We were built for this

Pick up the heavier weights

During the latest Prime Day deals, I ordered heavier dumbbells. 

I’ve been doing strength training – for the first time in my life – over the last year as I’ve battled a foot injury and tried to rebuild (or build for the first time?) my core after pregnancy and birth. But I’ve also been acting out that meme of moms picking out weights the gym and sticking with my trusty 5lbs.

But after an uncharacteristically consistent stretch of workouts and some spacious days of feeling well-rested that just so happened to coincide with online sales - I went for it and leveled up my dumbbell game. I can handle more! 

The heavier weights arrived in the mail the day after my toddler broke her leg. 

It’s been one of those weeks in one of those months in one of those years… of hard things continuing to pile up. They truly just keep coming in an unrelenting sort of way.

“I really thought I just hit rock bottom, but today, it’s like there’s rock bottom, 50 feet of crap, then me” - Rachel Green

I was venting to my coach, Jenni, about how I wanted to do all of these things but the world was piling all of these other, hard and un-fun things on top of me instead and how on earth was I supposed to deal?!?! And she responded simply, “...you can handle all of this. You are built for it. You have enormous capacity.” 

And you know what, she was right. 

On the day of the broken leg, I did all the things that needed to be done, cancelled what could wait, asked for help with what could be outsourced, and made a list of what needed to come next. 

Then I took care of myself with a workout next to the injured (but wildly high-spirited!) little one while she played. I used the heavier weights because I can handle all of this — I have enormous capacity. And I’m getting even stronger. 

If you are also in a challenging season (parents, I’m looking at you), let this be your reminder that you, too, have enormous capacity and can do hard things. You were made for this! 

So take a deep breath, maybe check some things off the list, definitely ask for help where you can, and then pick up the heavier weights. ✨

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Hi, I’m Liz! Thanks for being here and reading my journals on the journey. If you’re new, learn a bit more about me and this space here and here, and consider subscribing to my weeklyish posts.

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