The Return

Take the Step

It has been years since I've walked through these doors. The one's that welcome you in to be your best self. To challenge you to do better and be better. The one's that push you until you've had enough and even still you keep going and with time go further and further. Where everyone is on the same path of healing and promise. Where you can individualize your contribution or join a team for the extra support or just to have fun. A place where your limits are tested but the payoff is worth it. This sanctuary of freeing yourself, if only for 30 minutes, to get it all out and exhaust yourself to a run, a lift, a dance, a stretch. This place is the gym. Did you guess that? :)

I couldn't believe that I was able to exercise and just saying this is very weird because I've always been an athlete. I played basketball and ran track so the gym, the court, the field was my best friend. My go to whenever I needed to relax and be in a state of "home." As a basketball player, it is the feeling that comes over me from just holding, touching, and gripping a basketball. The place that is sacred if only for a moment in time that provides clarity and safety. You know this feeling even if you did not play sports. What is the one thing that takes you to a different space just from touching, crafting, or putting it into action? What is the place that makes you feel "at home" if just for that moment?

After years of not being able to exercise because of joint and muscle pain or even just recently being in a knee brace for weeks because inflammation was targeting this particular part of my body, I was finally able to do it and embrace it. It's crazy because the intentionality around being physically active is what helped save my life early on when diagnosed and that very same dependency, love, and appreciation was ripped from me by the disease and made me question if I would ever be able to return to it again. Yet, here I am in February of 2018 returning to the place of promise. Was it easy? No. I still have a ways to go as I rebuild my stamina, but I feel so good knowing that I survived a 30 minute run (with intervals of walking) but I did not stop. I felt a few aches and pains along the way, but my determination beat out any chance of giving up and making excuses.

For this I am very excited and I want to share this story to help you on this journey. Maybe you aren't even dealing with an illness and are just having a hard time getting back into the swing of things. Know that this is normal and sometimes we take a break because life throws us curve balls of unexpected situations. However, you also know how strong and resilient you are - we are! In order for you to get there (wherever and what ever this may be) the first step is pushing through to just do it. Challenge yourself to start and when you do all of the memories of what this moment does for you will spring up and inspire you to stay with it. Not long after that the promise on the other end will also begin to motivate you to stay the course. Go ahead, return to one of the things that helps you be better and do better. The thing that takes the frustrations and challenges away if just for a moment. The place that gives you strength and empowers you to be your best.

What doors do you need to walk through? What is your return?