Frayed Knot



POSTED SEPT 6, 2011

 

So as the joke goes, “A string walks into a bar and orders a drink.  The bartender says, we don’t serve strings in here.  The string leaves and steps out of view of the bar, ties its head in a knot and frays its ends.  The string goes back into the bar, with confidence orders a drink.  The bartender says, say aren’t you that string that was just in here?  The string replies, I’m afraid not (frayed-knot)!  How is it that we, as individuals tie ourselves in knots and fray our ends to fit in? Ask yourself these questions: What am I afraid of?  What are the “nots” that I tell myself?

 

I have found that being true to who I am is the key to anything I seek in this journey.  When inner truth is held valuable and confidently, the body responds in a positive way.  The body cannot lie, it is the brain and the ego that can.  When we seek to enter the path of wellness, for our own health and well-being, trying to fit the model of the media, we are met with struggle and disappointment or lowered self-esteem and self-defeat. For me personally, I have never been athletic, coordinated or as the term goes a “gym rat”.  I have never run a marathon, run further than a mile, or competed in group sports.  For me, I am fit.  What I had to accept is that the number on the scale is that, a number.  The rational mind knows that muscle weighs more than fat and dropping inches is one sign to weight loss other than the lower number on the scale.  The real indicator to improved wellness is how I feel.  Do I have more energy? Am I sleeping better? Are my stress affects reduced? Do I want to be more active? I believe that there is a spectrum of body types and one size doesn’t fit all.  I also believe that exercise can be achieved outside the gym.

 

For me, my exercise is on the gentler side.  I walk almost every day with my dog.  I stretch in the shower or on the floor.  I use light weights, do yoga and Tai Chi.  I will occasionally hike, kayak or swim but these are more for enjoyment then exercise.  My job affords me a great deal of physical activity so I am always moving, walking, bending and pushing. What are the things that you can do to increase your activity?  Take the stairs, park further in the parking lot, get a buddy to walk with – these are just a few examples.  Find something that you enjoy doing.  If you don’t like exercise or your view of it is going to the gym 3-5 days a week for 2 hours and the thought of it makes you tired before you do it… chances are you will not succeed.

 

Wellness is not a one size fits all idea.  There are many ways to become healthy, fit and happy.  You don’t have to tie yourself in knots and fray your ends to achieve your goals.  Allow yourself to be your true self.  Seek to set goals that are realistic and manageable for your lifestyle.  Listen to your body for the positive feedback, not the media.  Be open to a new way of thinking.  Seek a wellness coach or a personal trainer that will listen to you and help you develop your program, not his/her program. Finally, stand tall, like yourself and trust that you are in this moment doing the best you can with what you have and that is enough.  Blessings