Yesss to consistency!! I’ve shared many of your feelings re: a book project I abandoned myself, but I hope you’ll find your energy for this one again. What you’ve written so far is beautiful.
"When I think of working out now, I don’t think of having to hit five workouts each week, and if I don’t, I’m a failure. I think of it more like I’m just a guy who works out regularly now."
That's it Lyle. That's it for me. Reframing it made all the difference. Amazing.
May the force be with you. Fair warning. If that story needs to be written, it won't leave you alone...be careful what you wish for! Some stories just need to marinate longer than others and that's the way it is. You're very good at observing yourself...I have faith you'll figure this out. As far as working out goes...I can't believe that once you get to a good place...you have to keep working just to stay there. Seems so, so unfair! Always enjoy reading your work. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Years ago my late husband was into juicing and fitness. He found this book, Fit or Fat, a good read many years ago. Often as you work out and get in shape you will actually gain weight because muscle weighs more than fat
...maybe these essays are chapters in that book?...
...consistency and also repetition...i often find myself encouraging stuck or lost creators to just find the easiest way to repeat an action and do that...if it means write one sentence a day great...one book a day sure...but whatever the "goal" ensure it is repeatable w/o worry or stress and that also it is fun...a fun repeatable task can stick with you forever (think eating, bathing, reading garfield)...
Lyle, is it rude to make a topic request?! 😊But would you maybe at some point write a post about why being assertive and standing up for oneself is kind? I know it’s intuitive but you, if anyone, can break things down and explain their essence. Thank you!!!
I love your observation about what is truly kind, Lyle! It helps towards answering a question that has gnawed at me for years. Years ago my friend and I drove to a poetry reading which we had seen a notice about, and we had driven a long way. It was bad weather and the poet waited and waited to start the reading, but no one else came. Finally he looked straight at me, and said, “There are certain people I don’t want to read my poetry to. You are one of them. I’m not going to do the reading.” Or similar words to that effect. Through the years, sometimes the memory comes back and I still ponder what would have been the ideal response. My friend and I were so flabbergasted we just meekly said, “Oh ok”, and I think we even apologized!?! And we left. Your sentence here clarifies for me that the kindest response for ourselves and for the poet would have been true kindness, versus our flustered niceness. I should have replied with true kindness for ourselves and for the poet, though I’m still not sure what that would have looked like exactly... a reply that would have addressed his rudeness but also made him feel good about himself, and also made my friend and I feel good about ourselves.
I am still reading... but had a jolting reaction to ask if you’ve tried Active Release Technique (ART). I have. It’s what professional athletes use to get back on the court, or field or pool! My doctors can estimate how many sessions I need... to fix my back or hip, then I am good to go. I cannot recommend it enough (combined with a fabulous practitioner of course).
This piece resonated with me. It’s so easy to state massive goals for ourselves but then they feel overwhelming and they don’t come close to getting accomplished. Consistency is the key in my mind. Glad your word for 2024 is ‘consistency’: it’s definitely my goal for this year.
I also have the gnawing idea to write a book. But I keep stopping myself because I’m not sure where to narrow the idea down to and I don’t really want to be put on a bookshelf on a bookstore shelf. So what’s the point?
Yesss to consistency!! I’ve shared many of your feelings re: a book project I abandoned myself, but I hope you’ll find your energy for this one again. What you’ve written so far is beautiful.
"When I think of working out now, I don’t think of having to hit five workouts each week, and if I don’t, I’m a failure. I think of it more like I’m just a guy who works out regularly now."
That's it Lyle. That's it for me. Reframing it made all the difference. Amazing.
May the force be with you. Fair warning. If that story needs to be written, it won't leave you alone...be careful what you wish for! Some stories just need to marinate longer than others and that's the way it is. You're very good at observing yourself...I have faith you'll figure this out. As far as working out goes...I can't believe that once you get to a good place...you have to keep working just to stay there. Seems so, so unfair! Always enjoy reading your work. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Years ago my late husband was into juicing and fitness. He found this book, Fit or Fat, a good read many years ago. Often as you work out and get in shape you will actually gain weight because muscle weighs more than fat
...maybe these essays are chapters in that book?...
...consistency and also repetition...i often find myself encouraging stuck or lost creators to just find the easiest way to repeat an action and do that...if it means write one sentence a day great...one book a day sure...but whatever the "goal" ensure it is repeatable w/o worry or stress and that also it is fun...a fun repeatable task can stick with you forever (think eating, bathing, reading garfield)...
Lyle, is it rude to make a topic request?! 😊But would you maybe at some point write a post about why being assertive and standing up for oneself is kind? I know it’s intuitive but you, if anyone, can break things down and explain their essence. Thank you!!!
Oh I love that!!! 😍🤗♥️ You are so understanding. You should be a therapist!!!!! ⭐️🫶🏼
I love your observation about what is truly kind, Lyle! It helps towards answering a question that has gnawed at me for years. Years ago my friend and I drove to a poetry reading which we had seen a notice about, and we had driven a long way. It was bad weather and the poet waited and waited to start the reading, but no one else came. Finally he looked straight at me, and said, “There are certain people I don’t want to read my poetry to. You are one of them. I’m not going to do the reading.” Or similar words to that effect. Through the years, sometimes the memory comes back and I still ponder what would have been the ideal response. My friend and I were so flabbergasted we just meekly said, “Oh ok”, and I think we even apologized!?! And we left. Your sentence here clarifies for me that the kindest response for ourselves and for the poet would have been true kindness, versus our flustered niceness. I should have replied with true kindness for ourselves and for the poet, though I’m still not sure what that would have looked like exactly... a reply that would have addressed his rudeness but also made him feel good about himself, and also made my friend and I feel good about ourselves.
Well done Lyle keep up the good work(outs)!
I am still reading... but had a jolting reaction to ask if you’ve tried Active Release Technique (ART). I have. It’s what professional athletes use to get back on the court, or field or pool! My doctors can estimate how many sessions I need... to fix my back or hip, then I am good to go. I cannot recommend it enough (combined with a fabulous practitioner of course).
https://activerelease.com/find-a-provider/
This piece resonated with me. It’s so easy to state massive goals for ourselves but then they feel overwhelming and they don’t come close to getting accomplished. Consistency is the key in my mind. Glad your word for 2024 is ‘consistency’: it’s definitely my goal for this year.
I haven't picked my word for the year yet... I'm a bit of a slow starter!
my word for the year is also consistency, and discipline! at the gym, with my writing and other stuff.
im sorry about your nostril, but lol! 🤣 how do you stretch out a nostril? i’m curious.
It’s funny that you published this piece right when I was at the gym. Great read, Lyle, and yes to consistency!
I also have the gnawing idea to write a book. But I keep stopping myself because I’m not sure where to narrow the idea down to and I don’t really want to be put on a bookshelf on a bookstore shelf. So what’s the point?