Introducing #deSTRONGber
For the last ten years, the Advent and Christmas season has been a time requiring gentle care. In those years I have either been pregnant, postpartum, or in the case of last year, dealing with a global pandemic with limited options for support. Through a kind lens, I recognize my coping strategy in those years as quiet, peace, stillness. I learned to hold expectations gently, wrap myself in peace, and slowly uncover what it means to find the hopeful light of this season, a light no darkness could overcome. Seasons that require great self kindness are the ones that help us grow. For this I am grateful, and proud.
But this year felt different. Not because the darkness of life is gone (do you read the news?) Not because life with children is easier (have I mentioned I have a three year old?) And certainly not because my body feels all great and perfect now (hello perimenopause.)
What felt different to me this year was more what *I* want out of the holiday season. I want a new narrative, one that leads me feeling strong.
Literally. I want to be stronger, not just in spirit but in my body.
This is where I feel I need to shout from the rooftops THIS IS NOT ABOUT BODY IMAGE! The wellness industry has left me so upside down it is difficult to even trust my own health instincts. But similar to how I feel about the women and wine industry over Rachel on the Rocks, I want to take back the narrative of my own health. I want to be able to choose, celebrate even, lifestyle choices that feel right for me. Not because I should, and not because I want to be better than I am, but because celebrating what my body can do feels right to me. Getting by was about all I felt strong enough for in the last decade. That was perfectly ok, great even. But now I feel ready to be stronger.
This week I was reading through an advent devotion and I came across these words, twice actually. First in Luke 1:80 speaking about John the Baptist “And the child grew and became strong in spirit.” And then later in Luke 2:40 regarding Jesus growing up “And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.”
The word “strong” rang in my heart. This is what I want to feel. Perhaps through the dark seasons, the challenges of early mothering, the moments of forced quiet stillness listening to God has been helping me grow, helping me build strength and wisdom. That time is valuable. Now, it's time to focus on a new kind of strength.
Maybe Christmas feels like a bad time to start a strength journey. Don’t we have enough to worry about? To me the time feels right. Instead of focusing on shoulds or should nots from wellness industry to consumerism, I want to focus on feeling stronger. Not because I want to “end the year strong” or “earn those Christmas cookies’ (Ugh, I am itchy just typing those phrases.) I want to feel stronger because I know I can. Christmas is about celebrating greatness that came from believing. I believe I can be stronger, and so I will.
So here is my goal plain and simple: I want to do 10 pushups every day of the month. I’m not setting a time limit or speed. I’m not analyzing how well I do them. I simply want to just do it. That is all. That is the whole goal. I’m not sure how it will go, currently I think I could do maybe two without collapsing, but I know by the end of the month I will feel stronger.
Do I have a good track record for daily challenges? Absolutely not. But this is why I’m inviting you along. Accountability is my best friend (and so is grace upon grace for when I make a mistake.) Are there ways you want to be stronger this month? Maybe you want to hold a plank position, do X number of squats. Maybe you want to be able to do a handstand in yoga or find a stronger meditation practice. I can think of some great breath prayers from Kayla Craig of Liturgies for Parents that could help you with that this season.
Whatever it is that leads you to strength, I would love it if you would join me. Let’s do it together and be sure to share with #deSTRONGber. I imagine my marketing spouse is cringing at the word as it sounds a bit like I want to take away strength, but whatever I’m keeping it. What does he know anyway?
So who’s with me? Let’s get stronger this De-STRONG-ber.