The horse pull was the first event that we watched. The horse teams kept pulling the sled time after time, with the weights increasing time after time. Each increase brought a new challenge, with their pulls decreasing in distance. Once it got to a certain point, you could almost feel the horses say no. We just can't. At that point, the owner would pull out of the contest.
The dog show was the second scenario. When competing in the high jump, it was the same result as the horse pull. The bar got raised 4 inches or so every time. Every time, the approaches got more tense, as the jumps got more difficult. When the dogs knew they couldn't do it, they would run up to the bar, and either stop or go around the apparatus.
Either pulling out, stopping on their approaches, or running around their apparatus, I thought I was watching the Olympic weightlifting or high jump.
My point is, as I have said before, unfortunately we can't do anything we want. It's great to have this beautiful idea of being able to do anything you want in life, but as was demonstrated by these animals, they couldn't do just anything they wanted either.
A 1000 pound bench press won't be possible. Nor is a 3000 pound squat or deadlift. I know I'm being ridiculous, but trying to prove a point. If we could do anything in life, like some would say we can, these numbers should be attainable, right?
But don't misunderstand my comments. I am not being negative. Have I ever said not to push your limits? Have I ever said to stand still with no progression?
No and No.
So do you hockey players, golfers, and other athletes get it?
Push the limits. Concentrate and stay focused. If you want to thread that outlet pass through 1 pair of defender's skates, go for it. If you want to lock up and wrestle on the ice with the guy who has just snowed your goalie, go for it. If you want to try to extend your 9 iron approach shot 20 yards, go for it. There are hundreds of other scenarios that I could bore you with.
But understand the other part of it. Don't try to thread that pass on a backhand across the ice in your own zone, through 3 pairs of defenders' skates. Don't aggressively challenge the largest, 20 year-old goon in the OHL, especially if fighting is not your skill, and you are surrendering 50 pounds or more. If you think that you will get 250 yards out of you 9 iron, you're probably wrong. It won't happen.
Walk the line, push the limits, and understand the difference.
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