You only need two things to have a “summer body.” Summer. And a body. Wear shorts. Pose for the picture. Go for a swim with your family. Don’t let shame make you hide your body. And for goodness sake, don’t let the shaming come from […]
Category: Repeat
Prison or a Passport?
“Your perspective is either a prison or a passport.” I pondered these words throughout my workout this morning. Somedays we interrupt the music at the gym with a motivational recording. Today was one of those days. As I prepare for my next competition, the quality […]
Oops, I Did It Again!
My deadlift shoes and those I wore to the gym that morning are on the floor before me. Looking down at my feet, embarrassment overwhelmed me. Oops, I did it again. My socks don’t match. And it’s not even close. I grab a deadlift shoe […]
Sanctified Reasoning
I deadlifted 295 lbs with no problem. It took effort, of course, and the five lifts leading up to it, 135, 185, 225, 250, and 275, were crucial to my success. It moved so well that my coach suggested that I go up. 305, 310, […]
Practicing the Pause
Last week I asked, “Who are you when you’re hungry?” This week there’s an acronym that keeps popping up in my mind. HALT. It stands for Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired. It serves as a reminder that these four common stressors are powerful enough to derail […]
The Secret Power of Small Beginnings
I arrived at the gym that morning fully armed with well-rehearsed excuses dressed up as reasons to quit. While others managed to lift twenty or thirty pounds, the weight of the five-pound dumbbell in my left hand was nearly unbearable. Sweat trickled down my back […]
Our Choices Matter
Have you ever tried plantains? The ripe ones are sweet and when baked or fried they make a tasty treat. A common meal in Belize would feature rice, beans, and stewed chicken with a few slices of fried plantains on the side. The other day […]
Three Steps To Flying
As he rides from grass to pavement, I hear, “I have to believe I can fly!” When he circles his front yard, his declaration changes to, “I can fly right off my bike!” Then within a matter of seconds, at top speed, he pops a […]
Can I Tell You a Story?
Can I tell you a story? One blessing of growing up in a small African American church is that I learned the importance of testimonies. After accepting Christ during Sunday school, I was taught that every Christian has a story to tell. Psalm 107:2a says, […]
We Deserve a Treat
Today my Target list was two items: a tripod and a cord for my tablet. I came home with headphones, a vegan cookbook, and a bag of gluten-free pretzels. I got distracted by all the new things I discovered and forgot about my list. As […]