Tag: fitness

Lipstick, Fitness, and Things Like Horror Movies

“I hope they’ll know how hard I tried to live in love, to love in depth, let wonder take away my breath, to give until there’s nothing more, this is what I want to be remembered for. Everything else you can set it on fire.” ~ Colony House

“I want your lips to be the first thing people see when they walk through that door!” my boss exclaimed while we young ladies were gathered around for a staff meeting. I’ll never forget that line or the fire in her voice as long as I live. Think Devil Wears Prada with the southern allure of Dolly Parton. At the time, I was in sales training at a high-end makeup and formal dress store for brides and beauty queens in a large micropolitan area just outside Brad Paisley’s southern comfort zone. I’d always loved makeup and dressing up, but the energetic owners of the store gave a new meaning to my previously held visions of a glam up. Plump, vibrant, impossible-to-resist lips were a requirement. Lips that could sell anything. I won’t deny the power of the right lipstick, but maybe I didn’t want my lips to be the talk of the town. In all FAIRness, I love a bold COLOURPOP. It just seemed VANITY to me regarding what my priority was supposed to be; not a genuine smile, but sales lips. I learned a lot during my time there. About fashion, cosmetics, and the not-so-glamorous side of sales. Life lessons that still resonate and fill me with gratitude many years later…

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XERO to 360

“What you consistently do is what you adapt to…If we want to heal, we have to learn to process.” ~ Brianna Wiest, The Mountain is You

I’m pondering what direction I’ll take with this idea that’s come full circle in my mind. A progressive idea laced with movement, balance, and growth. I know it will revolve around forward motion, but that notion is not as uncomplicated as one might imagine. We are, after all, dealing with reality. Life is sometimes a “one step forward, two steps back” dance with fear, pain, and our inner selves. The darkness we try to hide from. I’m going to review part of my journey from this last rotation around the giant yellow star that’s glowing at the heart of our solar system. The topic being: Day 0 to Day 360 of walking ever so slightly closer to the ground. But first, a short stroll down memory lane…

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Apricity

“The shadow proves the sunshine…” ~ Switchfoot

Apricity. I’ve been seeing this word all over social media the last couple of days. The warmth of the sun in winter. I think it’s safe to say we are all collectively in need of some sunlight. Is it just me or has it been an especially difficult January this year? I’m currently clicking these keys while my therapy light is shining over my shoulder. It does a pretty satisfactory job of moderately elevating my disposition this time of year. (Can I also say how intrigued I have always been by the idea of shadows versus light? Cue the infinite life lessons…and the perplexing logic of a certain revered groundhog.) I definitely believe Blue Monday is a real thing, and it’s just been graaaaaay ever since.

I was talking to a fellow writer friend at work the other day who entertained me with his witty ways and funny stories, and the connection was truly a breath of fresh air on what was indeed a rather manic Monday. (Are they all manic?) In the midst of the humor, he encouraged me to experiment with different tones of written expression, and get back to my former ways of lighthearted diction. And then! I saw “apricity” pop up on Facebook later that day. I was QUITE fascinated by the word.

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