Know Your Why

I was browsing the aisles of a sporting goods store when a spritely, young employee bounded up to me. “Can I help you with anything?” she bubbled. I was about to reply in the negative but pointed to the wording on the front of a shirt. “KNOW YOUR WHY.” “You can interpret that for me.” She looked at me as though I was a mummy just emerging from numerous centuries in the depths of a tomb. Maybe she wasn’t that far off. “RGIII said that. It means if you know why you’re doing something, like working out, you’re more likely to succeed at it.” Her visage transformed into one in awe of the sagacious wisdom emanating from the young quarterback/philosopher. I restrained my reflex of responding with a sardonic observation of my own and thanked her for the help. Actually, as workout slogans go, it’s not bad. “Just do it.” This would be the inverse of the above. I understand that it’s intended to move you past excuses and rationalizations to a starting point, but I need reasons. I like to know why, for example, I should change my oil at 3,000 miles, avoid swimming for an hour after meals and pass a healthcare act without knowing the content. “Train like your worst enemy is watching you.” Can’t think of who that might be or why I would care. Since leaving the competitive business world, I’m a little weak on making enemies. I head a couple organizations and the lead dog almost always gets targeted by head cases and losers who equate that position with their fathers, exes or whatever, but they don’t matter. This one does nothing for me. “No pain, no gain.” I bought into this mantra decades ago, which is why every workout I do now involves a great deal of pain. It doesn’t work because, at this stage of the game, pain could easily mean injury, which could suspend workouts for weeks or even months. Then, there’s the challenge of starting up again. I’m more of a “no pain, no problem” person, now. “Defend this House.” What house and how does a half hour on the elliptical keep it safe? “What the mind believes, the body achieves.” My body is more inclined to say, “Good luck with that one.” “The finish line is just the beginning of a new race.” You mean, I have to do this again? “Strong is what happens when you run out of weak.” Not even sure I know what that means. “To show everyone who said I can’t that I can.” Sorry, doesn’t work for the inwardly directed. “If it’s worth having it’s worth fighting for.” Or, delegating the fighting part to someone else. “To see what your body was intended to look like.” I have old photos of me as a young child and the original intent seemed to be along the lines of a cherub, to cast it in a positive light. I’ve been working against the plan my whole life. “To wake up and feel fierce.” I’ll settle for Part A. “To be confident enough to run in only a sports bra and shorts.” No amount of working out will get me there. All that aside, and getting back to the opening concept, why do I do it? Not an easy question to answer. I feel better about myself and everything else. Why? I don’t know. It might be because I feel more energized, stronger, etc. than my age. Or, maybe that it helps me enjoy other activities. Possibly, it’s part of my programming from starting out in organized sports at an early age. It’s something you’re supposed to do like other people might view going to church, sending greeting cards or changing their sheets. Was there ever a slogan that stayed with me? I had a coach who quoted Field Marshal Alexander Suvorov, “Train hard, fight easy.” I found that applied far beyond the sidelines of a playing field.