Life can be a little rough at times. Since last March (over a year ago) with the recession the company I have worked for (Lighting Design Alliance) the past two years went onto a work sharing program, reducing all employees hours and pay by 20%.
At first this was pretty cool, i was like hey, I’ve saved up a bit of money and I have Friday’s off now! This is awesome! Then after a couple of weeks I realized, hey this ain’t so cool, now I can’t afford to live here. I’ve got big goals for my life. Crossfiters are big goal thinkers, we’re not people who idly wait for the world to pass us by. We take the reigns and get going.
Take Life By the Reigns
I tried a lot of things, I moved into a smaller apartment with roommates to save cost on rent, i ate out less, and basically completed stopped going out to the bars (good 4 health too!). But for some reason my bank account was still dwindling down. I couldn’t figure it out, when I added up my monthly expenses I realized that just to eat, sleep, and work I was spending $400 a month more than I was making just to live. I couldn’t have that, so I did something about it!
I’ve been dreading writing this post because it’s a very hard thing to say goodbye, but as some have heard rumors, Slaughter is going to be moving away in mid May. I took a job with an excellent company which manufacturer’s lighting fixtures just outside of Denver, Colorado, and will be relocating there for work. It was a big time bitter sweet decision. Not only did I have great friends at work, and an awesome gym i went to with awesome people. But those people had become my second family. My blood family doesn’t really even really understand why I Crossfit so the people at the gym are VERY VERY important to me. The last thing I wanted was for them to feel like they’d been left, and I wasn’t sure that I could leave them.
It was a super hard, and i do mean really hard, decision to make. But fortunately and at the same time not, this is the best path for me. I absolutely love Colorado. It has a ton to offer, and the Crossfit scene out there is thriving. There is no way it is growing as fast as SouthBay, but i’m not sure anything is! Mariessa and Forrest are stellar owners, they have great things in store for the people at this gym. Chip, Remy, and John are some of the best and most fun people I’ve had the opportunity to learn from, and they will continue to grow just as I will as a teacher, student, and person. I wish the whole world was as lucky as I have been to be able to meet all the amazing people and suffer through hardships with them (even if it is a self induced painstorm).
I wrote a letter which is about 3 pages long so if you have nothing better to do you can read it here. But I want to take this time to thank every one reading this post. I am very fortunate to have friends and family like you guys, I consider my time here to be a true gift, and one which I will always cherish. And although I’m moving 1200 miles away, we have Facebook, blogs, pictures, email, and cell-phones, so I’m never too far away. And if people plan a trip out to do some real skiing (none of this California snow crap), they will always have a place to stay, and a buddy on the slopes.
I’ll be around for several weeks, so it’s not like I’ll be gone tomorrow. We will definitely be doing a “Slaughter” WOD before I’m out of here. If you ever feel like your just going through the motions. Take life by the reigns, and do something you never thought you could!
WOD 4/14/2010
A. 500m Row Max Effort x3
B. Affiliate Cup WOD #2
40-30-20-10
Box Jump (24″/20″)
Sit-Ups
Wall Balls (20#/14#)
Burpees
Darek and I will be your first houseguests. We will beat everyone to it. 3,2,1, go…
Sigh
I think you deserve a statue or better yet, a painstorm instrument in your tribute. Maybe instead of slosh-pipe, we will henceforth call it the slaughter-pipe.
At least I know I can PR a deadlift without you now though. For a couple months there I was worried I’d have to drive to CO on deadlift days.
Also – my email is slaughter@crossfitsouthbay.com, and I will be doing my best to be spending lots of time helping people with their OHS and snatchs over the next couple weeks. If you have a time you’d like some free extra help. Send me an email and let me know!
Dude, it is so saddening to hear you are leaving. It’s just not going to be the same without you. I will definitely have to make it out there and get some skiing in (especially considering the sad ski season I had this year). I know you are going to love living in Colorado as it has so much to offer that you enjoy. Make sure to get back and visit every once in a while.
I am a better person for having known you Slaughter. You will be missed…your Vibrams however…
“…It is meant to inspire me, and remind me down the road to never forget who I am, and to never ever give up on life, or anything else which I truly desire.” -Christopher Slaughter.
Love ya buddy.
Go Arctic Beast!!!! You will do well in Colorado where it’s cold and Arctic Beast can thrive. I wish you all the best!. Scarlett and I’ll will be on the list behind Remy to come visit.
Chris,
You have no idea how much I appreciate everything you did for me in preparing for the Sectionals. Being that I only moved to Hermosa less than 4 months ago you and Forrest took more time helping and coaching me than I can ever imagine. I can’t tell you how grateful I am for that. You’re an awesome at coaching man, so keep up the good work! I’ll definitely be looking forward to coming to Denver to visit. I already have a trip semi-planned for late June haha to go visit a buddy of mine there (sorry Remy I beat you to it haha.)
Again, I truly appreciate all your countless hours spent helping me and I’ll always consider you one of my great friends.
Sad to hear you are leaving, but not sad to see the creepy toe shoes go though. hahha.
also not sure how i feel about this rodeo photo….
No Slaughter!!! Totally understand, but totally sad. We will be sad, but COL is totally stoked, for sure. We definitely need to have farewell beer pong, bull riding party!!! You will totally be missed Chris, but will kick toosh in any thing you do. Good Luck
I nominate my house as the location for the party… Hopefully I’ll be able to stay up for the debauchery this time! Haha
Slaughter, if I had to dedicate a 90′s R&B song to try and get you to stay, it would have to be “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye” by Boyz II Men.
Or perhaps it would be “Please Don’t Go” by Double You
A wise man (I’ll let you guess who) once said to me “There is a big world out there, and I won’t settle for less than all of it…” he continues to be an inspiration in my life and I am thankful for him every day…
Gosh I just got started and now your leaving:( I kinda got teary from your blog and everyone’s responses. You certainly have impacted everyone at CFSB. Thank you for pushing me to step it up at the workouts, best of luck to you!!
Chris,
. But there was no way I couldn’t comment after reading this. Your words made me pause and reflect on how I could step it up a bit in my own life. With an outlook like yours you will go far in life! Anyway I appreciate the time and patience you have extended to me. You will be missed. Will try to make it in for some extra coaching on OH Squats and snatches. I can sure use it.
You are wise beyond your years young man. I never post due to lack of time and probably a generational thing
So my first workout ever with you was yesterday morning, and now you post this. Coincidence? I think not.
That aside, it’s clear you’ll go far where ever you go and whatever you do. Good luck and thank you.
Total coincidence Philppe, this has been coming for several weeks now. It was awesome to have you in the gym and as long as I am here i’ll do my best to show you everything I can. Thanks for the wishes all!