Acceptance in the D

We all accept things in our lives, whether we want to or not. Sometimes acceptance is the only thing that truly allows us to, as they say, "keep on keepin' on." You don't like the outcome of something? Well, accept it. Embrace it. Love it or hate it. And move onto bigger and better things. So here I am again, not discussing Hope, Pride, or Modesty in the D, but this time Acceptance. I may not be writing it from my Starbucks on Woodward as I'd like to, but I'm getting closer. This time I send greetings from my East Lansing Starbucks, with one year of law school complete (thank God), and a chance to write something unrelated to law.

This last semester I was able to really learn about accepting things in my life, accepting where I am, what I'm pursuing, and what I really care about, accepting that some people come into and out of our lives, but to appreciate what everyone that does come into your life has to offer you. In the fall, I admit I wasn't as good at accepting things. I'll be honest, law school sucks. No, I don't enjoy the endless reading, the stupid cold-calling in class, or the fact that I think people are crazy and I'd rather tackle them than listen to how many hours they've studied. But I got through the fall and made it to spring alive. This is a means to an end, a means to my goal to help save Detroit in any way I can. Now, I've also been given the name "Fake Law Student." Well, alright, I'll accept that too. But you have to enjoy life. No, I'm not sorry that I don't spend all my hours in the library. There are many, many more important things. What do I enjoy? Coaching my girls on Mercy's basketball team, seeing their smiling faces in the gym at practice and watching them put their hard work in to win our games. To see that I've made a difference in their lives makes an immeasurable difference in mine. Yup, I don't sleep much and I drive a hell of a lot more than most, but I accept that. This is more important. What else do I enjoy? My fake golf course job. I love chatting with our members, discussing how my game is, how their game is, and how dumb this game is. I love giving swing advice to anyone who asks, and then seeing it improve their game. Again, no sleep, but I accept it. And finally what else do I enjoy? My family at Spartan Crossfit. They get their own paragraph after a little shout-out to my Wings..

Hockeytown's Perfect Human recently announced his retirement. Guess what Detroit, we'll have to accept it, accept that our blue line will look a little different without #5 out there. I had the pleasure to have a couple conversations with Mr. Lidstrom over the last few weeks at my golf course (and yes, I was crying on the inside the whole time), and he is hands-down one of the nicest guys I've ever met. A world-class athlete...that calls Detroit home. You know what? I'll definitely accept that. He is perfect, but perfection retires too. So thank you Nick for all that you've done for us. Never missed the playoffs in your professional career? 4 Stanley Cups? 7 Norris trophies? Ya, I'd accept that too. 

"Change, even change we at first perceive to be negative, brings opportunity. The challenge is to see beyond the heartache and grasp the opportunity."

Change involves acceptance. There's absolutely no way around that. The Wings will have to rebuild their team, Detroit will have to accept the new faces skating onto the ice as the puck drops next fall, and I have no doubt in my mind that we'll keep making history. I mean, we are Hockeytown, and I'll always accept that. The Wings are a huge part of our city and its pride. It took a little bit for me to accept our early exit from the Playoffs this year (my bank account was probably thankful though), but we all had to accept it. Sometimes we fall short, but we get right back up and keep working hard. And I can't wait to get back to Detroit to see my boys on the ice again, working hard, lighting that lamp, and fueling my already obnoxious love of the Wings and my fellow crazy fans (insert #teamponcho). Change can be a good thing, and if this change brings Stanley home, well, lets all pray I don't have a heart attack in excitement if that happens.

Now speaking of hard work, if I could channel the amount of hard work I see everytime I go to our Spartan Crossfit box into improving Detroit, we could fix our city in less than a week. I'm even finding it hard to put into words how much Crossfit has made an impact on me over the last 5 months. Oh, going to the 5:30 workout? See you around 5:00, then I'll be home around.. 10:00. If I didn't have my Crossfit family this last semester, I probably would have lost my mind. Imagine the hardest workout you've ever done, then think of something harder. That's what we do. It was my outlet from everything else going on. Having a bad day? Leave it at the door when you come in, you'll be walking into a group of the most positive, fun, and hardworking people you'll ever meet. Whether it was J Biebs being blasted for Marie and I, laughing a little toooo much about the Human Centipede, or cheering everyone on during the Open WODs, including the epic battles between Jake and Josh, I always love my time spent at the box. But when that loud music plays and you start the WOD, nothing else matters. All that matters is putting all you've got into that workout, leave nothing out there, go into beast mode, and do epic shit. Now, going with my theme here, I have to relate this to acceptance. And this is where acceptance is a boundary to overcome. Accept that maybe you didn't go RX in the last workout, and do it next time. Accept that you didn't do a 15' rope climb (or 25), and do it next time. Accept that you didn't set a new PR Fran time, and do it next time. Accept that you didn't do a muscle-up (ok I still haven't), and do it next time. Michael, I'm honored to be able to call you my Coach. You help make Spartan Crossfit what it is. And we all love you for it. TRIBE!!!!

Turn acceptance into a catalyst for success. 

Detroit must also use acceptance as its own catalyst for success. If certain steps towards improving the city don't work, accept it and move onto the next option. This morning I read an article about the possibility of our city running out of money by Friday if this lawsuit isn't dropped. A major city.. with no money?? Unfathomable to some. To us, another obstacle to overcome. Good thing our city is full of fighters, just like my Crossfit box. And Detroit will continue to fight, overcoming everything thrown at them, accepting that we all sometimes fall short of a goal, and getting after the next way to achieve that goal. So keep on keepin' on Detroit. We're all here for you, cheering you on, and believing you can succeed.

Now as I wrap this bad boy up, I'm not saying that we should all just throw our arms up, accept whatever happens, and give up. Quite the opposite actually. Yes, accept things as they happen, knowing that some of them are frankly out of your control, and work towards what you want in life. Its a tough world out there, keep fighting. It's like golf (yup, gotta talk about golf too). It's a game you cannot win, only play. So I keep playing, accepting that I may not make every cut or qualify for every USGA event. But I don't give up. There's always an opportunity for that perfect shot, that low round, that winning Tiger-esque fist pump moment. Passionate about something in your life? Make time for it. 

"You ask me the strength of my city, and I will show you the strength of its people."

Detroit has to accept its flaws, its inadequacies, its problems. The D has to accept that there are parts of it that need to change, and accept the leaps it must take in order to make that change happen. But I'll tell you what, our city doesn't give up. And we’ll get it done. So to everyone reading my ranting, accept what happens in your life. I promise that before you know it, what you accept will turn out to be exactly what you want. And in the meantime, I'll keep working towards instilling in everyone's mind that they should accept that Detroit is the BEST.