Life of a Brown Dude in the Forest

Today I have decided to have a little rant about why you shouldn't use the phrase “I can't”...

I'm sure everyone at some point has used this phase:

I can't live without my morning coffee
I can't live without my car
I can't go dancing in public
I can't cover 100 miles on foot
I can't do this, I can't do that
I can't, I can't, I can't

Okay so maybe I when a little overboard with I can't, you should never use that phrase; it leads to a harmful way of thinking and usually ends up limiting one's self. There are countless examples of this phase hurting people's chances at more fulfilling life for themselves and a chance to grow as an individual. So don't limit yourself with I can't, just say I presently struggle with __________.

I presently struggle with the Insanity workout.
I presently struggle with my budget.
I presently struggle with completing 100milers.
I presently struggle with cutting back on my beer intake, wait shouldn't this be the other way around, I presently struggle with drinking more beer :P

Well you get the point. It's a better way to think about things once you make the mental switch and if you hear me saying I can't feel free to introduce me to your fist.

I credit Tony Horton for this mindset because of his humorous phrases got me through a lot of the P90x workout, back when I was actually doing P90x.

If you can eliminate the mindset that ‘I can’t. I can’t do pull ups.’ Forget I can’t – say ‘I presently struggle with’ and if you keep that mindset then over the course of time, someone who’s dream was to do two or three could turn it into twenty and more. - Tony Horton, P90X

The alarm started buzzing at 4AM and all I could think was who was the idiot that set it that early, oh yeah that was me. I was flying Hans style this morning, solo, so it wasn't a big deal to hit the snooze. I was still out of the house by 5:30 and it felt like a quick commute to Lightening Lakes.

I did the usual Frosty Loop that Gottfried has for the race but added Windy Joe and the actual peak of Frosty. Now I wasn't sure what to expect at the top of Windy Joe, I was complaining to myself if it was worth the climb and it delivered. If you've never been up there it's a must do. First of all there was a luxury toilet up there so no need to swat in the forest :) huge plus if you know me plus a building, an old fire watch tower and even I picnic table. How have I never been up there till now is a mystery to me. Next time I will need just do an out and back there and take up a cooler of beer and just hang out there all day.

Now I didn't see any humans from the time I left Lightning Lake till I was almost at the peak of Frosty, well I saw them for far away and finally got a chance to talk to them when I got my ass up there. Funny thing the group of guys that I was talking to, one of them was the brother in-law of a guy from work, small world uh?

It was almost 5 hours before I was heading back down, I know slow brown dude what can I do, it was about an hour detour for Windy Joe and probably another 45minutes to an hour getting to the top of Frosty, sit and have food and get back to the trail down to Lighting Lakes.

Well the downhill I had my own issues with chafing in a very very sensitive spot that slowed me down, which was a problem that I think I have figured out, I'll find out next time. Also no wanting to throw up issues, yeah. Now if I can get some speed I will be doing great for Squamish.