It May Suck

By Dana

I had a sobering experience this week... I challenged myself to take a Barre class and it totally kicked my butt. Who knew a ballerina bar with lots of small, deceptively demanding exercises could be such a challenge! Yikes!

I've always viewed myself as a pretty athletic person, able to go on a hike, a bike ride or anything else I felt like doing at a moments notice. I don't want that to change and I'm realizing, it just might, if I don't change.

Why?

Because, little-by-little, my mindset and self-talk around exercise has changed.

And it's been quite insidious, because small changes ⎯ in this case, prioritizing comfort and avoiding pain- ⎯  can create big shifts over time. And it has.

For the last 5 years I've been wrestling with some neuro-muscular wackiness, (supposedly from Lyme Disease) and in this 5 years I've done what my body can comfortably do... lots of walking and some daily yoga to loosen my chronically tight and wobbly muscles. As for strength training and cardio? Nada. I figured I'd resume that stuff when I felt better and got back to "normal."

Well, 5 years later it's become extremely likely that this is my new "normal".  As unhappy as I am about this reality, I don't want to settle and I definitely don't want to become the person that can no longer do things I want to do.

I need to change the narrative to nip this in the bud. "I'm not happy about this AND I want to be the strongest, fittest version of WHO I AM NOW."

Changing the narrative isn't about putting lipstick on a pig. Sometimes the situation sucks. It's about moving forward in the best way you can and not allowing even the shittiest of situations to hold power over you.

So, how are you holding yourself back?

And what narrative can you create ⎯ whether you're happy about it or not ⎯ to move forward in the best possible way?

I hope you'll join me in challenging yourself to meet you and your life exactly where you're at, so you can get on with the business of growing in the direction you want to go.

You in?

Please reach out and let me know what you're shifting and starting, I'd love to hear. 😊