People who strive for great achievements, especially in any physical endeavor, usually know well in advance that they can can get hurt or killed in doing so.
However, the truly-dedicated accept that risk and continue to pursue their goals.
They also know that though they will have some people support their efforts, many won’t. Negative people, “haters”, and critics will also arise. Sometimes they are strangers, like on the Internet, other times they are co-workers, neighbors, or family members.
I was with a bunch of guys this morning and one of them showed me a video from the Olympics where a weightlifter was seriously injured. Others wanted to see it and then then the “arm chair experts” , who don’t even lift weights, added their cynical advice.
As a strength coach and a person who lifts weights often myself, I was ticked off. I thought to myself, these guys don’t even lift, they don’t have a clue about what it takes.
Yes, the weightlifter got hurt, but he was dedicated enough to qualify for the Olympics.
He got hurt lifting a very heavy weight. Most guys would never even attempt something that difficult.
Teddy Roosevelt said, “It’s not the critic who counts.” and he is 100 % right on that.
It doesn’t matter what people say about a subject they are not qualified to comment on.
Great athletes are forged in crucible of adversity. They keep going until they succeed.
They might fail again, but I bet they get back up and go at it again.
Teddy Roosevelt sums it up here, “There has never been a man in our history who led a life of ease whose name is worth remembering.”
If the reward you seek is worth the risk, give it all you’ve got!
The Cave 