Ozzie Jacobs

Philosopher Eric Hoffer once said “We need not only a purpose in life to give meaning to our existence but also something to give meaning to our suffering. We need as much something to suffer for as something to live for.” Existentialists and philosophers around the world agree that the struggle to find meaning is the “primary motivational force in man”. This motivational force drives our decision making, behavior and intent to pursue a career, relationship and exercise. This begs the question “Why do you Exercise??”

An avid lover of the grace, strength and beauty of martial arts, dance and gymnastics I have always wanted to go to a Cirque Du Soleil show. This weekend I finally made the decision to do it. The show I opted to see was KA, the story of young twins separated only to find their way back together in a quest that involved extravagant fighting scenes, spectacular stage effects, and two love stories so warm they made my heart smile.

As a personal trainer and former fitness competitor that has dabbled in martial arts, dance, and gymnastics I truly appreciated the skill and dedication of these performers. The acrobatics precisely timed to music, the rhythmic gymnastics, and the pure endurance required to manipulate a stage that was rotated from flat to perpendicular (and all of the angles in between). The stunts must have required a tremendous amount of cardiovascular endurance, body control, and strength. Although most of the performers were only slightly taller than me (I’m only about 5’ 2”) they were small packages of tremendous power and sculpted physiques were rampant, I was truly in awe.

Instead of a series, let's make that a week of unfortunate events. Have you ever had a week where everything just goes plain wrong? As soon as the day is over, you sigh a breath of relief and look forward to the next day but then BAM, SPLAT, POW: there it is another unfortunate event.

Okay, so there are three ways you can look at a week like this.

1. Sulk. "Woe is me, my life sucks and I just can't take it." Well, this is a way to handle things, but it does not take you to a positive place it only drags you deeper into that negative and sour mood.
2. Keep Your Head Up. "And This Too Shall Pass." If you think about every bad situation in your life, the commonality is that you got through it. You reached the other side. Sure you may have been bruised but you wound up standing tall shortly thereafter and moving forward with your life. Possibly with a greater sense of self confidence or even a greater understanding of who you really are.