Six Themes
Photo by Kyle Glenn on Unsplash
They apply to everything new, difficult, or uncomfortable.
Whether I write about changing relationships with food and our bodies, making large and small changes for lasting benefit, loss of all sorts, grit, self awareness, or giving time and attention to what matters to you, there are certain themes that run through my posts.
Here is what I mean:
Anything new takes time, and expectations often exceed reality. We expect ourselves to instantly understand and master something that we have never done before. Case in point for me was creating this website, posting blog pages, and creating a mailing list. I was starting from zero, 100% on my own, and yet I expected to “get it” faster. It was a great lesson, a universal lesson, in taking one step at a time.
Things often get harder before they become easier. When I hit my goal weight 13 years ago, I was hanging on by my fingernails to that number for months. Little by little it got easier, and over the years I have continued to have to tweak it. But, now it is just a part of my life.
People notice how you show up. You never know who you are impacting. Whether it is as you move through your day and smile at someone, or you publish a blog post. I have been astounded by the positive feedback I have received on my writing, and one of the most meaningful parts of that is when people tell me that something I wrote resonated with them, or landed in their inbox at just the right time.
Mastery requires lots of effort. How did I lose weight? How do I keep it off? How did I start this work, and move it into something meaningful for my readers and myself? I…just…kept…showing…up. When I didn’t want to, when it was uncomfortable, when it felt too hard, when I thought it would never work, that no one cared, when I was cranky/tired/pissed/frustrated.
Find support when you need it. I find great value in reading and listening to all sorts of experts - and the more I do this, the more I see that success in anything requires the same tools. Furthermore, we can find a great deal of solace and shared humanity in hearing the stories of a variety people. I would also recommend leaning on ACTUAL people (whether they are professionals or friends) when you need to - their expertise or love for you will help move you forward.
Seemingly intractable problems usually have solutions, or at least ways to make them better - but you have to be persistent to find them. I have learned that persistence is one of my superpowers (what is yours - I know you have them!). I am unrelenting in seeking ways to move myself forward; always listening for a new idea, taking down a note, exploring new voices and opinions, digging beyond the first 2 pages on a Google search. Maybe you are persistent like me, maybe you are not - but the right solution for you is usually out there if you are willing to put in the effort to find it.
Thank you, thank you to all of you for giving me a space to grow and to support others. To tell the stories of my challenges and the things that have deeply impacted me. To open up to you about our common challenges and solutions. For making me feel seen, and for saying to me, thank you - your writing has helped me.
