There is an athlete in all of us.

This article arises from a conversation with a friend.
There is an athlete in all of us. Being an athlete is so much more than the physical prowess we associate with that word. Being an athlete is a state of being.
An athlete is someone who commits to their word on good days and bad. An athlete is someone who overrides the pendulum of the emotional highs and lows of life to get the job done. An athlete is someone who makes the commitment to doing and being one’s best on and off of the playing field. That playing field can be the skating rink, the tennis court, the treadmill or local Yoga studio. It’s wherever we commit to improving our health and well being through exercise and fitness.
It's important that we not look at it in relationship to other’s physical abilities. It’s not about training for the Olympics, signing a multi-million dollar contract or being on a nationally recognized team. Those are the outcomes of one’s training regimen. We don't become an athlete when we join a team. We get to join a team because we are an athlete.
Being an athlete is not a comparison that is measurable in how fast we can run, how high we can jump or the muscle definition of our body. It is measurable in the commitment we make to ourselves in overcoming the voice of fear and self-doubt that intrinsically arises when we say we are going to improve ourselves. It's about plowing through the chatter in our heads that says we’re too tired, too old, too out of shape - not good enough.
The next time you go for a walk, lift weights, take a fitness class, play a game of tennis, go for a swim, whatever it is you do for exercise, embrace the persona of being an athlete. Make the commitment to being your best in that moment no matter what the circumstances of your life. Push a little harder, run a little further, climb a little higher - believe in yourself. Overcoming exercise and fitness obstacles and moving to the next level brings with it the joy of accomplishment like no other.

Allow yourself to be an “athlete”. It will transform every aspect of your life.