M3:D96 Intense unadulterated feelings

What's on my mind today?
I've been watching the Olympics on and off the past week. It got me thinking about alot of things related to life.

Here are these young people who have dedicated their entire lives to the pursuit of a dream. They put everything else on hold in their life to reach the goal they have. Even those who have spouses/girlfriends/boyfriends tend to be with other Olympic-type athletes. I believe the reason for that is obvious. Who else would be able to put up with the extreme amount of time and dedication that is required to reach the level they are all at? They say that is why alot of Hollywood actors and actresses end up together–they understand “the lifestyle” better than anyone else.

This got me to thinking about the passionate pursuit of anything in life. It reminds me of when you see something that you want and you just get these intense unadulterated feelings about going for it. You are willing to climb over the highest walls to get to where you want to go because you have intense unadulterated feelings about your destination.

I was watching an episode of Monk yesterday that represents just this very thing. Monk is a detective from San Francisco who lost his wife to a murder. He was so deeply in love with his wife that he just can't move on so he keeps her stuff intact. He also has an issue with germs. He cannot touch anything unless it is wiped off or he uses tissue to touch it. In this particular episode, Monk is friends with a heavyweight boxer. The boxer is in trouble and being threatened because 5 years earlier, at a time when he was at the top of his game, he threw a title fight so that his manager's child could get a life saving operation. They bet against him and he threw the fight. Now someone wants him dead as a result. Monk and the boxer have a tight relationship. Monk has to pass a physical fitness test (something that is impossible for him) and so the boxer trains him. You see Monk trying to do pull ups. You see him running stairs. You see him jumping over the lower pillars of the bleachers.

As the show continues, a rematch is happening from the fight 5 years previous. A sniper is in the building to take out Monk's friend. Monk notices the sniper from a distance and all the training the boxer gave him kicks in. He is able to do feats of strength never before imaginable. He does it because of his purely intense unadulterated feelings towards his friend. In the end he manages to save his friend from the boxer. It is an amazing story when you actually see the whole thing.

Now I ask you to find out if that's how you feel about your fitness program. Are your feelings about it purely intense and unadulterated? If not, you are missing the boat. Feelings like that will carry you anywhere. Always remember that it isn't about how fast you complete the journey, it is about completing the journey at all. You give yourself a 100% chance at success if you have feelings that are intense and unadulterated. Just go for it. Don't hold yourself back. Life is about taking risks so what are you waiting for?

Find out what I'm doing to my body!
Today was a slow and steady cardio session in my target heart rate range of 100 to 115 bpm. I walked on the treadmill at a pretty good incline for 60 minutes. I actually am back to enjoying the long cardio sessions again.

Exercise the brain with the Thought of the Day!
Life is about risks so why do so few people actually allow themselves to take risks? Are they really living life to the fullest if they don't take risks?

Get a discussion started by answering the question!
Have you elevated your feelings for your fitness program to the level of intense unadulterated feelings? Comment this post to answer the question.