Lost and Found through Vulnerability

I've been going through some transformations lately. Largely about fitness, which I've kept you abreast about periodically. Today, on my Facebook page, I found myself spontaneously making lots of posts about fitness ... to try and get my friends to understand the many valuable lessons I've learned about fitness this past year. What I've learned has helped me so much. In many ways, I've found myself again through fitness.

Simultaneous to finding myself, there have been some personal issues intermixed with fitness where I completely lost myself. Total fog. Total off-balance. Totally unlike me. Came to me as a complete surprise. I allude to it here.

During this time in my life, when I found myself drowning, I knew only one thing to do, which was to be completely honest and completely vulnerable with those involved. To open my heart and reveal what was in it ... to ask for help so that I could regain my strength.

My road back to OK is one I'll travel for a while but what I've learned so far is something that I think has parallels to fitness ... which is that when you've let yourself go physically for whatever reason, it's best to be completely vulnerable and ask for help. Take down the pride. Face the weight you've allowed yourself to become. Look honestly in the mirror and make a decision to take action. You'll be surprised to find that there are people who will honor your vulnerability and become your "sponsor" of sorts or your "underwriter" of sorts or your cheerleader of sorts. There will also be those who support you in ways that matter so much, but don't take center stage. 

Thanks for letting me check in about all of this. I'm good. And I hope you'll allow this blog to evolve a little bit where I give more focus on the topic of fitness. It has always been a core value of mine but it's a little bit different now. It is now a passion.

And let me tell you, there isn't a single person I've met or will meet who doesn't want to find the road to fitness. I wanna have this blog be a place where we can talk about it a bit more.

Thank you for allowing me to evolve. And thank you for allowing me to allude to my personal challenges without indulging neither writer nor reader with the details.

Comments

[Shawn Stratmann]

When I took your crafting fitness class last year, you had us identify who we looked up to when it came to health and fitness. YOU are at the top of my list. I think of you often as I walk my fitness journey! So glad to hear that you will offer more insight, experience, and knowledge here!

[d smith kaich jones]

jenny - i've been reading your fb posts, and though i am not yet up & moving much, i cannot begin to tell you how much they speak to me. these last bad couple of years i have put myself, my health, on the back burner, and have at last reached the point where i must begin to change things.
at 58, it feels tougher, but it also feels like a must-do. i just want you to know you are an influence even to those of us still moving slowly.

i appreciate your honesty. and share only what you want. it is real and it is enough.

[the messy nest - Jen Osborn]

I love your heart and mind so much. I hope you know what a difference in my life that first phone call from you made. You set me smack dab in the middle of a very scary road. A road that has led to friendships I now cannot imagine my life without. You have been such a wonderful inspiration, and continually push me to evolve and grow. I love you Jenny Doh, lumps, bumps, insecurities, and all that immense bravery you hold inside your beautiful soul!
xox
me

[Shari]

Jenny,
I came upon your blog by clicking on a wall post of your vulnerability picture someone had posted on facebook. Just by intuition.

It was meant for me to find you.

I, too, have been going through transformations and today is one of those days where I just can't seem to find direction. I lack discipline, focus and commitment to things, especially my health. When my mind and spirit feel like they are in the right place, my body is crap. Why can't my body, mind and spirit all align?

I think, from your post, that the body is the bears the most weight. I have found, as I look back at my life over the last 25 years (I'm 46), that when I was in good shape physically, mind and spirit had more flow.

Here is the ironic thing.... my daughter (24 years old) is a personal trainer, and a dang good one. She lives with me, yet I can't seem to follow her advice. I am her worst client. She says constantly, "It's a good thing you don't pay me!"

But, maybe I do. Maybe it is time for me to get serious about my health and fitness and listen to her. And pay her. I'll talk to her today. Thank you - you jumpstarted my next move.

But, more that fitness, help is something many of us can seem to ask for. It takes tremendous courage. Who likes to be thought of as weak? In any area of our lives.

I'm going to read through your blog posts now. I feel I already know you from just this one post.

Huggs to you -
Shari

[Becky Shander]

I'm glad that you're feeling okay. Keep believing good things as you move through the not so good.

[Andra Hepler]

sometmes you don't have to say much to feel the words come thru.
Smiles your way, Andra