Moving to Byron Bay literally sat me on my arse. I had gone from working 3-4 jobs in Brisbane whilst studying in what can only really be described as a hectic 18 months, to working 3 days a week and trying to manage the most ridiculous foot pain I’d ever experienced. I remember being sprawled out on the couch, Bella by my side, watching Harry Potter movies back to back over the course of 5 days.
I felt like I was going slowly insane.
It was enforced time to pause and reflect. I came to the resounding conclusion that I have been living a life that was mostly fuelled by adrenaline. I felt guilty that I wasn’t running, even though I couldn’t run – I could barely get out of bed and walk down the hallway of the house. I put myself on crutches for 2 weeks, along with a blend of magnesium, calcium and adrenoplex to get me to, and through, snowboarding in Japan. Adrenaline was once again my friend, giving me a nice little reprieve from pain and allowing me to play in the snow for 5 days. Perhaps it was the rigidity of the snow boot, feeling so similar to the moon boot that was in my not too distance future, that took some pressure off?
Once again, I made it through.
Now, after some good exercise prescription and exercise execution, I’m back to wandering around happily without pain. A big difference also being that I’ve entered into a gym where I’m not in charge of the exercise prescription. I get to turn up, focus on the form, and relish in the sensation of an ice bath upon completion. I love it. I love movement. I missed movement. I became acutely aware of how much of my own self-esteem and wellbeing is tied into movement. My brain is happier when I move. Not moving allowed me to remember why I move.
I also love how different people arrive in your life as you need them. During my period of couch bound Netflix bingeing, I made a friend who, for the most part, was as free as I was. We spent a lot of time Marvel-ling, being in the Matrix, and catching up with the life and times of the Star Wars universe. Being still was exactly what our relationship revolved around; it was much needed and much appreciated. As a good bookend, it was also the relationship that kicked me back into gear when it came time to be less sloth like and slide back up the scale of movement.
The take away moving forward is that movement is an opportunity to be joyful. Perhaps you’re sweating rivers onto the floor, wishing the time/calories/repeats were done and knowing full well you’re going to feel ah-maz-ZING at the end; or perhaps you’re simply taking a walk in nature and enjoying the sounds of the birds, the scent of the air, learning something on a podcast, listening to your favourite tunes. It’s not forced, happening because you’re not “enough” of something, or to negate food choices made earlier in the day.
The point is, it’s joyful.
This is the attitude and mindset I’m bringing to my training for Chile. Movement for joy, planning for adventure, soaking in all the experience I can on route to the pinnacle.
(See what I did there?! 😉 )
Happy Wandering
Hx