THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF MILLIONS.

Ever had a trusted accountability partner?

Ever been in need of an organization such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous or Celebrate Recovery or had to attend some sort of rehab / detox due to an addiction? 

Ever had someone with whom you could share your hopes and dreams without them being dashed to pieces as a result of their past hurts, failures or negativity?

Someone who could hold you accountable to your goals and commitments?

Choosing someone to share with and hold you accountable is a delicate thing for the following reasons:

1. You don’t want to tell too many people at first because you don’t need to hear everyone’s opinion.  It’s already difficult enough to follow your heart / intuition without hearing every negative, pessimistic, cynic around you calling your dream down and telling you that it cannot be done.
2. You DO need a few CAREFULLY SELECTED people to whom you can be accountable because, well, you need it.

When I moved to Los Angeles, I told only a few people at first to get the ball rolling.  Then, as I began moving forward, I told everyone at large and that was it.  And ultimately, there was only a slight amount of push back from my first L.A. roommate’s cynical best friend, but I didn’t know him so I got over it pretty quickly.  And here I am, over two years later still trucking along.  Getting by with a little help from my friends.

Speaking of accountability, try laying yourself on the altar of public opinion.  Try advocating for and building a brand that is completely predicated upon “What are you going to do when the bottom drops out? Are you going to remain even keeled or are you going to lose it?”

Yeah.  Well, you’re reading the blog that undergirds the lifestyle brand that is advocating just that.

I’ve completely staked my tents on the front lines of that entire thing.  And now I’m accountable to, well, technically everyone on the planet with an internet connection.  So what do I do?  Do I fold them up and go home when things get tough?  I daresay not.

It's a pretty terrifying place to be, nonetheless. But remember...

"Courage is the art of being the only one
who knows that you are scared to death."
-Earl Wilson

Do I grit it out and gut it out and dig down deep and pray it out and wait it out?  When the going gets tough, the tough get going right?  Tough times call for tougher people right?  You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have right?  What happens to those who have never experienced anything rough?  They fold like origami cranes.  They collapse like empty aluminum cans under pressure. 

Or they come to you, the one who is rock solid to help sustain them.

When you have accountability it forces you to be one of those people who DOES WHAT THEY SAY THEY’RE GOING TO DO.  90% of people don’t do what they say they’re going to do.  The math is simple.  All you have to do is SHOW UP and DO IT and you’re setting yourself far ahead of those that are all talk and no action, and no follow through.  You're putting yourself in that elite 10%.

Seriously.

Rome was indeed not built in one (strong) day.  It was built with many, many, MANY back-to-back strong days.  Commitment.  Endurance.  Vision.  Goals.  Marathon not sprint.

And now, If I ever back slide and step away from the day-to-day STRONG DAY business of inspiration, motivation, wellness, healthy choices, fitness, etc., I give EVERYONE permission to hold me accountable to that.  You have carte blanche to call me out, to ask me why I’m not walking the talk, to ask me what gives?  Sure there may be times (WILL be times) where I am going through a rough patch.  We all have them.  I’ve exercised for almost 20 years, have definitely had my rough patches and I’ve come back from them, mostly on my own.  But now, it goes to a whole new level.  Everyone, friend or family or fan or foe or acquaintance, you can call me out.  Because it’s MY job to call YOU out.

It’s how we become better.  And strong.

HAVE A STRONG DAY.

PAIN vs. DISCOMFORT

From my experience, I've had both pain and discomfort throughout my exercise history.

What's the difference, you ask?

Allow me to explain.

I've had sharp or shooting PAIN when something is definitely wrong: pulled, strained, sprained, etc.

I've had DISCOMFORT when something is weak and needing to be strengthened.  When I hurt my lower back in 2004, the next year was full of DISCOMFORT when re-strengthening my core, but by pushing through, it has led to the ability to perform exercises I wasn't sure I'd be able to perform again.

Understandably, people are ultra concerned when they feel even the slightest twinge of something being out of the ordinary in their lower backs (and / or other areas).

Though, more often than not, as long as you are keeping good form, it is simply connective tissues, muscles, bones, etc. being made stronger.  As long as you are starting slow and not trying to swing a 75 lb kettlebell on the very first day of your kettlebell training (for example) and gradually allowing your musculature to strengthen, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO HANDLE IT.  You MUST be able to handle it or you won't ever progress.

Our knee-jerk reaction is to avoid things that are uncomfortable, but we must fight this as usually that is the exact "thing" on which we need to be focusing.

And now, if I experience low back pain / discomfort, it usually means I HAVEN'T BEEN EXERCISING ENOUGH, not the opposite.

Yes, if you have shooting pain, or if you have definitely pulled or strained something, LAY OFF and / or get a physician's advice.  Earlier this year, I strained my left shoulder and had to lay off for about 8-10 days, which is frustrating, but at the end of those 10 days, I was back to 100%. 

In January 2009, I severely (at least by my reckoning) strained my left calf (medial gastrocnemius to be exact), and after a brief walk-in clinic visit, the advice was just to lay off.  14 days and a bit of therapeutic massage later and I was able to start putting weight on my left foot again and another two weeks after that to really be able to exercise again.

Put your pain and discomfort in perspective, and push through as best you can.

Have a strong day, knee-jerk reaction fighters.

2011 KETCHUM-DOWNTOWN YMCA STAIR CLIMB FOR LOS ANGELES

Reach for the sky and climb 1,500 stairs to the top of the West Coast’s tallest building!

 September 23, 2011

Be a part of the 18th Annual Stair Climb for a Stronger Los Angeles! Each step you take benefits the impactful work of the Ketchum-Downtown YMCA. You’re helping raise vital funds to support critical programs for children, teens, families and seniors in the community.

Climb up for a thrilling vertical race or step at your own pace. Just like the mission of Y programs, you will be focusing your energy upwards and feel a huge sense of accomplishment! Plus, you, friends and family are sure to enjoy a great day filled with climbing, and music, food, firefighters and fun at the Race Expo.

What are people saying about climbing 1,500 stairs?

“It’s step-breathe, step-breathe, 1,500 times.”
–Peggy Murphy (Grandmother and single amputee)

“I did it to show my children that you can do anything!”

“I never knew how much my coworkers cared until they wouldn’t finish without me.”

“The firefighters are my reward!”

Every step you take helps build a stronger community!

“I feel like the Y helped me raise my boy into a man.”

“My kids may be out of the program, but the program will always be in them.”

“Now, I know I can do anything!”

“I was hanging out with the wrong people, doing the wrong things;
the Y showed me a different path.”

www.ymcastairclimb.org