Memorial Day...a Day to Remember

As we sit here enjoying our day off because it's another federal holiday, Memorial Day, remember the reason WHY we have it off and are "celebrating." And please know I say that (celebrating) loosely. 

This day is to remember all the men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country...for us. They fought for our rights, for our freedom, for our peace, for our well being. That's not something we should take lightly, today certainly, but every day. 

I headed into this Memorial Day weekend with a heavy heart. I received some not so fun news that will be confirmed tomorrow morning (more on that in another post). But it gave me the opportunity to reflect on it and everything that has happened in my life over the past couple years. 

Yes, I have had my share of hardships. My ups and downs. And I often wonder when the ups will be more frequent than the downs. But after this weekend, watching my fellow CrossFitters take on the Memorial Day Murph workout, I realized that I am still here. I still have so much life to live. And I owe it to Murph and so many others like him to live my life as fully as I can, even with the not so fun stuff. 

It doesn't mean that it will be any easier or that I will enjoy it (believe me, I certainly don't!). It simply means that I am here to feel those pains. To feel the joys. To fully live my life...the good, the bad, and the ugly. 

So as hard as it gets, as hard as it sometimes is, I have to keep putting one foot in front of the other. To keep getting up every day. To keep showing up. And to keep living my life as best I can. It's the least I can do for the men and women who gave their lives to ensure I have freedom and the right to live in peace. 

For those of you not in the CrossFit world, gyms around the world take on Murph as a Hero Workout to honor Michael Murphy, who gave his life in Afghanistan in 2005 to save his team of Navy Seals. You can check out more about him in a documentary called Murph: The Protector, and the movie Lone Survivor. Bring tissues. 

The workout is prescribed as follows: 1 mile run, followed by 100 pull-ups, 200 push-ups, 300 air squats (partitioned however you'd like), 1 mile run. 

That's it. 

Ha. 

It is a brutal workout that requires mental and physical strength to make it through. But when you know Murph and what he gave to protect his men and our country, then this workout is nothing in the grand scheme of things. It was also one of Murph's favorite workouts...his workout of choice, even! 

As I worked through 20 rounds of 5 pull-ups, 10 push-ups, 15 air squats, I moved slowly, not trying to break any records. I just wanted to finish. And honestly, at the 10 round mark, I contemplated just making it Smurph (or half Murph). I stood there for a half second and remembered what Murph went through. I wasn't on top of a mountain getting shot at. I wasn't in a life or death situation. I could push through the next 10 rounds. I could do that for everything Murph went through. 

It's one of the tougher workouts we do, but it's also one of my favorites. Our gym family comes together every year and everyone works together, cheering each other on. The camaraderie is amazing. 

So while I hope you enjoy today, I truly hope you remember the reason for the day off. Always remember. Always honor. 

Have a beautiful week. 

With love and wellness,
Whitney