It started a few months ago, when I needed to take a package to the post office for mailing. It was awkwardly shaped – a rolled up canvas, about 5 feet long and round, weighing about 30 pounds. Normally I’d like Mike handle this, but he was out of town, it needed to get shipped, and I found myself staring at it in my living room, contemplating how I was going to get it down two flights of stairs, into a car, out of a car, down a city block, and into a post office.
I eventually managed tipping it on it’s side, cleaned it up to chest height, and hoisted it onto my shoulder. Sure, it was awkward, but I was able to get it out and gone and was able to check off that highly annoying “To Do” off the list.
I noticed it again, a month or so later, when I was taking the hard top off a Jeep Wrangler. The hard top comes off in two pieces, split down the middle, and Mike was on one side lifting it off, and I unsnapped my side, lifted it over head, stepped out of the jeep, and put it on the group. Mike was midstep to come help me, and then stopped, going “Oh. You um, I guess you’ve got it”
I keep having these moments, moments where I notice a strength that I have, strength I’ve been building at the gym and on the road and in all the hours when I think I’d rather be sleeping but instead I get up and go, get up and do. I have a general sense that I’d be the same person if I didn’t do these things, that I’d live the same life, experience the same world, but every now and again these little moments flare up in my mind and I think that I’m giving myself such a nice gift, that I’m able to navigate this world so much more easily than I’d be able to otherwise. It’s the exact same me, just a little bit more so.
InnerTeub 
A friend called me, “muscles” yesterday in the context of, “Hey muscles, help me lift this grill and carry it up the stairs.” I actually looked around as I didn’t think he was talking to me.
It is definitely something to be proud of. Competent and independent in some ways.
BTW, I need to come get my kettlebell.
It’s a nice feeling, being capable. And strong. I like it too.
Bad. Ass.
A few months ago I had to move a big, old TV from a dresser in one room to one that’s 4.5′ tall in another room. I was able to do it without limping into the second room with it hovering above my knees and put it on the dresser with no scratches.
At work, lifting ‘heavy boxes’ is part of my job description. I’m often asked if I need help or if I need to use the cart in the mail room. Most of the time I have the box under my arm as they cut their sentence short with an ‘ohh’ and wide eyes. Okay, so most times they’re barely 15#, but others are impressed!
Hey man, they don’t have to KNOW it’s only 15 pounds…
🙂
I would like to be strong and lift up Jeep tops and large animals like Moose and cars when my ice cream rolls underneath. Would you say you owe it to Crossfit? I don’t think Crossfit is in my future, but I need some kind of motivator to do weight training.
PS – I heard about your house. I don’t know whether to congratulate you or throw a temper tantrum. 😉
Katie,
It’s hard to say if I’d have the same strength from doing straight up weight training instead of crossfit, but the x-factor for me is that I actually DO crossfit, vs. regular strength training, which consists of me wandering around the weight room trying to figure out what the hell I’m doing, settling for some deadlifts, some ab ball, and then defaulting to the treadmill.
I have never had the strength or the body I have now, and I owe it to Crossfit, but if I’m going to be fair, it’s worth saying that I’ve never before focused so much on strength in any capacity, so, you know, do with that what you will.