Gambatte!

“Fall down seven times, stand up eight.” We’ve all heard the phrase.  It’s actually a Japanese proverb, “Nana korobi, ya oki”, which means choosing to never give up, and to always strive for more.

Is this quote a cliché?  Or is there truth in this  ‘never say die’ attitude…?

Tomorrow we kick off our Summer Challenge, and 88 participants have already signed up for this 9-week race.  Today I would like to dedicate my Blog to those women who had tried before and failed.  Miserably.  Yes, you always hear me brag about all the inspiring success stories of our Fitness Challenges, but every time there are just as many stories of disappointment and failure.

As I am typing away at this moment I am wondering how many of my members have signed up for this journey simply because they are loyal to me and feel obligated…Surely, there has to be quite a few, today, in the starting blocks, feeling doubtful about the journey that lies ahead, unsure of how they will manage to turn things around in nine weeks – lots of kilos to shred, many sessions to attend and grrrr…all those bad habits to change.  Because we all know – the easier it is to do, the harder it is to change.

Well, today I just would like to shout from the rooftops: “Good for you!”  Good for you for signing up, again, even though you might feel like one of those inflatable punching bags the little kids use.  You ARE getting up, once again!

And that means one thing – your focus isn’t on the reality in front of you, but on a greater vision that may not be a reality yet.  You know, I can understand why some people, fearful of falling down again, decide to limit their dreams, and live their lives close to the ground.  But those who have changed the world most deeply are people who chose to stand again, even though they knew that they might also fall down hard again.  And you are one of them…

Just like Sir James Dyson, the first to invent a vacuum cleaner without a bag.  Did you know that his invention took 15 years and 5126 failed attempts?  Dyson has since become a vocal advocate for embracing failure, explaining that it was the reason for his success.

Winston Churchill repeated a grade during elementary school, and when he entered Harrow, was placed in the lowest division of the lowest class.  Later, he twice failed the entrance exam to the Royal Military Academy.  He was defeated in his first attempt to serve in Parliament.  He became Prime Minister at the age of 62, and later wrote:

“Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never – in nothing, great or small, large or petty…”

Thomas Edison’s teachers said he was “too stupid to learn anything”.  He was fired from his first two jobs for being “non-productive”.  And then, when he invented the light bulb after 1000 failed attempts, he said: “I didn’t fail 1000 times, the light bulb was an invention with 1000 steps.”

Sumner Redstone, the billionaire tycoon who died at the age of 97, wrote: “Great success is built on failure, frustration and catastrophe.”  And the famous American actress, Rosalind Russel said: “Flops are a part of life`s menu and I`ve never been a girl to miss out on any of the courses.”

And here we are, you and me.  So what if you have taken part in 10 Fitness Challenges without reaching your goal?  So what, if, on this Sunday of September 2021, you are dreading to take those before photos because you weigh more than ever?  So what?

You and I must change the way we look at the falls.  Falls are there to teach us, to mould us, and to guide us.  It’s the definition of our struggles, it’s the process of achievement, and it’s the value of our character.  Every time you are willing to face a challenge, you become stronger and more resilient.  Much like building muscle, building resilience takes time.  And the amazing thing in life is we can always begin again. 

Now, where does “gambatte”, the title of my Blog fit in today? Closely related to the proverb of getting up eight times after falling down seven times, is another concept that reinforces how to remain resilient. The concept of gambaru is deeply rooted in the Japanese culture and approach to life and means ‘Never Give Up’.  ‘Gambaru’ expresses the idea of sticking with a task with tenacity until it is completed – of making a persistent effort until success is achieved.

The command form of the verb, gambatte, is used often in the daily Japanese language to encourage others to “do your best” or “keep going” at work, in sporting events, or during a test.  So today, my fellow Challenge member, tell yourself you have entered this fitness journey for YOU, and “Gambatte”!!!   

Get back up, into this fight we call life.  Because, if you aren’t going to get back into the fight, why bother to get back up? You can quit on your back much more easily, and more convincingly, from your back than from your feet. Yes, you’ll probably want to try a different way, so as not to end up back on the ground.  But get back up. Again.  And again.

And for those of you reading this Blog today, not being part of our studio? When was the last time YOU kept after something with the same determination the quote talks about? With the same determination of a very young child learning to crawl, walk and talk?  As adults, we have so many excuses. One is that we can’t do it. Well, obviously, or we would have done it, and not be discussing the excuses for the failure.

On what have you given up? What projects, plans, skills, activities, or other things in your life have you allowed yourself to go down, and decided not to get back up?

What are you going to do? And how many times are you willing to get back up?

Life will knock you down. You’ll have to answer the question “Will you get back up?” Well, will you?

Today is the day we stop making excuses.  Today is the day we stop saying “I can’t do it.”  You and I, we are the masters of our thoughts. We will not be mastered by them.  Right now, we are focusing on the good that is around us, and within. There is a lot.

So, onwards towards the goal.  Falling, down, getting back up again, in our path to greatness.  It’s through the fall that we will rise.  And who knows, maybe, just maybe, Summer 2021 might become YOUR turn to shine…

Gambatte!

Yours in fitness

Mirna

082 779 0507