Tabula Rasa

JT Scott | 08/29/2013 | 8

The inspiring thing about Burning Man is that this is the world we can all create if we start from a blank slate, bring what we want, build what we want, and leave behind everything else.

Checking the enormous monetary and environmental and societal privilege it takes to have the resources for a second: everyone out here is wealthy on a level that beggars imagination on the global scale. We traveled hundreds or thousands of miles with enough technology and food to sustain a village for a year in many cases, burning fossil fuels all the way, in order to basically throw a big party in the desert.

That said, once we’re out here we’re quickly reminded the question isn’t “what do you want to be when you grow up?” The question is “if you could do anything, what would you do?”

Because you can do just about anything out here. It’s almost like Rule 34 (and I’ll wait for you to google that if you need to). If it exists, someone is very likely doing it in Black Rock City right now. If it doesn’t exist in Black Rock City, you can make it happen.

I'm not even making this up.

I’m not a violent type, but some people love it. For them: Thunderdome is a real thing out here, not just a Mel Gibson/Tina Turner movie. It happens every year, not even kidding. It’s not even a big deal anymore the only real way to keep score I think is “how many bones got broken this year?”

You want a giant concert? That’s easy. Circus opera simultaneous with Deadmau5 concert hosted on Jabba the Hutt’s desert sky-barge being chased across the desert by a giant flaming octopus? That happens.

And it’s not just those things: do you want a free university where classes are held all day on holistic healing, and at night everyone cooks and cleans together? Yup. It’s about two blocks down on the left. Geek village where the entire camp is running on alternative energy and they teach classes on wind turbine design, water recycling systems, and solar power generation every day? Two blocks on the right. Free margaritas and a 100 foot long Slip’n’Slide? Duck Pond, at the corner of 5 and D.

This is the problem with Black Rock for lots of folks. Whatever you want, you can have it. You can get up to your armpits in it. And sometime around Thursday or Friday or Saturday, you might look around and see what you’re doing and wonder about who that means you are.

Whoever you are, deep inside, is who you can be in the desert. Sometimes that’s inspiring. Sometimes that’s scary. Regardless, I think we’re all better for recognizing who we are and choosing to either embrace that or start making changes to become someone we want to be instead.

CrossFit Somerville types – the ones who have gotten here and stayed here – understand this already, I think. You have already made that decision in large part. Some of you are just here for the good times – you were already fit and active and this CrossFit thing is a pretty awesome way to do more of what you already did. Some of you are here because you wanted to make a change in yourself, and this is an environment where you’re surrounded by people who support you becoming whoever you want to be. Some of you got here, looked around at yourself and others, and realized it was time to get to work.

What is Burning Man? What do you want it to be? What do you want?

That’s really always the question, everywhere. Burning Man is just a nice reminder that the question exists.

The Man Burns Tomorrow.

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We’re playing with new toys today… sandbags! I’m up to my ears in dust and sand now, so join me in the joys of dust, exhaustion, and exploring our work capacity.

STR:
Deadlift 4-4-4-4

WOD:
10 Rounds
Sandbag clean
25′ sandbag walking lunges
10 sandbag squats
25′ sandbag reverse bear crawl

Holiday Reminder: CrossFit Somerville will be closed this Monday, September 2nd, for the Labor Day holiday.

Travel Reminder: JT is at Burning Man. If you have time-sensitive membership questions or need for assistance, ask your coach in class or email Nick for help.