Don’t Forget Who You Are

The past ten weeks have been thrilling for me. One of my mentors of five years and counting, Todd Durkin, was on the NBC TV show “Strong” where there were ten male trainers and ten female trainees who competed in the ultimate test of physical, mental, and emotional strength in various challenges every week to avoid elimination off the show.

Todd and his original teammate Devon were eliminated in week three, but a few weeks later Todd had an opportunity to return and fight for his position back on the show. He did that and beat out the rest of the eliminated trainers and returned to the show. He and his now new teammate Brittany (who also beat out the other eliminated trainees for her spot back on the show) fought really hard to be there. They had a second chance. They had an opportunity for a fresh start. They redeemed themselves but they were still hungry for the title to be the Strong Champions.

Todd and Brittany continued to fight every week as other teams got eliminated one by one. They hung on and made it to the finals against the very strong final team. The other team had a lot going for them. They were physically and mentally healthy and ready to win the whole thing.

Todd and Brittany, on the other hand, were beat up and injured. Back in the early weeks of the competition, Todd tore the labrum in his shoulder and Brittany was also injured. Just a few days before the final showdown, she got her foot caught in one of the obstacles and suffered a foot injury that made her ability to even compete in the final challenge questionable. However, these two proved to be fighters from the beginning. They showed not only their physical toughness but also their mental toughness, and were going to compete anyway.

Well, Todd and Brittany, as beat up as they were, competed in the final competition and lost to the other team. Although I know Todd is disappointed in not being crowned the champion with this much deserved teammate Brittany, he could not be more proud of himself for putting it all out on the line. He and Brittany gave everything they had and it was a life-changing experience for both of them.

In January, at our bi-annual retreat, Todd shared with us (his mastermind group) how he, being the oldest trainer at 44, was able to physically do the things that the other trainers half his age were able to do.

How was this possible? He knew he was at a disadvantage with the younger trainers who were at the peak of their physical ability, so he had to rely on his mental strength. That’s how he was able to beat the younger guys.

Why am I sharing this with you? Because there was something that Todd shared with us at the retreat that made a tremendous impact on me, and I hope it encourages you as much as it encouraged me.

Todd said that during one of the physical competitions he was giving it everything he had but found himself stuck. He physically could not push himself any harder to complete the challenge. His teammate Brittany looked him in the eye and said, “Don’t forget who you are. You’re Todd Durkin.” He thought to himself, “Yes, I am! I’m Todd Durkin!” Lo and behold his mental strength kicked in and pushed his physical self to complete the challenge.

This phrase “Don’t forget who you are” stuck with me so much that when I came home from the retreat, I made a wristband for myself that says it. I wear it everyday as a reminder of everything I’ve done, all the challenges I’ve been through, and all the obstacles that I have overcome in my life that have gotten me to this place. When I’m feeling defeated, when I want to give up, I look at my wrist and I remember WHO I am.

I hope that this encourages you today as well. Remember all the things you’ve had to go through to get you where you are today. Remind yourself of the obstacles and challenges you’ve had to overcome and how those events have shaped your life and brought you to this point.

While the challenges that we ALL face in life are far from over, I hope that the next time you feel discouraged, frustrated, and you want to give up, you remember who you are. I will. Will you?

Wishing you joyful health in your 50’s,

Kim