2019 USA Powerlifting MO State Championship tomorrow: Second Meet Ever

A few years ago when my coach pointed out people who competed in powerlifting or olympic weightlifting, the thought of competing in a meet would strike me as something I needed less than a huge hole in my brain.

Deadlifting 250 lbs, May 2019

It felt exactly like when my piano teacher Chiann-Yi wanted me to play at recitals: no way. I have a life. I have a job. I have challenges. Don't add one. Don't create new obligations in my life rich with them already.

I had dinner with good friends last night and one of them noted that the only "light and relaxing" time of his week was meeting with his trainer.

My training is neither light nor relaxing. It can be fun. I can feel relaxed after. It's always a little scary in the back of my mind: I see people who injure themselves. I understand that my body may be more frail inside than it looks on the outside because of my numerological age. I understand that my brain is fabulous at doing diverging things unintentionally and that's it has served me well professionally but can be very dangerous around heavy weights.

So no...Not light and relaxing.


So, why bother?

I've always thrived on the right amount of challenge. Growing and evolving is a joy I remember having since I was a kid. I was probably 5 when I first observed to myself that the summer vacation provided a peculiar time of mental growth that the school year, despite its learning density, did not.

In fact, yes, that was consolidation aided by free reflective and outdoors time.

You see I was a precocious kid who pondered the why and how of the universe in my bed at night at three (all my offspring had the same behavior.)  So I peaked early mentally, still acquiring skills, maturity and perspective along the way but it has been downhill big time for memory especially.

So the discovery of a completely untapped physical potential has been very transformative. It's required challenging lots of limiting beliefs I had (e.g., I'm an intellectual, not an athlete), keeping fear in check (e.g., I will hurt myself doing this despite having an outstanding trainer-neither he nor I can fully control my dyslexia and we try), as well as being mindful to maintain everything I do in addition to this or vice versa.

Where does this go? I don't know for sure.

I'm enjoying the journey and the growth.

Tomorrow, I'm competing and I'm excited.

Love and till later,

Anne