If you saw my Friday Five post, you know that I hit the big 5-0 last week. If you read my Friday Five post, you know that I am starting my fifty-first trip around the sun feeling loved, lucky, and blessed. It’s not an ignorant bliss, though. There’s a lot going on in this country and around the world that troubles me, but I also see a lot of kindness and generosity that gives me hope.
Taking Up Space
With accounts of sexual harassment making headlines and women coming forward with their #metoo stories, I have been thinking about the many ways society tries to keep women in their place. I also have been thinking about how women may defensively try to take up less space–from being reluctant to speak up in class, to dressing conservatively, to toning down their personalities at work. I was lucky to have been raised differently, and think we should take up as much space as we like. We should speak up, speak out, and let our personalities–and ideas–shine.
(But please don’t take up too much room at the gym!)
[Tweet “Taking Up Space”]
Weekly Wrap
Holly and Tricia certainly encourage us to take up space and grow with our fitness goals by hosting the Weekly Wrap link up. It really is one of the most supportive corners of the web. If you aren’t joining in already, this is a great time of year to get started.
My first week in my new age group was a fun one.
Monday: Easy strength workout at home recovering from the Wilson Bridge Half Marathon.
I finally got my ginormous medal!
Tuesday: I was still feeling sore so I decided to go to Anne’s Tuesday class at CorePowerYoga. She led us through a tough sequence, but it felt good.
Wednesday: It has been a month since I’ve been to my home Orange Theory Fitness studio, and it felt great to be back!
The trademark attorneys must have found
this unauthorized Garmin Connect app,
because it now tracks star points instead of splat points.
Thursday: Cyclebar offered me a special Birthday Ride, and let me invite 5 friends for a free class. Surprisingly, I was able to find a few friends who wanted to start their day with a 5:30 am indoor cycling class. Not surprisingly, most were in my Moms Run This Town Group.
Unfortunately, I forgot to take a group photo,
but I promise we all had a sweaty good time.
Friday: I went back to CorePowerYoga for Anne’s second class of the week. The peak pose was eight angle pose (Astavakrasana) which I am very far from being able to do, but I was thrilled to be able to create a bit of space between my body and my mat for a few seconds!
Saturday: I haven’t been home for a neighborhood run in ages, and it felt so good to head out the door and take in the fall colors!
We also went for a bike ride, so I could pick up my medal without fighting traffic.
I actually have a busy half-week of work this week, so if I don’t see you again before Thanksgiving, please know that I will be counting our friendship and this supportive community among the many things I am thankful for.
Where would you like to take up more space?
Are you travelling for Thanksgiving?
![The Ultimate Coffee Date](http://got2run4me.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ultimate-Coffee-Date.png" "The Ultimate Coffee Date")
Glad your 51st year around the sun kicked off well! I think the key is to keep moving and you’ve got that covered. Happy Thanksgiving!
Thanks! I do love my different activities.
Also so very thankful for our friendship! Hope mom is doing ok.
Happy Birthday Coco! How fun to be able to bring five friends to your birthday ride. I think waiting on that medal was definitely worth it. It’s HUGE. I hope you enjoy your Thanksgiving. Thank you for being a part of the Weekly Wrap!
Thanks, Holly. Cyclebar is really good with social events! The medal is crazy huge and heavy!
Have a happy Thanksgiving too! I’m driving up to my parents’ place for my break, and I”m taking Wednesday off. This way I don’t have to fight all the traffic up to the ski resorts after work. I had to get past a couple to get to my parents’ house.
I am so glad to not have to deal with holiday traffic! Skiing would be fun though.
Glad you had a great birthday week! Your fall colors still look beautiful…ours are looking pretty brown after the past cold, rainy, and windy week.
We had a lot of wind this weekend, but a few leaves are hanging on!
I too was raised by a mother who taught me that being female just means I am more awesome and that I too deserve the space.
Yes! I think I suffer from a female superiority complex if anything. 😉
You had a great first week in that new age group! For once I am not traveling. I’ve been hosting Thanksgiving every other year since I was 25 and I’m looking forward to doing it again. Speedy recovery vibes to your mom.
I do like being home for the holiday — even it means many hours in the kitchen! Now I’ll have to tackle the turkey …
Happy belated birthday and congrats on a great week of workouts!
I hope that your mom is feeling better 0 keeping her in my thoughts and prayers!
Wowza that’s a big medal – worth the wait! Another nice week for you!
Sending good vibes to your mom! Happy Thanksgiving!
Aw. We’re thankful for you as well! Have a great Thanksgiving. 🙂
So cool that you were invited to celebrate your birthday at Cyclebar, and that you got some friends willing to go with you. So fun!
Happy birthday! Love that medal, you earned it!! The only memories I have of the Wilson bridge are lots and lots of traffic jams! Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
What a beautiful post and sentiment! Happy Birthday and welcome to the 50’s club …you’re in for a wild ride! Lol
That is a really pretty medal and worth the wait and the 23 mile bike ride for! Have a blessed Thanksgiving Coco!
A belated happy birthday to you! I’m glad the 51st year is starting out well 🙂 A friend and I were just talking about the taking up space thing. I think a lot of us were raised to be as inconspicuous as possible and I’ve certainly noticed that there are time I hesitate to speak up. It’s definitely something I’m working on 🙂
Happy Birthday! I found you through the weekly wrap up links. I’ve been thinking about how women are told to take up less space recently too, but in the context of weight loss. Women on my mom’s side of the family are really into being as tiny as possible. A wonderful thing about running and fitness is getting to think about our bodies in terms of their power and accomplishments.
I like your comments on ‘taking up space.’ We need to keep making our voices heard. As far as turning 50, I passed that half-century mark a while ago. I’m glad you are hitting it already strong and active, that will help.