PS. I like you is a newsletter for creative humans with self-doubt. Expect questions (and maybe some answers!) to assist with living a creative and satisfying life 🌿
A few weeks ago I decided I want to run a half-marathon. I’ve given myself until the end of this year (16th December, more precisely) to do it.
I’ve run half marathons before… but with some difficulty. I always injure myself. (So my brain tells me.)
The reason is: I have pretty flat, hyper-mobile feet.
(I once got fitted for orthotics, and they had to run the measurements three times, because my feet were ‘like jelly.’)
So… why am I running a half-marathon, and why am I telling you this?
Because, one, I want to. Simple as. My body was missing the movement and training. I actually really enjoyed training for running a distance (when I wasn’t injuring myself).
Two. Whenever I run, I am reminded of just how much I’m not naturally good at running.
I’m not naturally good at it; yet I persevere anyway.Â
Which is rather unlike me.
Historically, I try things, and if I’m not naturally talented at it, I give up; quickly.Â
But with running, I’m glad I stuck with it long enough to do my half-marathons. To prove to myself that I could do it, despite my jelly feet.
It’s incredibly frustrating, injuring myself over and over again. But what it’s taught me is that I don’t have feet (and all the other body parts connected to them) that respond well to a conventional half-marathon training schedule.
…my body is useless at following your run-of-the-mill half-marathon schedule.
But it’s great in so many other ways.
For example, my body has learned that I can sense all the tiny muscle movements in my feet. My body has learned I can subtly move muscles, so that my entire stance and energy feels different.
I have learned that I can engage my glutes by focusing on where I feel the force in my toes.
I have learned that the muscles in my neck soften, when I close my eyes and sense that I can access peace.
This is remarkable—truly—for someone who, years ago, could barely access their feelings at all.
Of course, part of the reason I couldn’t access my feelings was because I had shut them off. Because (not that I realised it at the time) the world was overwhelming and a lot to handle; and it felt much easier, and safer, to dull my senses.
I dulled my senses so that I couldn’t feel so much. This meant I kept injuring myself when I tried to follow a plan ‘for normal people.’
Needless to say, I am done with following a plan for ‘the average person.’ (How many of them actually exist anyway?)
My training methods look very unconventional, and I am okay with that. I am more than okay with the idea that I get to run and be with my body, in my way, in my style.
Maybe you aren’t conventional, and that’s okay. Maybe your body and mind work differently ‘to the average,’ and that’s okay.
Maybe your methods look quirky, and that’s no bad thing. It means you know you.
Here’s to your unique and wonderful feet! And you! 💛
PS. A couple of things I shared this week over on Instagram:
If you’re having trouble getting started… here’s four things you should know.
A simple tip on how to re-focus. (Seriously, I know it sounds a little odd or mystical, but this works for me over and over again.)
PPS. And some questions for you to explore, if you like:
Who are you being, right now?
What would you like to change, or be different?
What do you love about yourself?
PPPS. I am currently taking on clients for longer-term coaching (around 4-6 months, depending on your requirements.) If you’d like to find out if coaching together would be a good fit, get in touch. I work with creatives of all sorts — people who ‘are just starting,’ and people who have been doing creative work for years. So if you are feeling stuck, and feel like you’d like to access some support, you can contact me via my website or book a discovery call 🌿