“If you can say ‘I can’t,’ it means you can do more,” smiles the sports rehab coach to his client who’s ready to raise a white flag.
Pulling the band toward my chest, I realize: “Huh, he’s right.”
My rehab coach told me: “This is the last back exercise. Do as many as you can — 150, 200, or 300.” No one is watching me. And I’m tired.
At first I thought: “200 max.” Then: “Fine, another 100.” Next: “Round to 400.” Finally: “Make it 500.” I bet in a contest, I'd push past 1,000.
We have no idea where our limits are.
Why? Because the word “our” is misleading. We keep saying “my body,” “my mind,” “my soul,” though it’s clear we didn’t create any of this — we simply received it one day as a gift from someone or something.
We remember the past, we sense the present, even plot what we chase tomorrow. But honestly, how often in life have we stunned ourselves: “Wow! I didn’t expect I could do that.”
And right then, it's clear: inside you lurks a stranger—the Other You.
He is more than real, yet unseen by all. SSo for you (let alone the crowd), the pull runs strong to peg yourself as just the fixed shape, set in stone long ago.
For example:
“I can’t…”
“I'm zero at...”
“Who am I to...”
“No way for me...”
“I’m too impatient”
“Oh, I’m so trusting”
“I’m not as brave as…”
“I always react this way”
“That's not my strength,”
“Too late for me to change”
“That's not for folks like me”
“With my nature, impossible...”
“What can I do, I’m an introvert”
“Creativity? That’s definitely not me”
The Other You just chuckles: “Hold on. I’m about to surprise you.”
Yours sincerely,
-Alexander
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