We Can Do Hard Things

We Can Do Hard Things

QIC: Lamb Chop

Date: 1/27/2024

PAX: Spicoli, BooBoo, Drip, Lamb Chop

2023 taught me a lot. Becoming a father was a 2+ year journey for my wife and me (any of you men out there that are struggling with infertility, please know I am an open door and a listening ear to hearing your struggles. We had so many people who came out of the shadows to help us navigate that part of our lives, would love to walk along side you with it). That journey was really hard. Then, we had Avery, and I thought we would get back to normal. Nope, it was really really hard. I became a different person, or maybe just the worst version of myself. Selfish, prideful, easily agitated, man it was really hard. Fortunately I had an overly patient wife who encouraged me to talk about these things with my close guy friends to figure out ways to cope and have a different outlet for my frustrations. They say that the hardest thing for a man to do when he is 30+ years old is to have 5 close guy friends with whom he can confide. I cannot tell you how many mornings I was pored into my the likes of Toot, Drip, Spicoli, Palin, Van Gogh, Boomerang, Frostbite, Zima, Woebegone, Schlitz, Turnover, Bevo, and the list can go on and on. I was also fortunate to have an amazing church and an even close Community Group (our version of Bible Study), with men who were open and honest with me. It took at least 6 months to get out of the gloom, but because of your friendships, I was able to get there. So the theme of the morning was “I can do hard things”, and in reality, it was “We can do hard things” because alone, we can achieve very little.

Warm-o-Rama

20 SSH, 6 Abe Vigoda, 10 Whirly, 20 Imperial Walker

The Thang

This was borrowed from Toot and it was brilliant. Mosey to the track, where we would do ascending exercises. First corner, 10 Merkin, 10 Squat, 10 WWII, 10 Single Count Lunge, mosey to the next corner, add 10 to each, mosey to next add 10 to each, mosey to last corner, add to to each. This accounted for 100 Merkins. But then we had to unwind it. Stay in the same corner and do 40 of each exercise, then mosey to next and do 30, then mosey to next and do 20, mosey and do 10. For a total of 100 Merkins.

Mosey to swings for some Swing Pulls. Start with 20 Pulls, 20 Merkins, 15 Pulls, 15 Merkins, 10 Pulls, 10 Merkins, 5 Pulls, 5 Merkins. Taking our Merkin count up to 250.

In honor of Greeny who was spilling merlot at home, we mosied to Forsyth where Drip was offered an option of 1 or 2. Dumbly, he chose 2. So we did 20 Mike Tyson, 20 Merkins at the bottom, then mosied to the top and completed 20 Squats, 20 Monkey Humpers at the top. Mosied down for 15 and 15, mosied back up for 15, 15, back down, 10, 10, back up 10, 10, back down 5, 5 back up 5, 5. Had Drip chosen 1, we would have completed all exercises at the bottom, then mosied to the top for 15, down for 10, up for 5, silly drip. That took our Merkin count to 350 (for anyone counting, looking at you Frostbite the questioner of all things Lamb Chop Merkin counting).

Then we mosied down West End to head back to start where Drip encountered a church lady friend who complimented us by thinking we were the high school track team (until we got closer and realized we were middle aged men).

COT

Lots of prayers, but an overall knowledge that WE can do hard things. Lean on those around you, do not shelter for long, come out into the open and find someone or someones to talk to. We all have experiences and wisdom to share, we just need to ask for a little help sometimes.

Thanks for the keys Mutton, I left them with Greeny in the house of sick.

Lamb Chop