What are you strengthening this week?

I was contemplating this thought as I entered the gym this morning. Luckily, because it’s raining, I suspect, the gym was very quiet. The last time I went (over a week ago, on a public holiday), it was heaving. So. Many. People. There were people on every machine. Sometimes two people taking turns. 

I don’t really like being with lots of people, particularly at the gym. It was hideous, and potentially one of the reasons I hadn’t been back for a week. 

But I digress. 

I was thinking about what part, or parts of my body I wanted to strengthen today. If you hadn’t noticed I am a woman of a certain age where people tell you to eat more protein, lift heavy things and take creatine and magnesium 🙄

It’s all quite tedious when I want to eat more ice-cream, lie in bed watching TikToks and plan holidays. Same? 

Anyway, with the decision made to strengthen my lower body I jumped on the treadmill to warm up, and thought about what else I had been strengthening lately. 

On Saturday night I went to see Elizabeth Gilbert speak at the Auckland Town Hall. I was there with Arran, two other men, and many, many women who should also be eating more protein, lifting heavy things and taking creatine and magnesium 😉

Poor Arran. He learnt some truths about women “wanting to be left alone” when a brave woman at the back asked about Elizabeth’s last 7 years of celibacy. 

Again with the digressing 🤦🏼‍♀️

The point of listening to Elizabeth Gilbert speak is that to me she is one of those really interesting thinkers, who researches and thinks deeply about topics. She writes fiction and non-fiction books, and brings different perspectives to a topic. 

Seeing her live, and getting to talk about what “stuck”, and resonated with Arran at dinner afterwards is about strengthening my ability to think critically, consider new ideas and perspectives, and different approaches, particularly around creativity. And to be honest (despite not liking being out with big groups) it was nice to be “out”. 

I have also been strengthening my sewing skills. Now this probably sounds a bit crafty but during Covid I came back to sewing. There was lots of time, and I needed to do something tangible, and real with my hands.   

I know the work I do is real, and has a real impact on people, but in 2020 sitting on Teams calls for hours on end, while only seeing the same 4 people in person for months, meant I didn’t know what to do with myself. 

Last year I bought myself a new sewing machine and was gifted a like-new overlocker and it’s what I’m using when I get that anxious-I-don’t-know-what-I’m-doing-in-life feeling, which is often weekly.  I usually spend a good portion of either Saturday or Sunday sewing, listening to podcasts and thinking about the week to come. 

What am I strengthening here? Lots of things. 

·      Creativity and doing things with my hands 

·      Putting things together and constructing garments. 

This weekend I learnt how to do “shirring”. I mean there’s a life skill. According to Wikipedia, "shirring is a decorative sewing technique that involves stitching together many rows of gathered fabrics. Shirring reduces the size of the original fabric while adding texture to the resulting decorative fabric." 

Reader, you are even strengthening your sewing knowledge!

In my view shirring is having a resurgence and is seen in many a Gen Z “girly pop” fashion TikTok (I can’t tell you how much I hate those words). 

While I’m sewing I also listen to business podcasts, and podcasts about what other people learnt from their mistakes. I’m learning and growing. 

Now that I reflect I guess I have been strengthening my heart, my brain and my body. 

So, what are you planning to strengthen this week?   

Lisa xx