Every summer since I can remember, on Labor Day weekend, my parents measured my siblings’ and my heights on the wall. The ritual was always the same: my mom collected a ruler and a pencil and my dad directed us, one at a time, to stand against the wall so he could measure us. I can still feel the pressure of the plastic ruler on the crown of my head as my dad etched a perfectly straight line into the knotty pine wall. 

There was no thrill like turning around and seeing how much each of us had grown. Now I watch my kids’ delight when they partake in this (sort of) sacred family ritual during our annual summer visit to Rhode Island. “Mom, look how much I grew!” they shout. 

No one has marked my height since 1996—at that point, I’d reached my full height of five foot nothing—but I had my own little “Damn, I’ve grown!” moment recently. 

I’d set out on my bike with a specific hilly route in mind. But when I approached the first incline, my legs clearly had a different idea. They were sluggish, so instead of pushing through the fatigue, I switched gears (sorry could not resist the pun), found a flatter route and went at a mellow, "kicking around" pace.

During the ride, I stopped to admire the new North Boulder public library, I paused to take a photo, and I came home feeling invigorated rather than exhausted.

I used to try to muscle my way through discomfort. And while there is a time and a place to embrace discomfort—that's what sport teaches us to do, after all—it's not for every session.

Sure, PR’s are nice. But developing the confidence and self-awareness to trust my body's signals? That’s some serious growth. I might not be able to mark it on a wall or show my mom, but that shit feels amazing. 

Questions? Just want to say hey? Hit reply. I’d love to hear from you!

xo,

Speaking of Growth…

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Wondering who I am?

I’m a certified intuitive eating counselor, occupational therapist, and health and fitness journalist with bylines in outlets like The Washington Post, Time, Runner’s World, SELF, and many others.

Also a 6x marathoner, 2x Ironman finisher, and certified personal trainer with a 20+ year history of teaching indoor cycling, I love riding bikes (gravel and road) and weightlifting. My superpower is my ability to connect with people.

Check out my coaching offerings here and follow me on LinkedIn and Instagram.