Since this post is being published on Thanksgiving Day, I thought I’d share a few things for which I’m thankful. You know, being grateful at Thanksgiving is what the holiday is about.
Chris wrote last week about her plan for navigating food at Thanksgiving this year and shared her very fun veggie turkey. I loved that photo. Go check it out if you didn’t see it. It’s also a good post if you’re looking for ideas on how to eat or not eat at the holiday table.
Grateful at Thanksgiving
So Thanksgiving is really a harvest festival, I think. We’re supposed to express our gratitude for a bountiful harvest and health and our preparation for winter. Since its inception, of course, Thanksgiving is about gratitude but most of us are pretty removed from the actual harvest. Instead, I think we give thanks for other things in our lives. I’ve been mulling over what I’m thankful for, related to my fitness and heath.
So, this year has been a tough one for me. I’ve had injuries and problems with my Achilles tendon, which has led to lack of training. I think it’s important to recognize that we can’t always set records or be super-amazing. Instead, sometimes, we just have to do what we can. I’m thankful that I managed to run two half-marathons this year and, while I didn’t set the world on fire, I completed them.
I’m also thankful that I’ve managed to do enough strength training that I’m able to use my muscles to offset some of the problems I’ve had. When my hip was sore, I had enough upper body strength to lift myself out of the chair. (This is me, trying to see the glass as half-full!)
I am also thankful that I’ve managed to surround myself with people who care about me and have lots of advice on ways to keep myself healthy. A friend ran over late in the evening to bring me a heating pad. Another friend gave me advice on how best to use ibuprofen and acetaminophen. Friends invited me to go to yoga with them or encourage me to attend classes at the gym.
Becoming Elli Community
I’m thankful that Chris and I have created this Becoming Elli blog, podcast, and community. I think I’ve learned a lot about being a fit, strong woman over 50 from both writing and reading the blog and in creating the podcast. Some of the people we’ve interviewed are so inspirational and others have been so informative. As we finish our first year of the podcast, I’m grateful that we’ve had such amazing people join us.
The Becoming Elli community has also provided me with inspiration and support. I’m very grateful for those of you who share your wins and your losses. Having a community of like-minded women is such a gift.
I’m so thankful for my fitness community. Whether the friends are in our hometowns or online, we can support each other in all kinds of ways. While I can’t bring you a heating pad, I’m happy to encourage you and tell you about my experiences with fitness or injury or running or what I eat for breakfast. The more we help each other, the more we can all become like Elli and be fit and strong. So, thank you for being a member of the Becoming Elli community. I’m grateful you’re here.