have you felt captured in this back and forth of what it means to “be beautiful”? How often have you looked in the mirror wishing you looked different, or envying others for the way they looked? Once upon a time, I was that girl. Some days, I still am. But, as my feet continued walking, I found myself smiling as I remembered that our physical beauty means nothing when we actually pause to define the word.

CrossFit grounds us in the characteristics of beauty that matter most - joy, pride, and the way this sport makes our life better. Everyone starts with this desire to change the way they look, searching for a different outlet to help them arrive at this “final destination” of beauty. But, as someone who has let themselves break down in order to build up, I can tell you that my personal characteristics of grit, confidence, and vulnerability are so much more beautiful than the shape of my body. There are so many members with these beautiful characteristics, among many others, that have danced in the sunshine of joy, persevered in the face of challenge, and found beauty in the ashes of life’s harsh realities….all because we have been changed and defined by the beauty of Crossfit.

CrossFit challenges us to think differently about ourselves, to speak highly of what we can do and accomplish when we set our minds to something, and cheer for those around us who are giving it their all - regardless of what may be trying to hold them back.

Friend - I need you to know that the shape of your heart, the hard work you carry into the gym, and the mental changes we get to witness as your coaches are more beautiful than our physical bodies will ever be. We want healthy, beautiful members - and that starts on the inside. Remember this. We are gym that celebrates all of the wonderful things are bodies can do, rather than how our bodies look. And while we will celebrate all of the healthy changes that are natural side effect to this sport we love, we are most eager to celebrate the changes of the heart and mind. We are most eager to see how awareness and discipline let us work on our shortcomings.

If my word isn’t enough, listen to these powerful words from Jason Khalipa and other elite athletes and coaches on the ways in which Crossfit lets beauty speak.

Let yourself be beautiful as we close out a great month of training, and as always, I’ll see you at the gym.

Big Hugs,

Coach Kady