I talk to myself while I sweat

 

I sure do. When I am sweating up a storm at Zumba I have a little conversation in my head which goes a little something like this:


You can do this. Push. Push. You will NOT be another 50-yr old in a mumu!

And as much as that helps me push through a work out, it also helps me push through life. We need to get uncomfortable and be willing to go to our own limits if we want to see how much we are capable of.

 

That might be related to our physical strength. That might be related to our emotional strength. Our spiritual strength.

 

As much as I hear my own voice when I exercise, the opposite is also true. I sometimes exercise in my own mind when I need that strength. I visualize myself with free weights or climbing the bleachers or sweating it out to some Pitbull.

 

It gives me two ways to get through hard things.

I choose my own voice, or I choose my own movement. Either way, I am my very own middle-aged cheerleader. I know what I know. I know my body. I know my spirit. And I know that when the two are working together I am a more resilient person.

 

 

11 comments

Welcome to the Garden of Egan | April 17, 2012 at 7:33 PM

You are so amazing.
And so inspiring.
I love that you are so......I wish I knew the word....but you are SO!

Connie | April 17, 2012 at 8:14 PM

Looking good, Miss K!

Every run I run (translate that to slow jog) I have to convince myself, through my own little conversation, that I can do it. We exercise with our body AND our mind! Love that you compared that to life.

Can't wait to see pictures of your Elder!!

Anonymous | April 17, 2012 at 8:19 PM

I love that you talk to yourself--both to get through a work out and to just get through. You are art.

And can I just say, you are freaking GORGEOUS. I mean, I've seen pics of you before but MAN do you rock purple. And you're just lovely!

Stacy | April 17, 2012 at 10:17 PM

You are an amazing woman- an inspiration. Love!

Melanie Jacobson | April 18, 2012 at 12:24 AM

You look smokin' hot, mama. Happy son coming home tomorrow day!

LisAway | April 18, 2012 at 5:07 AM

What Melanie said! :)

This is so great. It reminds me of the good things I'm doing and the good ways I'm stretching myself, while also adding another tiny pinch of guilt about not exercising. That's a good thing. I really want to be like you and just DO it and make myself work. I'm doing it in a couple of other areas of my life and it feels so, so good. The day for the physical aspect will come...

Becca | April 18, 2012 at 7:45 AM

Once upon a time when I was trying to be a jogger in Indiana, I would look up at flying geese and say, "Okay, guys, if you can be the most awkward waddlers while you're on the ground and look like THAT when you're in the sky, maybe a little miracle can happen here for me, too."

(But just in case, when I jog, I still like to do it alone.)

mermaid gallery | April 18, 2012 at 7:48 AM

ok I'm inspired to drag my lazy ass downstairs and get on that treadmill.....mumus are a frightening thought!

All Our Fun | April 18, 2012 at 8:22 AM

What an inspiring post! Why can't I be that motivating and not to mention comfortable filming my workouts? I don't look any where close to the "good" like you do when I work out. Time to go look like a work in progress and hit the treadmill!

I want to try Zumba, Do you love it? I love dancing but I'm not as coordinated as I used to be. It does require coordination, right?

lesa | April 19, 2012 at 3:08 PM

Looking good! Hope your 'elder' day is going well. :)

Doran & Jody | April 20, 2012 at 12:02 PM

Hmm...maybe I ought to think about being in a mumu in just a few short years too. Maybe I would get off my duff.

You go girl!