There comes a time when you get to the age, or even the point in your life, when you look around and think maybe you need a new challenge. A new type of motivation or something to look forward to that doesn’t already exist in the list of monotonous things you do on autopilot every day. Perhaps your kid(s) are growing up and don’t need you as much, you’re not working as many hours, or your favorite television series’ are on what seems like a five-month break….and you find yourself restless, bored, and wanting to go stab the next person that says, “what do you do all day?”
 
This time has come in my life. As someone who has turned 30 multiple times over, I got to a point where I couldn’t stop thinking about finding a new hobby or activity that I could become obsessed—one that didn’t start with shop and end with ing. Also, I needed something that didn’t involve a barbell. I have been lifting for 20 years, coaching for the last five, and my whole day is snatches and clean & jerks. Literally my whole day! I LOVE that I can spend my days doing something that means so much to me, and I LOVE that I can make a living in a gym surrounded by the sport and the people I love madly…but at the same time, when your work is also your sport, what is your outlet?
 
After 20 years, I began to wonder about the whole world off the platform, and how healthy and amazing it would be for me to find something outside the gym. I wanted to start something totally outside of my comfort zone. Something that wouldn’t come natural to me, and something that was ALL MINE. I didn’t want to share this with anyone.
 
Last week I posted something on Instagram and Facebook asking folks to guess what new sport I was going to start learning, because it doesn’t happen if it isn’t on social media, right? A staggering amount of people guessed golf. Personally, I thought this was silly because anyone who knows me also knows I can’t be quiet long enough to be all serene and peaceful on a golf course. I would be the asshole who started telling a story the minute my partner was taking an important swing. I am way to spunky and quite simply, crazy, to do something as calming as golf.
 
When I decided it was time to start my selfish act of doing something just for me, something that I didn’t have to share with my husband, kid, dog, teammates or friends, I really considered everything. I thought about joining a team like basketball or volleyball. Maybe an art class, or pottery, or even yoga. But as I went down the list, I realized I needed something that I would be the least talented at. I am already artsy and can draw and paint. As for yoga, I bought a yoga mat two years ago and it is still wrapped and sitting by the yoga-carrying bag that still has its tags on it. Since that hasn’t gotten me to a yoga studio in all this time, it was quite obvious that wasn’t motivating me. I played basketball and volleyball in high school, and I didn’t want any muscle memory coming back making things easy for me. I needed a challenge, and a big one. Archery was high on my list, mainly because of my infatuation with the arrow, along with boxing. I woke up last week and just knew boxing is what I needed in my life. I did some research, found a coach, and was ready to start three days later. As of this minute, I have gone to boxing lessons for literally three hours, and it has already changed my life.
 
I definitely found my challenge. Boxing is so technical and takes conditioning that I absolutely don’t have. My first lesson I spent trying not to die, while simultaneously trying to jump rope for the first time since fifth grade, learning agility ladder drills, feet placement and movement, positioning, punches, and trying to float around the mats rather than using my legs to move me in my typical explosive fashion. Half of my jabs looked like I was punching in a jerk stance.
 
Everything about boxing is so foreign to me. I am so obsessed with perfecting my movement that I hide in my bathroom to practice. I bought the perfect hot pink cowhide boxing training and bag gloves, and I spent every minute after my last practice counting down until my next practice. I feel like I have found what I was missing without even really knowing I was missing something. I went searching for a challenge, and I found a new home.
 
I am still training my full weightlifting program. This week has been rough as I try to adjust to feeling like death, being sore in muscles I didn’t even know existed, and my new feelings of inadequacy in the conditioning and technical aspects of my new obsession. However, I am definitely in love.
 
What this new adventure has taught me is that it is never too late to start something brand new. Feeling complacent can be great, but I also think it can be a tad bit lazy.  Like anything in life, when you are feeling like you’re starring in Groundhog Day, I think that is a good time to find a new adventure.
 
I have a whole new appreciation for people who come to me, or my gym wanting to learn how to snatch and clean & jerk. I mean, these people are like me walking in to that boxing gym! I was so nervous and insecure, unsure of how this was even going to work for me. Would I literally fall over dead? Why do I feel like a 95-year-old one-legged woman climbing a flight of stairs? Do I look like a complete idiot? What does that term mean? What do you mean my feet need to start and land in that position every time? I can’t see my feet I am looking at my fist! WHAT HAVE I DONE?!?!
 
Because of this, I am so proud of each and every person who is starting weightlifting later in life. I had forgotten I had those same exact feelings as a small naïve 19-year-old learning to snatch for the first time. Some of you are nurses or teachers, or work on a computer all day, or you coach football or jazzercise. You may work in another gym, but want to train away from your work. Or maybe you are a stay-at-home mom or dad. And I just realized that my life, my sport, my job, is YOUR outlet! And that makes me feel so lucky.
 
I am so happy to have found something outside the gym. Go out and try something you have wanted to try. It is okay to start over. It is okay to be brand new at something at any age! Find something just for you. It is worth it.