I walk up to the cold iron bar

Standing over it, hot and sweating

Feet planted, looking straight ahead

The burden of putting this over my head weighs on me.

 

Burdens are illusory.

We perceive heaviness that isn’t really there.

All that is required to get that weight out of the way is practice and technique.

If everything aligns and the work has been put in, the burden disappears.

 

Burdens are simply temporary barriers in our minds

Due to lack of preparation and faith in our abilities.

We should trust ourselves more

To know that everything is temporary.

 

My coach asked me the other day, “How are you?”

I shrugged and said, “I’m okay.”

Then he looked at me and said, “How are you right this minute?”

I eyed him for a second, smiled, and replied, “I’m great right now.”

 

Truth.

In this present moment, we are all great.

 

Last night I cried my eyes out.

I was crying out of complete and utter necessity.

I was shedding all the burdens I have been carrying around for a long time.

That is the “burden” of an empath; we feel and, therefore, have to release it.

 

In that moment, I was pure and beautiful and raw.

I was almost blissful.

I was releasing pain.

I was starting over.

 

Reset.

In this moment, I am so great.

 

I don’t think most people who I encounter know how much I see them.

As I have grown older, I have grown more introverted.

I need to be alone to recuperate and recharge.

But it doesn’t mean I don’t care about those around me. I do. I see you.

 

I reach down, grab the bar, and set my shoulders.

I take a long deep breath, tense up, and pull.

I slowly draw that bar up, snap my hips, and hit my position.

That weight is over my head in two seconds. I stand.

 

When everything clicks, we don’t feel the weight.

We don’t feel our burdens. It is like we’re floating.

That weight is in our minds telling us we aren’t good enough.

But if we do the work and believe in ourselves, burdens are weightless.

 

Let go.

In this exact moment, you are great.

 

I release my hands, letting gravity take over.

Down goes the bar, crashing to the ground.

I back away and let out a sigh of relief and satisfaction.

That weight’s got nothing on me.