Oh, I CAN'T do THAT!

Today I had a good workout on the bike for 35 minutes and then a 5 mile run - giving it everything I had - no weekend "jog" on this one. It seemed like a really good time to meditate on the phrase "I can't do that". I've heard it a few times over the past couple of weeks. I heard it at work about facing career challenges, I heard it from friends who want to get in better shape, I heard it from parents in regards to taking care of chronically ill kids. As I started to tune in to this phrase throughout different aspects of my life I have reinvested myself in our family rule - two things a member of my family is absolutely not allowed to say to another member of my family 1) Shut up and 2) I can't do that. Oh and also, use of the "B" word - learned that one the hard way while working on a roofing project with my loved one. I am afraid of heights to begin with but being dangled by my ankles over the edge of a two-story roof has cured me of EVER uttering that word again, biiiig mistake. But back to the topic... (sort of).

Our son is named after a family hero named Michael Stratton, known as Strats or more recently in our home as "Big Strats". I never actually met Big Strats, he was connected to the other side of the family. He was hired by my father-in-law, back in the 70's as an outward bound instructor at the private school he was the head master of at the time. He became a really important part of the school and the family. He said "Never say you can't". Big Strats died in his 30's of brain cancer. His name lives on in our son and we couldn't let someone with his name go around saying "I can't". So we adopted the rule as well.

Now I totally accept that I am presenting this hypothesis as someone who is truly blessed in life. I have a loving and supportive family, a warm home, plenty to eat (maybe too much!). I have decent health and health care. So when I talk about facing challenges, I freely admit that I know NOTHING!! And I'd really like to keep it that way.

My assertion is, that when we say "I can't do that" what we are really saying is "I really don't want to do that" or maybe "I don't know how to do that" or my personal favorite "it's gonna take me a really long time to do that!". When my kids say they can't do something I like to ask them 1) do you want to do it? 2) do you think it is a good idea to do it? 3) what do you think it would take to do it? 4) do you understand how long this is going to take (as in do you understand the process?).

There are a whole lot of amazing people in the world doing things one would think are impossible. These people are inspirational. I was going to pull up a handful with some links here but I realized that the one I would start with is really all I need. Especially if you are not an "athlete" you need to check this out. I say that because most people who are involved in triathlon and endurance sports are familiar with this story. But this is not just inspiration for athletes. It's for anyone who thinks they can't do something, anything. So please take a look and then remember YOU CAN!

Grab a handful of tissues and click here: Team Hoyt