strength

my sister (left) and i completing the 2010 danskin triathlon in austin, tx

just as with our physical fitness, i believe we must train our emotional muscles to build inner strength. as humans, we are prone to fatigue if we don't exercise to increase our endurance. i hope to encourage you to practice self-care and take the time to maintain inner strength, just as you would log hours at the gym, or watch your calories. life is hard…it can wear us down before we even realize how weak we've become. we must make a conscious effort to build up the reserves, to protect our emotions from the damage that accumulates over time.

personally, i have gained great strength from the encouragement of my fellow bloggers. i truly believe in the power of this community—to empower and inspire each other. by surrounding myself with beautiful people, and the beautiful spaces they create online, i am much better equipped to deal with the challenges as they come. throughout my life i have experienced grief, disappointment, hundreds of bad hair days…but i have found unknown reservoirs of strength i never would have imagined possible. this resilience has served me well and allowed me to navigate daily obstacles with much greater dexterity.

if nothing else, i hope this is a place for you to re-charge…to practice much-needed self-care and flex your playful muscles. as children it comes easy—we run, play, color outside the lines. as adults, we need to practice…welcome to your first day of training.