Two and a half years ago, “getting fit”  simply meant loosing weight to look and feel better. Vague and lacking direction were my goals, although earnest.  The thought of kicking and punching and trying something new to “get fit” was exciting.  I enrolled in taekwondo.

Taekwondo was  definitely the impetus I needed!  I experienced a dramatic change in perspective, a shift in goals, not just limited to health and fitness.   I wanted to be stronger, have more endurance, increase agility and flexibility.  Goals became more specific and not tied, simply, to aesthetics.   It makes for way better motivation at the gym, no doubt.

Also, and this may sound “far-out,” but hang with me here-  this entire “journey” has really helped me to accept that MY body can be fit and beautiful,  even if it is not 5″5 and ballerina-ish.  I see beauty in myself when I eat healthy and exercise so that I can push this body to it’s limits- that is beauty.  Beauty is not abusing the body to extremes in order to make it fit society’s ideal.

“Beauty is in purpose.  Your body was designed for a purpose.”  A friend recently pointed this out to me. His words were absolutely spot-on!  Indeed, my body enabled me to bring forth 2 healthy children.  It gives me freedom to walk, climb, run, jump, squat, kick, hug, laugh, punch….well, you get the picture.  When we attempt to completely alter, rather than enhance, the innate design, it is not healthy.  But when we accept ourselves and strive to make the body we have more fit, well, that is health.  That is beautiful.

Learning to walk is a huge milestone in life.  It opens the door to independence, exploration, responsibility.   I learned to physically walk many years ago, but continued growth as a person involves these very concepts, and more.  Each time life tests me,  I am learning to walk all over again.  Love, family, career, interests, health, friends, relationships, and in all of the intricacies of a person’s life there is something new to be learned and in learning, a person grows, gaining insight.  It’s every bit as exciting as when a child learns to finally coordinate brain and body in order to walk!  It may be wobbly at first but the more practice one has, the better one becomes.  Oooofff and a lot of life has happened since I was last here.

Im (still) all about learning and life and growth.  I (still) want to find myself to be a better, much improved person with every  passing day, each new experience.  I believe many people do as well, except they don’t verbalize it or maybe they don’t consciously pursue it, with the rush of daily life swirling about them.

Ive always enjoyed writing, yet never had formal training beyond what was required of me in school.  Now, in the age of blogs anyone, and I mean ANYONE can write, and so here I go – from paper and pen to keyboard.  First post- again… well sort of…! {REVISED April 2022}

#officialblogger

Melanie Ellis