When I was growing up I kind of got in trouble. A lot. Not big trouble, but I definitely pushed the envelope quite often. If something happened, there I was!
For instance, in the first grade I got in trouble in class for something I don’t even remember. But, I do remember that the punishment was to take a letter from my teacher to my parents, and have them read it, sign it, and bring it back the following day.
Well, obviously I was smarter than this teacher.
I had an older brother that knew cursive… surely he would sign it with my dad’s name, and I’d win. Only, he said no.
Burn.
Okay, okay, well- this teacher had no idea what my dad’s handwriting looked like. Maybe, for all she knew, he didn’t even sign his name in cursive. Maybe, just maaaaaaaybe he wrote in giant block letter print. With a crayon.
I mean, how would she know any better?
So I busted out a crayon and printed that name better than anyone could imagine.
BOB.
My teacher would surely buy it.
I turned it in the next day. She looked at the letter with crayon-printed name, looked at me, looked at the letter, looked at me…
“Did your dad sign this letter?” she asked.
“Yupp,” I said.
“Okay, okay- but I asked your parents to both sign the letter- why didn’t your mom sign it?”
I could have said so many things here, but I kept it cool.
“She was at work.”
Boom! She bought it. I strolled back to my seat knowing that I had won.
So I got home that afternoon, and there was my dad was waiting for me in the living room.
“Didn’t you have a letter for me to sign?” he asked.
Apparently my teacher called to confirm that my dad actually did sign the letter. In crayon. In block letter print.
“Well, I hope it was worth it.”
I don’t remember what my punishment was, but I’m certain it wasn’t worth it (outside of having a great story).
But, I didn’t just tell this story for the hell of it. There’s a lesson to be learned by all here.
When actions don’t align with intentions
What is your intention?
- I want to lose 20lbs.
- I want to have more daily energy
- I want to bench press 315#
- I want to run the Marine Corps Marathon
- I want to be able to keep up with my kids as I age
- I don’t want to be grounded for acting up in class
All great goals.
So how do you intend to meet your goals?
Goals form intentions.
Intentions become daily practice.
We simply climb the ladder towards our goals, with great intent.
But occasionally our daily practice doesn’t line up with our goals and intentions.
What’s a person to do then?
Learn from young Chris.
You WILL screw up.
You WILL get off track occasionally.
When this happens, don’t dig the hole deeper, don’t work your way back down the ladder.
What I’m saying is, when the figurative teacher in your life sends home the letter, give it to your parents.
Take the consequences in stride, and keep moving up the ladder.
Don’t beat yourself up, don’t look for shortcuts- simply make the next best call.
Or, for crying out loud, at least find someone else who knows cursive.
Ready to come check out Beyond Strength Performance NOVA?
Latest posts by Chris Merritt (see all)
- Why Your Favorite Instagram Model’s Butt Program is a Waste of Time - 2017/08/30
- The ABC’s of the Kettlebell Swing - 2017/08/23
- I’m New to the Gym, What Should I Do? - 2017/08/16