Strength Isn’t a Moment — It’s a Way of Life

When people hear about coaching a CrossFit Games athlete, they often picture the training. The lifts. The sweat. The intensity. And yes, all of that matters. But what I’ve learned from working with Tiiu over the past decade is that true strength isn’t a singular effort. It’s not the moment you hit a personal best or stand on a podium.

Strength is a choice. A continued effort. It’s something you show up for—again and again—in every moment you’re willing to be present for.

Tiiu shows up. Every day. For years now, she has trusted me to guide her training, to shape her preparation. But more than that, she has trusted me with herself. With her doubts. With her hopes. With her fears.

And here’s the part people don’t always see: that trust flows both ways. We’ve become close friends—sharing countless meals, traveling the country, trading inside jokes that only come from years of time together. Our connection goes beyond reps and results. Sometimes, in the middle of competition, we sit down for a meal and talk not about strategy or recovery, but about my life. My struggles. My fears.

Just this past week, I laid out some of my deepest anxieties with her. And she held them. She reminded me—without trying, without forcing—that strength isn’t just about her performance or my coaching. It’s about the way we choose to be present for each other. Vulnerability is strength. Empathy is strength. Friendship is strength.

Yes, I coach her. But she also teaches me. She reminds me that resilience isn’t perfection—it’s presence. That the strongest people aren’t the ones who never falter, but the ones who keep showing up. For themselves. For their people. For the life they want to live.

The Universal Truth

Strength isn’t a moment. It’s a way of life. It’s not defined by medals or numbers but by the quiet, consistent choice to keep showing up—with honesty, humility, and care.

The Invitation

So ask yourself: where in your life do you need to show up—not with force, not with perfection, but with presence? Who are the people you could be strong with—not by holding it all together, but by letting them in?

Because in the end, strength isn’t something we do alone. It’s something we become—together.