Ongrowing - Re-introductions

Saying hello, again.

Ongrowing’s January 30th letter | Previous issue: Chasing worthiness

Hi friends,

A hard lesson which I was reminded to practice this week: listening to your body. After a long week of plowing through work and various projects, I was very pleased with how productive I’ve been. But soon enough, my body caught up to it. On Thursday night, a throbbing headache forced me to sleep early. I thought I was going to recover after a good night’s sleep, but my head still felt heavy and foggy every time I logged onto my laptop.

This headache didn’t come out of thin air; it was an accumulation of endless screen time and focus. Instead of feeling annoyed about this, I’m trying to use it as a sign of what my body is demanding. Rest, rest, and more rest.

And how timely, Women Flix recently released a conversation which I had with Yola (host of the podcast) on balancing the hustle mindset and taking care of ourselves. If you’re looking for inspiration and ways to nourish, give the episode a listen here:

---

Today’s Story

Not long ago, I’ve picked up two new sports to play with friends — volleyball and tennis. I did so mostly because my friends were quite good at the sports and wanted more people to join. I was reluctant at first because I vividly remember painfully and unsuccessfully trying to keep a rally going (for both volleyball and tennis). I didn’t have fond memories associated with the times I played two sports in high school, and so, wasn’t entirely confident that I’d enjoy revisiting them. But I figured I had very little to lose.

To my surprise, I’ve had a great time so far re-playing these two activities. Friends have been very supportive, the environment has been great and relaxing. Minus some trips, falls, aches, sore muscles (oh this body is not getting any younger), I’ve really enjoyed seeing and feeling my own improvement and progress.

I’ve been thinking about why it is that I have been enjoying these two sports much more this time around.

Is it because of the people I play with? Is it because of the surroundings or venue? Or is it because I’ve grown to become a different person?

While the answer is probably a combination of all the above, I really attribute this to the fact that I’ve outgrown my fixed mindset that says “I’m either good at this or I’m not.” (If you’re not familiar with the terms fixed vs. growth mindset, I highly recommend reading Carol Dweck’s Mindset, one of the books that changed my life for the better).

Coming to this realization, I’m wondering if there are other things besides two sports that I can re-introduce myself to. Are there certain places or experiences or people that I don’t have fond memories of but want to try again? Are there certain things I want to re-try or are there specific people I want to re-connect with?

---

The (Writing) Prompt

What are some things you were afraid of/didn’t dare do or people you said hi to a long, long time ago? Out of the list, is there something you’ve been wanting to try do again? Remember, you are not the same person as you were back then. Are you willing to try and see how it goes this time?

As I’m becoming more aware and more open to life, I’m also learning to give second chances to things and people. There’s also a possibility that you’ll still feel the same way about it, and that’s completely okay. The biggest learning here might be recognizing that you’re a dynamic being who’s always evolving and ever-changing. Re-introductions get you present to your capacity to change and renew. It’s a reminder that the limits don’t reside outside of you, but rather, inside you. With that, I hope you enjoy trying something from your childhood or saying hello to a long-lost friend again.

Have fun,

Fair