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, […]
Category: Repeat
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 […]
Craving Perfect Peace
Pray. Sweat. Eat. Repeat. I’m stuck in an endless activity loop as these words move from a choice to a chore. I feel overwhelmed. I’m craving perfect peace. The verse on my heart these past few days is: You will keep the mind that is […]
What’s In a Name?
I can’t eat meat or dairy at this point in my life. They both cause discomfort and unpleasantness in my body. I’ve spent the last 11 years explaining over and over and over that avoiding gluten is about decreasing my fibromyalgia pain and not about […]
Don’t Swallow the Moment Whole
“Don’t swallow the moment whole. Savor each bite of this experience.” I wrote these words in my workout journal last week. I’ve spent over a year in preparation mode for three competitions. We had our Belize national championships in May, then the North American Regionals […]