Pretty strong: feeling comfortable in our skin isn't always easy.

I was flipping through Runner's World last night before I went to bed and read Kristin Armstrong column. I knew I wanted to post about it right away. It's called Pretty Strong. Go read the entire article if you have time, it's well worth it! But she talks about how she was helping her little 5 year old girl get ready for school one morning and the little girl didn't want to wear a sweater because "it made her look fat". Kristin was shocked that her little 5 year old had already clued into that whole thing. She talked about how she was 20 before she started battling those inner demons. Oh heck I'll just quote her:

"But these departures from my character were in my 20s, before the balancing hand of motherhood met the grounding grip of running. Once I learned what it meant to push myself, I lost all taste for depriving myself. I want to grow into more of a woman, not find ways to whittle myself down to less." I LOVED that last part about growing into MORE of a women instead of whittling myself down into less!!

Then she goes on, and I love this next part because she kind of sums up why I like to run...but exercise in general. How/why I love it when than inner athlete in me comes out. NOT that I'm any good really...that's the point it just doesn't matter. What matters is that we are out there trying! This is what I think is important, and what I hope my kids are "getting" when we go to the gym day after day or when Scott and I are out running...

"The way I see it, the only way to run counter to our toxic image-centric society is to literally run by example. I can't tell my daughters that beauty is an incidental side effect of living your passion rather than an adherence to socially prescribed standards. I can't tell my son how to recognize and appreciate this kind of beauty in a woman. I have to show them, over and over again, mile after mile, until they feel the power of their own legs beneath them and catch the rhythm of their own strides.Which is why my parents wake my kids early on race-day mornings. It matters to me that my children see me out there, slogging through difficult miles.

But the part I love the most is this last little bit. It's about enjoying life but also paying attention to the well being of our bodies too. About how it's good and fun to enjoy good food and have treats every now and then. I think strong bodies and spirits are beautiful. Confidence and the power to endure are wonderful things!

"I want my girls to grow up recognizing the beauty of strength, the exuberance of endurance, and the core confidence residing in a well-tended body and spirit. I want them to be more interested in what they are doing than how they look doing it. I want them to enjoy food that is delicious, feed their bodies with wisdom and intent, and give themselves the freedom to indulge. I want them to compete in healthy ways that honor the cultivation of skill, the expenditure of effort, and the courage of the attempt."

Amen sister!