The "Stuff".
Growing up, I had 3 older sisters who had all done things before me so when it was my turn, whether sports or school, I always got their leftovers. I'm not complaining, I'm very grateful to have sisters who played sports and went to the same school as me. Being a kindergartner who knew all the 8th graders because she was Shannon's baby sister was pretty awesome. I'm just saying, growing up, it was rare when I got something that was brand spanking new. Besides my soccer cleats and softball mit, my clothes always came from one of the 3 before me. With that in mind, I want to side step and talk about passion and love of sport. One thing was always authentically mine was my passion and drive. I did something because I wanted to do it and I wanted to be good at it. When I was in high school, 2 of my sisters were amazing throwers. They set records in shot put and disc and Shannon was the only one at BHS to place in the hammer throw. While inspired by them to join the track team, I found my niche in distance running. I made my way into varsity status before my junior year and sure enough, St. Anselm college was calling me to check out their cross country team. I didn't end up going that route, and that's not where this post is going, but the moral of the story is that my drive and my love of running is what made me the good athlete that I was. I'd like to think I had the "stuff".
When it comes to sports, and especially the fitness world, clothes and equipment is the "stuff". But what I think people fail to see is that the "stuff" isn't so much what you wear or own, but what you posses and what lives inside you. The "stuff" I'm referring to is the fire inside you that makes you want to get better and better. It's this feeling of not being able to go a day without doing the thing you love. The "stuff" is the guts and strength to live out your passion regardless of what other people think.
You could have the fanciest road bike ever made, but if you do not have the love of riding it everyday, or the desire to race with it, then you're just a chump who's out $8,000. (Yeah I'm not exaggerating on that. High end road bikes are fucking expensive.) Which brings me to my next walk down memory lane. When I was in college and even after graduation, I dabbled in sprint triathlons. I borrowed someone else's bike, I ran with beat up sneakers that were probably left over from high school, and my wet suit had a huge hole in the leg...and it was also borrowed. Shout out to Tracy Crawford for supplying me with all my equipment! You could say I looked out of place and probably at first glance that I did not belong in the sport. There I was surrounded by all these elite athletes with equipment worth more than my first year of tuition at UMaine. But you know what? Out of the 10 triathlons I competed in, I placed in half of them. 2 of them being 1st place female finishers.
I'm not saying this to brag on myself, I'm saying it because fancy shit does not matter if you do not have the "stuff". People think they can't do something because they do not have the stupid accessories that come along with it. Or worse, people think they NEED to spend a ton of money on fancy things just to do something. This applies to more than just sports and fitness. I had a friend tell me that she wanted to start hiking but didn't have any nice "hiking gear". Do you own shoes? Do you own a water bottle? If the answer is yes, you can fucking go hiking. You don't need a gps, or an expensive pair of boots, or whatever "gear" to start hiking. Down the line, quality items are helpful, but if you want to do something and if you want to explore your passion, you don't start with the material items. You gotta start with the "stuff".
Maybe it was because I was raised not to rely on material items. Or maybe it was because I was also raised to believe that having "things" does not make you better at something if you have no desire or love to do it. If you could take away anything from this post, it's to find something that ignites that fire in you. Explore your passion and let that be what drives you. Don't get so hung up on material things, but get hung up on the "stuff".
When it comes to sports, and especially the fitness world, clothes and equipment is the "stuff". But what I think people fail to see is that the "stuff" isn't so much what you wear or own, but what you posses and what lives inside you. The "stuff" I'm referring to is the fire inside you that makes you want to get better and better. It's this feeling of not being able to go a day without doing the thing you love. The "stuff" is the guts and strength to live out your passion regardless of what other people think.
You could have the fanciest road bike ever made, but if you do not have the love of riding it everyday, or the desire to race with it, then you're just a chump who's out $8,000. (Yeah I'm not exaggerating on that. High end road bikes are fucking expensive.) Which brings me to my next walk down memory lane. When I was in college and even after graduation, I dabbled in sprint triathlons. I borrowed someone else's bike, I ran with beat up sneakers that were probably left over from high school, and my wet suit had a huge hole in the leg...and it was also borrowed. Shout out to Tracy Crawford for supplying me with all my equipment! You could say I looked out of place and probably at first glance that I did not belong in the sport. There I was surrounded by all these elite athletes with equipment worth more than my first year of tuition at UMaine. But you know what? Out of the 10 triathlons I competed in, I placed in half of them. 2 of them being 1st place female finishers.
I'm not saying this to brag on myself, I'm saying it because fancy shit does not matter if you do not have the "stuff". People think they can't do something because they do not have the stupid accessories that come along with it. Or worse, people think they NEED to spend a ton of money on fancy things just to do something. This applies to more than just sports and fitness. I had a friend tell me that she wanted to start hiking but didn't have any nice "hiking gear". Do you own shoes? Do you own a water bottle? If the answer is yes, you can fucking go hiking. You don't need a gps, or an expensive pair of boots, or whatever "gear" to start hiking. Down the line, quality items are helpful, but if you want to do something and if you want to explore your passion, you don't start with the material items. You gotta start with the "stuff".
Maybe it was because I was raised not to rely on material items. Or maybe it was because I was also raised to believe that having "things" does not make you better at something if you have no desire or love to do it. If you could take away anything from this post, it's to find something that ignites that fire in you. Explore your passion and let that be what drives you. Don't get so hung up on material things, but get hung up on the "stuff".
Kitty certainly has "the stuff"
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