August 2006 Newsletter
Online Issue # 13
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The Front Page
Expanding Possibilities
When I think about the word “expanding” the first word that comes to my mind is the word “waistlines,” not the word “possibilities.” Maybe some of you associate the words “universe” or “consciousness” with the word expanding. Or “sprawl,” “spandex,” “responsibilities,” “mortgages,”....
It turned out for me that waistlines and possibilities aren't as unrelated as they might at first seem. In early March my friend Karla discovered a city recreation and community center not far from our homes. It's a lovely newer facility with a suspended walking track above the gym and an exercise room with various machines and weights. After she told me all about it, I tagged along on her next visit. We were oriented to the machines and started visiting twice a week. I won't say we started working out because that sort of implies we knew what we were doing. It took us several visits, a few good laughs and some experimenting before we started to get the hang of it. As I eased into a new exercise routine, I grew to like it: the cushioned walking track, the elliptical, the recumbent bike, the weight machines and eventually even the treadmill. I really enjoyed the immediate numerical feedback: heart rate, distance, time, calories; these enabled me to create a few goals for myself.
By the end of May I reached a goal of 30 minutes each on the elliptical and the treadmill, plus I was enjoying it! Although I've been a regular walker for decades, I'd never allowed myself to work up a sweat and experience the pleasure of being in my body, ever stronger, grounded and more confident.
I have a lot of confidence in my life, some of it comes naturally and some I've really had to work to develop. But feeling confidence in my body is new to me. Because the life of the mind, heart and soul is so absorbing for me, I hadn't realized that this dimension of my life was so underdeveloped.
Growing up when I did, before the days of women's athletic programs, and being a fat kid, I channeled my interests and attention away from the body. I didn't know what I was missing until I became a regular at the rec center. I'm now showing up three days a week instead of two.
It turns out that my waistline and my possibilities are intimately connected, at least inversely proportional: as my waistline decreases, my sense of possibilities increases. I feel better: healthier, stronger, clearer. I have more energy and I sleep more sweetly. I'm committed to my health in a new way and I like all that I'm learning. But it doesn't stop there.
I'm noticing a thread of new ideas and possibilities that I've never really considered before. And I'm noticing these things in other people's lives too. I've experienced this “spill over” phenomenon before and probably could have expected it, but I'm delightfully surprised. At 53 years old, my body is opening my life to possibilities that I would have ignored or rejected less than a year ago. That is the real treasure I've found. Losing a few pounds is great and I'd like to continue that trend, but I want to grab hold of this new energy of YES and see where it takes me. I suspect there are more old patterns ready to be let go of, so that my resources of time, space and energy are available for new possibilities. Rather than same-old same-old—which I often love and choose, which feels so comfortable, safe and familiar—my body and soul want to live more of the adventure I dreamed of as an adolescent when I read Jack London's books and I loved dogs.
We can never know in advance where even our smallest explorations will lead us. If they go anywhere, they always take us on at least two journeys: the outer one we think we are taking and the inner one that eventually reveals itself to us. And joy of joys, both expand our world of possibilities. Both teach us how to say YES.
With gratitude,
Laurie Mattila
NOTE: The Profile Page in this issue offers you an opportunity to explore your Expanding Possibilities. You'll find it immediately following the Good Books section.
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