Debbie Does Push-Ups!

A 23-Day Strength & Mindset Challenge

Dear Diary,

I’m sitting down to write a blog post for the first time since Covid days.  I can’t believe that all actually happened. It feels a bit wild to even type. That chapter feels like yesterday and also like a lifetime ago. So much has changed. So much hasn’t. Clearly, the blog took a very long Savasana.  My initial blog posts (pre-Covid) were mostly about my single life and dating adventures.  Sadly, (or not) they got lost in cyber space somewhere, thanks to Microsoft Word and my cheapo website platform.  Although those disaster dating stories are over and long gone (thankfully), they did turn into a comedy set that I wrote and performed at Yuk Yuk’s in Toronto in 2019.  They brought me to the quarter finals at “Toronto Comedy Brawl” (an Amateur Comedy Competition).  Who knew that dick pics and hairy ball content would be such a hit.  Thanks for being in the audience mom!  And now I’m married.  A Newlywed actually.  I’ve been a happily married wife for five months to the one and only Rui (the nicest guy in the world).  True story.  More on that later.  But for now … 

Here I am, starting something new (again).

A 23-day push-up challenge.  A commitment I made not because I love push-ups (I hate them actually) but because I wanted something simple, uncomfortable and honest to show up for every day.  I did this challenge in 2023 so I’m fully aware that it’s hard and it’s going to suck on some levels.  So this time, I thought I’d write about it so I have evidence of this madness I’m about to endure.

Jokes aside, the real reason I’m doing this is to raise funds for CMHA (Canadian Mental Health Association), a cause very near and dear to my heart.  It’s the cause that we donated to when my father passed away in April 2023.  Wow, almost 3 years now.  Unreal.  Time really is a strange thing.  Ultimately, his tired brain shut down after years of mental health struggles.  When I was little, they called it manic depression.  When I was a teenager, the term changed to bipolar. In 2021, it was Parkinson's then shortly thereafter it was Dementia.  The mind thief.  The worst.  (In my experience of course).  Having your father not recognize you, unable able to walk or talk to you is … well there are no words really.  Hard I guess is the best description.  Very, very hard.    

Maybe this is why I’m endlessly fascinated by how the physical brain and the mind work together (or don’t).  I’m fascinated by the way we think.  The way we don’t.  Dream world. The way thoughts creep in.  The way we’re able to pause and watch our thoughts. The way we have power to change a thought.  Some of us more than others. The way thoughts turn into beliefs. The way beliefs turn into behaviours.  The way behaviours turn into habits. The interesting mind of the person on the Autism Spectrum.  Down Syndrome.  PTSD. Addictions. ADHD. This massive mental health umbrella.  I could go on and on ...

The brain.  The mind.  Friend or foe? For some of us, we have the capability to live a fulfilled life because we have a healthy brain. And for others, not so much. Does that mean then, for those of us that do have the capacity to think for ourselves with our "typical" minds, that it's easy for us to live our best lives and shoot for the stars? Not really. Maybe motivation is involved? Some say motivation is bs. The reality is, we all have different brains, mindsets and experiences that affect how we think and act. There are so many layers. Our challenges, our beliefs, our "stories" we tell ourselves. Another reason I'm doing this challenge.  To learn, to grow and to challenge myself physically and mentally. To explore my story, my limiting thoughts, my self-doubts, my strengths, my passions; myself.

Push-ups don’t lie.

They have a funny way of revealing what’s really going on. 

Perhaps I'll figure out why I "hate" push-ups.

Likely because they're hard and I can't do them very well (yet).

This challenge isn’t about perfection or crushing reps with perfect form. It’s about consistency, discipline and noticing the stories that pop up when something feels hard. The bargaining. The excuses. The ego. The quiet voice that says just do a few right now after your morning coffee or skip today and double up tomorrow (kill me now).  There are some days where I’ll be doing over 100 push-ups, so definitely not doubling up Deb.

I already have a small crew joining me and some super generous people who donated.  Thank you!!  This adds a layer of accountability, which I love (and a little fear). But that’s the point, right? Growth usually lives right next door to discomfort.

I’m planning to write every day through this challenge (with Sundays off because balance), sharing what I’m learning along the way.  I'm fully aware that some of my sentence structures are not proper in the editorial world. Anywayyy. The focus will be on strength, mindset, aging, teaching, leadership and what it really means to keep showing up when no one is forcing you to.  If you know me, you know this will be a little messy, funny and real. My hope is that it’s motivating, relatable and a little way for you to reflect on the most important person in your life:  you! 

Starting again is awkward.

But it’s also powerful.

And yes, I'm very aware that this is not me doing push ups in blog pic.

I needed a little motivation.

Goals!

See you Thursday, February 5th for Day 1 of the Push-Up Challenge!

— Yoga Debb

Building strength, mindset and real-life consistency, one breath a time ;)