Last week, I wasn’t happy about having worked out only once, so I re-committed to myself and vowed to tap into positive energy more often. This week, I achieved and exceeded my goal of three exercise sessions. I was determined to start the week better, so I didn’t let Monday pass without a 40-minute walk/run. Then, I got a little help from Mother Nature. Unlike last week, the temperature on Wednesday was above zero, so I could launch Wednesday Winners, the new weekly run/walk I’m leading for Black Girls RUN! Columbus. Already, I am loving the accountability of that weekly meet-up.
On Friday, only once I began exercising did I realize that my energy level was very low. I lasted for 30 minutes, and I didn’t judge it. I listened to my body and focused on the fact that I had moved. By Saturday, I was ready to enjoy some company for my workout and got up in time to meet friends. Sunday, I used my new WaterRower machine for 15 minutes. I am still learning proper form, so again, I gave myself credit for moving.
I am making a habit of acknowledging every good decision and every small step in the right direction rather than focusing on what I didn’t do or what I don’t like. That’s certainly a new way of operating for me, so it will continue to take practice.
While it is not yet my tendency, I already feel confident that it will yield serious benefits. After all, what running has taught me is that the habits it most encourages will give me great results if I apply them in other areas of my life, especially writing. Yes, I can see how this practice of kindness will reap benefits! And as I return to what I know above all else, that Audre Lorde was right about self-care being a form of political warfare, then taking kindness toward myself seriously might be the most important habit I can develop.
How about you? Are you starting to see that being mean to ourselves is NOT the solution? The diet industry and all of U.S. culture tells us that we should feel unworthy unless we look a certain way and are willing to sacrifice certain things. We are all encouraged to accept shame as a constant companion. We have the right to live free of guilt and shame, but American culture shows no signs of changing soon, so we have to be deliberate about claiming that right.
Koritha, THANK YOU! I was dangerously close to entering a serious shame spiral and then this post helped to pull me out of it! I had some setbacks this week; however I know I can’t let a short detour give me permission to be mean to myself. I was treating my goals like expectations and therefore when I fell short I began to beat myself up. Once aware that I was headed down that road I had to stop the negative self-talk and absorb some much needed positive energy! I love this: “I am making a habit of acknowledging every good decision and every small step in the right direction rather than focusing on what I didn’t do or what I don’t like.” After reading this post I was able to revisit last week and acknowledge that my good decisions and steps in the right direction outweighed the few noted detours from my goals. It really helps to feel connected through conversations such as this.
Carie, thank you SO MUCH for reading and actually commenting here! It means so much to me that this provided a well-timed good word. We’re doing this!!
Good advice each of our journies are our own. As they say in the marathon world “your race, your pace”.
Yep, the best way is YOUR way. 🙂