LOOKS CAN BE DECEIVING
I had a conversation with someone about a year ago on the phone (a real conversation, not text) convincing them to try our classes and I said "If you saw me on the street you wouldn't believe I teach these classes". The person I was talking to has now completed 128 Jump Into Shape classes. I was stressing to this person AND myself, that we can accomplish so many things if we want to, regardless if we don't fit the "mold". (Between us, I don't think there are many people that teach 6 hours of weekly jump rope/bodyweight classes with a long beard and kippah)
LOOKS CAN BE DECEIVING
I actually don't want to focus on judging others, but more importantly, judging ourselves. All the time, our members say "I can't jump rope for 2 minutes straight or can't do 3 classes a week or I can't... " My response is that maybe you can't today, but tomorrow or next week is a different story. Be positive and work hard and it can happen.
LOOKS CAN BE DECEIVING
When we enter the last 10 minutes of a class I like to say "If you tell yourself you can't do it, you won't, but if you say you can, at least you have a chance". If we look at our potential and make a plan to reach it, we can. Don't compare ourselves to anyone else. Your potential is for you alone.
LOOKS CAN BE DECEIVING
Fitness aside for a moment, when I became religious about 15 years ago, I couldn't read Hebrew. Flat out, couldn't read it. What was my goal - to learn Jewish Seforim (books) in Lashan HaKodesh (Hebrew), but how would I get there? I bought a book for 5th graders teaching the basics, and I bought and made flashcards. Fast forward to today and Baruch HaShem (Thank G-d) I can actually read a lot in Hebrew and understand it. I am still learning and often read the English and Hebrew, but with a goal anything is possible.
FORGET OUTSIDE LOOKS
Focus inside. We can accomplish so much. We can reach our short and long-term goals. We can aim for the sky. Of course, there are always setbacks, but the key is to get up again. It may take an hour, a day, a week, or longer to get up, but get up.
I set a goal to learn all 4,200 Mishnayos many many years ago.. G-d Willing, I will finish in 4-6 months, but that is only the first step. My goal by age 50 is to review all of Mishnayos 3 times a year (3 chapters a day).
Thank you and many blessings,
Moshe
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