Dear WIG.ng!!!
Believe it or not, I used to be a UK size 16. One day I attempted to put on my favourite pair of jeans, and it could not fit. Instantly, I knew I had to do something about it and so I began a journey to find some physical activity I enjoyed, and yoga became the thing for me.
I have been practicing for about 9 years. Everything I wanted, it did for my body, mind and general wellbeing. Better still, it got me to a UK size 8, and helped me maintain my new size. As I continued to practice regularly until recently, several events stirred me away and I could no longer be as consistent to practice two or three times a week as I regularly did. I let the time stretch longer due to work commitments and other changes in life.
After I felt I had settled a little bit into my new life, I decided to revisit my practice, and truth be told, I could not believe what was happening. Yes! I had practised for years, but stepped away just for about four or five months; I had lost my arm and core strength, I could not stand still, my metabolism, gut and sleep were back to being messed up. Even with the stillness I learnt from meditation and breathing, I now became impatient to practice. I almost cried. I lost hope at that very moment. The same person that was the pride and poster child for her yoga instructor, can now hardly hold a `chaturanga` or even a `child pose` without falling off or getting muscle spasms on her hamstring and feet. Prior to this unfolding revelation, my yoga instructor was always happy that I was in the front row. I had also committed to begin the teacher training so I could also be an instructor. But now I have lost it all. I promise you I am not being a tad bit dramatic.
The next day at work, after my failed attempt at practice, I could barely move my arms and my entire body hurt, but guess what? I committed to practice three times a week for the first month before I can ease back to two classes per week. I will not give up! I am determined to try, try and try again. I would not relent because I know I can be stretched more than I can attempt at this very moment, so I refuse to give up. This, I believe, should be the attitude to various important things we have abandoned in our lives. Whether work-related or not.
As if that was not enough lesson learnt, a hardworking friend and colleague recently complained about how she felt she was not doing enough, as she did not consider `routine stuff ` at work as real challenging tasks. This `routine stuff ` my friend is referencing, is an entirely new topic she has never handled, yet she churns out statements, speaking notes, reports, talking points to the highest quarters on a regular basis. She had simply despised or overlooked the importance of adding brick upon brick to build her skyscraper, until I drew her attention to the volume and importance of the work she had been efficiently and effectively doing.
From failure comes success if you try, try and try again. The same applies to what may seem mechanical or routine. What comes out as success may not be one major act, it is consistency in the everyday thing. Stretching yourself little by little until you realise you have attained mastery. So, while you show up every day at 9am at your desk, read the files/email, forward mails, write /read the same report and repeat the cycle, because of that consistency, a little stretch in oneself, brick upon brick, you earn success.
Dust yourself woman, and try again, try for Nigeria. Happy Independence Day!!!
Nwatam
Founder.