Nineteen months ago, I had shoulder surgery. So many moments during my recovery made me say, ‘I can’t.’ I can’t lift that, I can’t move my arm like that, I can’t even put a shirt on by myself. But slowly, so slowly, I don’t even […]
Tag: spiritual journey
Nothing But Leaves
For two consecutive days, I woke up with swollen fingers. My ring was tight on my hand, and removing it was painful. During those two days, I had a phrase on my mind: “Nothing but leaves.” It came from this passage of scripture: And seeing […]
Choosing Strong
I’ve been on some form of diet to make myself smaller since I was 16 years old. Diet culture implores us to conform or contort ourselves to fit society’s ever-changing standard of perfection. Looking back, each time I hit my goal weight, the goalpost had […]
Eat, Move, and Follow
Eat nutrient-dense food, move your body daily, and think positive thoughts to be successful. Three things that I hear touted by health and wellness influencers. On the other hand, there’s a movement that says, “Eat the cookie, buy the shoes, and live your best life!” […]
Strength is a Skill
I am convinced that strength is a skill. A skill we learn and master strength over the course of time. Physical strength isn’t just about muscle mass; strength training requires the brain and body to work together efficiently. I am discovering that over time, with […]
Walking Backward
After a sweat-soaked 45 minutes on the treadmill at three mph, I lowered the speed to one mph, held onto the sides, slowly turned around, and started walking backward for five minutes. Why walk backward? I admit that the first time I saw it at […]
Guard Your Heart
I love walking. Especially outdoors. Walking is one of the most accessible exercises to enhance cardiovascular health. When walking briskly, our heart rate elevates, circulation is boosted, and our hearts are strengthened. As we engage in this habit over time, this simple act significantly lowers […]
I Have All I Need
Have you ever felt torn between two passages of Scripture, each pulling at your heart in different ways? That’s the place I landed in last week, wrestling with Hagar’s response to her circumstances here: So Abraham got up early the next morning, prepared food and […]
I Know Them
As I wrapped up my final set of deadlifts, sheer exhaustion crashed over me like a tidal wave. My muscles were begging for mercy, and I was more than ready to call it a day after my longest workout of the week. It was Day […]
Self-Soothing or Self-Care?
In spite of my disciplined fitness routine, I was today years old when I realized that I needed to make a choice: self-soothing or self-care. For me, self-soothing comes naturally. A package of gluten-free Oreos, washed down with sugar-free Dr. Pepper while binge-watching Netflix, takes […]