I shall now date myself… and … significantly! In the 80’s, lo those many years ago, there once lived a musical genius named M.C. Hammer. He liked to ask the question: “What time is it?” Only to answer his own question with the following: “It’s HAMMER TIME!”
Well without the trademark baggie pants I also want to say this with regards to 2021… IT IS HAMMER TIME!
Now, let me be clear: I don’t mean just hammering for the sake of hammering. No. I mean something far deeper and more wonderful. No matter how 2020 treated you and those you love. We can enter 2021 ready to hammer! And by that, I mean if things have led you to the doldrums, if you are feeling pessimistic, if events got the best of you, YOU have the power to change that within you. It is a decision you CAN make.
I have been a lifelong pessimist living with a lifelong optimist for nearly 40 years (and, God willing, I’ll enjoy a few more incredible years). And at long last and against all odds, she is finally rubbing off on me. I am increasingly becoming optimistic about the future. That has motivated me to say that carpe diem are not just two words; they are the secret to a happy life.
Today is the day you and I have to live. If we enter 2021 with that mindset, we will find success and fulfillment in all we do. We can hammer out workouts. We can hammer out training plans. We can hammer out repairing broken relationships. We can hammer, hammer, hammer. Why? Because you and I are stronger than we have ever believed. We can be kinder to ourselves than we have ever embraced. We can have the life we were meant to have and encourage those around us to have the same.
What time is it? It is hammer time. Time to step up to being all we can be as athletes and fellow travellers on planet Earth. Together, let’s hammer away at 2021!
Mark Turner (aka Coach MarkT) is a Houston, Texas Metro area based Coach who is a USA Triathlon Level II and Paratriathlon Certified Coach, IRONMAN University Certified Coach,VFS Certified Bike Fitter, and Mental Strengths Performance Coach. Coach MarkT absolutely loves coaching and helping the athletes achieve their dreams. MarkT is also a US Veteran having served in the United States Marine Corps. He is a graduate of the University of Houston Honors College with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science. In addition to endurance sports, his interests include history, science fiction, and cooking. He can be reached at markt@teamMPI.com.