Once upon a time, there were two tribes: the No Quit Tribe and the Poor Me Tribe. One grabbed life by the shoulders (or even lower) and surged forward, ever forward, no matter the consequences, whether physical or mental: these were the people of the No Quit Tribe. The other tribe – the Poor Me Tribe — looked at life from an opposite viewpoint: shying away from pain, shunning physical challenges, seeking only to engage in non-threatening activities, with a constant massage of the ego because it made them feel good. They avoided pain at all cost. If things did not work out the way they wanted, they blamed someone else, because their egos could not handle failure. Fortunately, most of them were eaten by wild animals.
Still, some survivors of the Poor Me Tribe managed to hang on. Now, here in the 21st century, the lost members of the Poor Me Tribe have risen from the underbrush to flourish and expand, and they recruit new members daily through television, psychobabble, and (sometimes) the Democratic Party. Meanwhile, the No Quit Tribe soldiers on, segmented off into the uniformed services, with outposts of followers in odd places, including private garages, firehouses, cop shops, and CrossFit affiliates. Their grunting and swearing can be heard, if you listen for it, but the bulk of society has drowned them out with advertising and nonsense.
If you’re still reading this far, chances are that you’re a member of the No Quit Tribe and that you know how to squat, jerk, and deadlift. You know that great fitness doesn’t come from a machine and that evolution doesn’t have to mean wussification. You’re on the breaking edge of a revolutionary wave in fitness.
But what you may not have realized is that the revolution will not be televised: it will be e-mailed. So, instead of sitting there and patting yourself on the back for CrossFitting, do something. Act now. Send this article to 5 non-CrossFitting friends who you think can handle getting their butts in serious shape – people who can hang with the No Quit Tribe. (There’s a green “Share This” button below this post, if you’re interested.) We’ll even provide the message, if you want:
Hey Buddy,
Join me in 1 CrossFit Workout. Now is the time to put up or shut up. Loser buys.
Signed,
Your Crazy Friend in the CrossFit Cult
P.S. Which tribe do you belong to?
(Text by Lisbeth Darsh/CrossFit Watertown in Connecticut. Photo courtesy of Joe Waguespack/CrossFit SLA in Louisiana.)
