Are You 2026-Lucky?

These are the workouts people talked about all year.

If you found yourself involved with the Cult of CrossFit, maybe as a new member, or as a supportive spouse, the open is upon you. Sooner or later, I know you will sink your thumb into a hook-grip and feel something  hard to explain.

BUT, before you newbies, veterans, adaptive athletes, and those in the crowd of “what the hell is the Open?” take on workout number one, I give you my quick, 2026 heart-to-heart before you step on the floor.

Here it is.

“You are lucky.”

You are incalcuably lucky to have been born, to make it to here, right now.

The game of comparison will quickly make you forget that. Someone’s score is better or worse than yours. Someone’s reps were up to standard, or they weren’t. You’ve come a long way this year, or you feel set back by nagging pain or a move you aren’t good at yet.

It’s all so small. I’ll tell you why.

I’ve coached my friend Drew, who is deaf, and made me a better coach by not relying on my voice to teach. But she made me a better person, because she was nothing less than grateful and enthusiastic about me, taking time to coach her though something many don’t look forward to.

She was lucky not to be blind.

I’ve coached Patty’s dad, who, during his first session, walked the entire gym with his daughter, feeling all of the different equipment, eager to learn something completely new.

He was lucky to have a body he could control, regardless of his eyes.

I’ve coached Elizabeth, who I think can’t go ten minutes without a smile that lights up the room a little more. When starting, she was unable to run, jog, or walk much of a straight line without assistance, due to cerebral palsy. Later, she would do the Open with us. She would RUN on an assault runner unassisted. And eventually outside in class.

(It’s hot in here, my eyes are sweaty.)

She was not a person with a disability. She was “lucky”.

They were “lucky.”

You are lucky.

Even if you tend to be critical, even if you tend to be boastful. It is humbling to remember that you are not 100% responsible for outcomes, but totally responsible for how you face your hurdles.

Hippie-time:

Behind you are all of your ancestors. Most of them never thought about you coming along in the future.

But. I guarantee you, across 2,000 generations, one of them did.

They hoped you’d receive everything they didn’t, and probably gave their every ounce to make sure you, whoever you would be, wound up HERE… lucky.

So, when I get in my feels about where I am in my journey, or my fitness, or almost anything.  I try to remind myself how hard I work for the people coming after me, who I’ll never meet, so they can have a chance, or even do cool stuff like the CrossFit Open.

And I still probably don’t hold a candle to the effort of someone before me.

And when I step out of my perceptions and find that perspective, it’s hard to keep feeling negative, bummed, boastful, or anything but “lucky.”

No matter what, when you walk out there, do your thing, and walk off- “Be Lucky.”

Have Fun,
-J